BOOK OF

See also:

• BOOK OF REVELATION

REVELATION  , in the Bible, the last book of the New Testament . Title.—According to the best authorities a CA (in the subscription) 2, 8, 82, 93, the title of this book is awoKaXv4ies 'Iwavvov . Some cursives (1, 14, 17, 25, 28, 31, 38, 51, 90, 91, 94, 97) read Or . (+ TOO aylov 1, 25, 28, 31, 38, 51, 90, 94) 'Iwavvov rob' BeoXbyov; Q and 12, 61r . 'I . Tel, OeoX . Kai evayyeXiorov; P and 42, i) aW . TOv alrOQTbXOV 'I . Kai ebayyeXlo-vov (The word " apocalypse " gives the current title not only to this book, but to a large body of Jewish and Christian writings . This is one of the first instances of its use in this sense in existing literature . An earlier use is probably to be found in the title of the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, which =ypa4 T;7s leroKaX6bews roil' Oa pobx viov Tel) Nnplate The title is different from what the New Testa-went use of the term would have led us to expect, i.e . 'A1roK&AvtPcs 'IiQov, which are indeed the opening words of this book .

Withthe latter phrase we might compare Gal. i . 12, where we have auroKaXisliews'Incrov"Xpivrov, "

revelation from Jesus Christ." For the book is a revelation made by Gcd to Jesus Christ, who through His angel made it known to John for transmission to the churches . Instead of this the Church substituted the name of the disciple through whom the message was delivered for that of his Master, and designated our Apocalypse " The Apocalypse of John." This title was familiar before the end of the 2nd century .