1:1a
This is the revelation of Jesus Christ: In Greek this phase is more literally “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” This phrase introduces the book. In some languages it is more natural to translate this phrase as a complete clause or sentence, as the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions have done. For example:
This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Berean Standard Bible, God’s Word)
-or-
This ⌊book/letter/writing⌋ is the revelation of Jesus Christ,
This phrase indicates that Jesus Christ revealed the things in this book to John. Other ways to translate this are:
This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The revelation from Jesus Christ (New International Version (2011))
-or-
This book is the record of the events that Jesus Christ revealed. (Good News Translation)
revelation of Jesus Christ: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as revelation refers to something unknown that someone shows/reveals to someone else. In some languages it is more natural to translate this phrase using a verb. For example:
things revealed by Jesus Christ
-or-
hidden things/knowledge that Jesus Christ told
-or-
⌊ hidden/secret⌋ knowledge that Jesus Christ revealed
Christ: The word Christ is a title for Jesus. It means “the anointed one.” The Hebrew word mashiah (English: “Messiah”) has the same meaning. The Jews used it to refer to the person whom God promised would save/free his people and rule them. Here the word Christ describes Jesus as the Christ.
Some ways to translate Christ are:
• Use a title or a descriptive phrase in your language that has the same meaning as Christ. For example:
⌊God’s⌋ Anointed/Chosen One
-or-
⌊Promised⌋ Deliverer
-or-
the Rescuer-King
• Use the major language word, spell it as people in your language would say it, and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:
Karisiti, the appointed one
-or-
Cristo, the Savior whom God promised to send
• Use the major language word, spell it as people in your language would say it, and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:
the Kirisita
• Use the word Messiah, if it is more clearly a title used only for Jesus. Spell it as people in your language would say it and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:
⌊the⌋ Mesaaia
If you have translated other New Testament books, see how you translated this word there. Also, if you have a footnote explaining this word in Matthew 1:1, Mark 1:1, Luke 2:11, or John 1:17, you may want to repeat it here.
which God gave Him: This clause tells the reader more about the revelation. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Jesus had other revelations but God only gave this one to him. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about this revelation. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:
It was given to him by God.
-or-
God gave it to him.
gave: The word gave indicates that God showed these revelations to Jesus. In some languages a word other than gave is more natural. For example:
showed (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
told
1:1b
His servants: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servants refers to believers. It indicates that believers must obey the things God tells them to do.
The Greek word can also be translated as “slaves.” However, it is important not to indicate or imply that it is a position of shame or humiliation. A servant of God has a position of honor. Other ways to translate this word are:
his workers
-or-
the people who serve him
-or-
his people, they work for him
-or-
his people, they do his will
His: The pronoun His probably refers here to God.
must soon come to pass: Here the phrase must soon come to pass indicates that the events in the revelation will certainly happen soon. God has decided that all these events will happen, so they will certainly happen. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
must soon happen (New Century Version)
-or-
will soon necessarily/indeed occur
-or-
has been determined ⌊by God⌋ to happen soon
-or-
will definitely/certainly occur soon
1:1c
He made…known: The person that the pronoun He refers to is unclear. It is probably Jesus. In some languages it is more natural to say to whom this pronoun refers. For example:
Christ made these things known (Good News Translation)
made…known: This phrase refers to revealing something through signs. Here, the signs are things and events that have symbolic meanings. There are many things that are symbolic in Revelation, for example: the dragon (12:3) and the woman on the scarlet beast (17:3).
Jesus communicated this revelation to believers by sending his angel with the revelation to John. The angel showed the revelation to John. John wrote this revelation and sent it to the believers. Other ways to translate these words are:
revealed through signs
-or-
communicated (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
sent this revelation (God’s Word)
-or-
show (New Century Version)
it: The pronoun it refers to the revelation, namely, the things that Jesus revealed (1:1a).
His angel: The pronoun His probably refers here to Jesus.
angel: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angel means “messenger.” It refers here to a spirit being who serves Christ. Some ways to translate this word are:
• Use a descriptive word or phrase. For example:
messenger
-or-
⌊good/holy⌋ spirit-being
• Use a local word that fits the biblical meaning.
• In some languages the churches may already be using the major language word for “angel.” Be sure that this word fits the biblical meaning. If some people do not know the right meaning from this word, you may want to indicate the meaning in some way. For example:
angel messenger
-or-
sacred angel spirit
Be sure that your word for “angel” is different from your words or phrases for “prophet” and “apostle.”
to His servant John: The name John refers to the author himself. John wrote about himself in the third person. This was good Greek style. In some languages it is more natural to use the first person. For example:
to his servant John, ⌊me⌋
-or-
to ⌊me⌋ John, his servant
His: This pronoun refers here to Jesus.
servant: This word has the same meaning as it does in 1:1b.
John: The traditional view is that John the Apostle wrote this Revelation. But a second century Christian, Dionysius, thought is was someone named “John the Elder” and not John the Apostle. Many scholars refuse to choose which is most likely. It is best not to name this John as “the Apostle” or “the Elder.”
General Comment on 1:1a–c
In some languages it is more natural to follow the chronological order of communicating the message. For example:
1a
⌊This book is⌋ the revelation of Jesus Christ. God gave it to him. 1c He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,1b ⌊He/God gave it to him⌋ to show his/God’s servants what must soon take place. 2a John testifies…
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