Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Revelation 12:10

ὁ κατήγορος. All editors but Treg[414] read ὁ κατήγωρ which is only preserved by A.

[414] Tregelles.

αὐτῶν. So Text. Rec[415] and Treg[416] with אB2C; Lach[417], Tisch[418], W. H[419], Weiss read αὐτοὺς with Revelation 1.

[415] Rec. Textus Receptus as printed by Scrivener.
[416] Tregelles.
[417] Lachmann’s larger edition.
[418] Tischendorf: eighth edition; where the text aud notes differ the latter are cited.
[419] H. Westcott aud Hort.

10. φωνὴν μεγάλην. See on Revelation 6:6, and cf. Revelation 11:12. The “great voice,” as appears from “our brethren” below, is the voice of a multitude whether of angels or of men. We are told that the saints are fellow-citizens of the angels, and the angels fellow-servants of the saints: nowhere that the two are brethren: perhaps that is a tie that can only be between creatures of flesh and blood.

ἡ σωτηρία καὶ ἡ δύναμις. Probably the salvation and the might of God; but the view of A. V[440] that ἡ βασ. τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν and ἡ ἐξ. τοῦ χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ correspond exactly and exclusively is not indefensible. The previous articles would then merely mark salvation or strength in general, and have no idiomatic equivalent in English.

[440] Authorised Version.

ἡ ἐξουσία. Here, as generally, a derivative committed power, cf. 1 Corinthians 15:27-28. See also Revelation 16:9 n.

ὁ κατήγορος. The true reading is ὁ κατήγωρ. The word was borrowed and distorted by the Rabbins, and is found in Hebrew letters in the Talmud applied to Satan. St Michael was called by the correlative term “the Advocate.”

ὁ κατηγορῶν. Literally “who accuseth,” but the context shews that the meaning of the tense is to mark the act as habitual rather than as present. The “Prologue in Heaven” of the Book of Job, and Zechariah 3:1, of course illustrate the sense. Sometimes the conflict between good and evil is a conflict of ideas and principles: then Satan accuses the brethren in heaven, not always falsely (St Luke 16:15); sometimes on one side or on both it is a clashing of passions and interests: then Satan is cast down to earth: it goes ill with all who have their conversation there.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Revelation 12:10

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