Revelation 15:1-3

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Revelation 15:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
2. Revelation 15:1 tn Grk “seven plagues—the last ones.”
3. Revelation 15:2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
4. Revelation 15:2 sn See Rev 4:6 where the sea of glass was mentioned previously.
5. Revelation 15:2 tn Or “had been victorious over”; traditionally, “had overcome.”
6. Revelation 15:2 tn Grk “of his name, standing.” A new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the words “They were.”
7. Revelation 15:2 tn Or “on.” The preposition ἐπί (epi) with the accusative case could mean “on, at, by, near”; given the nature of this scene appearing in a vision, it is difficult to know precisely which the author of Revelation intended. See BDAG 363 s.v. ἐπί 1.c.γ, “At, by, near someone or someth.”
8. Revelation 15:2 tn Grk “harps of God.” The phrase τοῦ θεοῦ (tou theou) has been translated as a genitive of agency.
9. Revelation 15:3 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
10. Revelation 15:3 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
11. Revelation 15:3 tn Grk “saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
12. Revelation 15:3 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π.…Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”
13. Revelation 15:3 tn Or “righteous,” although the context favors justice as the theme.
14. Revelation 15:3 tc Certain mss (P⁴⁷ א*^,2 C 1006 1611 1841) read “ages” (αἰώνων, aiōnōn) instead of “nations” (ἐθνῶν, ethnōn), which itself is supported by several mss (א¹ A 051 M). The ms evidence seems to be fairly balanced, though αἰώνων has somewhat better support. The replacement of “ages” with “nations” is possibly a scribal attempt to harmonize this verse with the use of “nations” in the following verse. On the other hand, the idea of “nations” fits well with v. 4 and it may be that “ages” is a scribal attempt to assimilate this text to 1 Tim 1:17: “the king of the ages” (βασιλεὺς τῶν αἰώνων, basileus tōn aiōnōn). The decision is a difficult one since both scenarios deal well with the evidence, though the verbal parallel with 1 Tim 1:17 is exact while the parallel with v. 4 is not. The term “king” occurs 17 other times (most occurrences refer to earthly kings) in Revelation and it is not used with either “ages” or “nations” apart from this verse. Probably “nations” should be considered the earlier reading due to the influence of 1 Tim 1:17 on this passage.