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Home  >  Biblica  >  Vol 87 (2006)  > 

    Rob Dalrymple, «The Use of ka1/ in Revelation 11,1 and the Implications for the Identification of the Temple, the Altar, and the Worshippers», Vol. 87 (2006) 387-294

    Thus, by means of the symbolic act of measuring ‘the temple’, which is composed of those who will suffer martyrdom (‘the altar’) and those who remain faithful to the end (‘the worshippers’) John reassures the entire covenant community that their eternal destiny is firmly within the sovereign judge’s control. The epexegetical use of ka1/ in 11,1b explains why it is ‘the altar’ and not some other piece of furniture that is measured. Finally, the distinction between the righteous who are martyred and those who are not confirms that John did not perceive all of the righteous as suffering martyrdom.

    See more by the same author
    «These Are the Ones» 2005 396-406
    • Page 387/394
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    AN I MADVE R S I O N E S The Use of kaiv in Revelation 11,1 and the Implications for the Identification of the Temple, the Altar, and the Worshippers levgwn: e[geire kai; mevtrhson to;n nao;n tou' qeou' kai; to; qusiasthvrion kai; tou;" proskunou'nta" ejn aujtw/' (Saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, that is, the altar and the ones who are worshipping in it) (Rev 11,1b) (1). The discussions pertaining to Rev 11,1 in various articles as well as among commentators has focused almost exclusively either on the connotation of ‘measuring’, or on the identification of ‘the temple of God’ (2). As a result, a proper identification of ‘the altar’ and ‘the ones who are worshipping in it’ (herein designated ‘worshippers’) has been overlooked. In this article, I intend to argue that the second use of kai; in Rev 11,1b functions as a kaiv epexegeticus (3). Consequently, it is my contention that ‘the altar’ and ‘the worshippers’ serve to specify precisely what it is in terms of ‘the temple’ that John is actually commanded to measure: namely, ‘the altar’ and ‘the worshippers’ (4). Furthermore, since, as most commentators affirm, the temple is best equated with the community of the righteous, it would then follow that the designations ‘the altar’ and ‘the worshippers’ similarly serve to identify members of the righteous community. In the following article, I will first affirm the consensus interpretation relating to the act of the measuring of the temple in Rev 11,1 (5); namely, that the command to mevtrhson to;n nao;n tou' qeou' (measure the temple of God; 11,1b) intends to relate the provision of divine protection upon that which is measured. Secondly, I will contend that ‘the temple of God’ indeed incorporates the entirety of the righteous community and, therefore, by means (1) All translations are the author’s unless otherwise specified. (2) M. BACHMANN, “Himmlisch: der ‘Temple Gottes’ von Apk 11.1”, NTS 40 (1994) 474-480; M. JAUHIANINEN, “The Measuring of the Sanctuary Reconsidered”, Bib 83 (2002) 507-526; A. SPATAFORA, “From the ‘Temple of God’ to God as the Temple” (Tesi Grego- riana 27; Roma 1997) 72-73. (3) Hence, the translation ‘that is’: To borrow the designation utilized by D.E. AUNE, Revelation (WBC 52; Nashville 1998) I, cxxv. Aune, however, does not include 11,1 in his list of this use of kaiv in Revelation. What follows, then, is my defense as to why we should include it. (4) Hence, the translation that I have offered. The only commentator to even allude to the possibility of this translation is G.K. BEALE, The Book of Revelation. A Commentary on the Greek Text (NIGTC; Grand Rapids 1999) 571. (5) Cf. BEALE, Revelation, 558-559, 570-571; M.E. BORING, Revelation (Interpretation; Louisville 1973) 143; G.B. CAIRD, A Commentary on the Revelation of St. John the Divine (HNTC; New York 1966) 131-132; L. MORRIS, The Revelation of St. John. An Introduction and Commentary (TNTC; London 1969) 142; R.H. MOUNCE, The Book of Revelation (NICNT; Grand Rapids 1977) 219. Cp. Isa 28,16-17; Jer 31,38-40; Ezek 29,6; Zech 1,6.

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