who testifies to everything he saw.The phrase indicates the role of John as a witness, emphasizing the reliability and truthfulness of his account. In biblical context, the act of testifying is significant, as it aligns with the legal and prophetic traditions of bearing witness to divine revelations. The Greek word for "testifies" (martureō) is often used in the New Testament to denote a solemn declaration of truth. John's testimony is comprehensive, covering "everything he saw," which underscores the completeness and divine origin of the visions. This aligns with the prophetic tradition seen in the Old Testament, where prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel were called to faithfully report their visions. The act of witnessing is also a key theme in the New Testament, as seen in
Acts 1:8, where believers are called to be witnesses of Christ.
This is the word of God
This phrase affirms the divine authority and inspiration of the message. The "word of God" is a central theme throughout Scripture, representing God's communication to humanity. In the Old Testament, the phrase often refers to the messages delivered by prophets (e.g.,Jeremiah 1:4). In the New Testament, it is associated with the teachings of Jesus and the apostolic message (e.g.,Hebrews 4:12). The use of this phrase in Revelation underscores the continuity of God's revelation from the Old Testament through the New Testament. It also highlights the authority of the message, as it is not merely human words but divinely inspired truth.
and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
This phrase connects the revelation to Jesus Christ, emphasizing His role as both the source and subject of the prophecy. The "testimony of Jesus Christ" can be understood as the revelation given by Jesus and about Jesus. InRevelation 19:10, it is stated that "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy," indicating that all prophecy ultimately points to Him. This phrase also reflects the early Christian understanding of Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the central figure in God's redemptive plan. The testimony of Jesus is foundational to the Christian faith, as it encompasses His life, death, resurrection, and future return. This connection to Jesus Christ underscores the book's focus on His ultimate victory and the establishment of His kingdom.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
John the ApostleThe author of the Book of Revelation, who is traditionally understood to be John the Apostle, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is the one who "testifies to everything he saw."
2.
Jesus ChristCentral to the testimony, Jesus is the one whose revelation is being communicated. The testimony is about Him and from Him.
3.
PatmosThe island where John received the revelation. It is a place of exile, symbolizing isolation but also divine encounter.
4.
The VisionThe event of receiving the revelation, which John describes as a vision from God, encompassing future events and divine truths.
5.
The Word of GodRefers to the divine message that John is conveying, emphasizing its authority and truth.
Teaching Points
The Authority of RevelationThe message in Revelation is not just John's opinion but is the authoritative Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Believers should approach it with reverence and obedience.
The Role of a WitnessJohn serves as a model for believers in being a faithful witness to what he has seen and heard. Christians are called to testify to the truth of the Gospel in their own lives.
The Centrality of ChristThe testimony focuses on Jesus Christ, underscoring His central role in God's plan. Our lives and testimonies should also center on Christ.
The Importance of VisionSpiritual vision is crucial for understanding God's purposes. Believers should seek to cultivate spiritual insight through prayer and study of the Scriptures.
Endurance in IsolationLike John on Patmos, believers may face times of isolation or trial. These can be opportunities for deeper revelation and communion with God.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Revelation 1:2?
2.How does Revelation 1:2 emphasize the importance of bearing witness to God's word?
3.What role does testimony play in understanding Revelation 1:2's message about Jesus Christ?
4.How can we apply the example of bearing witness in Revelation 1:2 today?
5.How does Revelation 1:2 connect with John 1:14 about the Word becoming flesh?
6.In what ways can we faithfully testify to "everything he saw" in our lives?
7.What does Revelation 1:2 reveal about the nature of divine revelation?
8.How does Revelation 1:2 affirm the authority of John's testimony?
9.Why is the testimony of Jesus significant in Revelation 1:2?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Revelation 1?
11.What defines false doctrine?
12.What do we speak that we know?
13.Why does 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 imply our understanding is partial until 'completeness' comes, yet many other biblical passages claim to provide ultimate truth?
14.How do we reconcile the existence of older religious texts with the claim that the Bible is the first revelation?What Does Revelation 1:2 Mean
Who testifies• John opens Revelation identifying himself as the witness—just as he does inJohn 21:24, “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down.”
• His role is that of a trustworthy court witness (Revelation 22:8), affirming what God showed him.
• Like the prophets before him—Ezekiel 1:1 andDaniel 7:2—John stands firmly on what he has personally experienced, leaving no room for second-hand rumor.
To everything he saw• Nothing is withheld; “everything” underscores completeness (Revelation 1:11; 22:18-19).
• Vision after vision will unfold, yet all belongs to a single, Spirit-given panorama (Revelation 4:1).
• The reader can rest in the fact that the record is exhaustive, echoing1 John 1:1-3, where John again declares what he has “seen with our eyes… and our hands have touched.”
This is the word of God• The visions are not John’s inventions; they carry divine authority, aligning with2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is God-breathed.”
•1 Thessalonians 2:13 reminds us that receiving this message is receiving God Himself speaking.
•Hebrews 4:12 affirms the power of that word—living, active, and, as Revelation will show, determinative for history and eternity.
And the testimony of Jesus Christ• The entire book centers on Jesus—His person, His work, His coming reign (Revelation 19:10: “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”).
• Christ’s earthly ministry was defined by witness (John 18:37); here He continues that witness from glory, unsealing future events.
•John 5:39 shows Scripture’s unifying theme: it “testify about Me,” and Revelation brings that testimony to its climactic crescendo.
summaryJohn, the faithful eyewitness, records every vision exactly as given. These revelations carry the full weight of God’s own word and focus squarely on Jesus Christ. Because the testimony is complete, divine, and Christ-centered, we can study Revelation with confidence, knowing we are hearing God’s voice and seeing the unveiled glory of His Son.
(2)
Who bare record.--Elsewhere as well as here. And he tells us of what he bore record--of the Word of God. The writer declares that the substance of his testimony and witness had been this Word of God. We have here an indication of what the general character of his teaching had been. It evidently had been a teaching laying stress on that aspect of truth which is so forcibly set before us in the Fourth Gospel and the Epistles bearing the name of John. (Comp.
Revelation 19:11;
John 1:1;
John 1:14;
1John 1:1,
et al. Note also that the words "record," "testimony," "witness," found in this verse, recur in the Gospel and Epistles. Comp.
John 5:31-40;
John 19:35;
John 21:24.) . . .
Verse 2. - Who bare record. "To bear witness" (
μαρτυρεῖν) and "witness," or "testimony" (
μαρτυρία), are characteristic of St. John's writings, and serve to connect together his Gospel, the First Epistle, and the Apocalypse. Such words should be carefully noted, and, so far as possible, uniformly translated, in order to mark their frequency in the English Version. The Authorized Version rings the changes on "bear witness," "bear record," "give record," and "testify," for
μαρτυρεῖν; and on "witness," "record," and "testimony," for
μαρτυρία. The Revised Version has here made great improvements. To bear witness to the truth and the Word of God was St. John's special function throughout his long life, and to this fact he calls attention in all his chief writings (see Haupt on
1 John 5:6).
The testimony of Jesus Christ, like "the Revelation of Jesus Christ" (ver. 1), means that which he gave, not that which tells about him.
And of all things that he saw; better, as in the Revised Version,
even of all things that he saw, taking
δσα εἵδεν in apposition with what precedes. The seer is here speaking of the visions of the Apocalypse, not of the events in Christ's life. The aorists,
ἐμαρτύρησεν and
εἵδεν, are rightly compared to the
συνέγραψε of Thucydides (1:1; 6:7, 93).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
whoὃς(hos)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.testifies toἐμαρτύρησεν(emartyrēsen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3140:To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify.everythingὅσα(hosa)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3745:How much, how great, how many, as great as, as much. By reduplication from hos; as As.he saw.εἶδεν(eiden)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3708:Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.[This is] theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.wordλόγον(logon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056:From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.of GodΘεοῦ(Theou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.theτὴν(tēn)Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.testimonyμαρτυρίαν(martyrian)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3141:Witness, evidence, testimony, reputation. From martus; evidence given.of JesusἸησοῦ(Iēsou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424:Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.Christ.Χριστοῦ(Christou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547:Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.
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NT Prophecy: Revelation 1:2 Who testified to God's word (Rev. Re Apocalypse) 
