How many times, reading through Revelation 2-3, have you wondered who these folks are?
The key to correctly interpreting the passages dealing with them (2:6, 13, 15) is realizing that the entire book of Revelation is future, in "the Lord's day" (i.e. the day of the Lord; 1:10). John is transported forward in time, just as Ezekiel is transported in time (cf. Ezek. 3, 8, etc.), to see all of the events, including those in the first three chapters. So Rev. 2-3 are not a history of the church in this age, even in type. There may be some similarities to the course of church history, but the doctrinal application of the chapters is prophetic. Hence, Antipas is not a historic character, nor are the Nicolaitanes: they are future figures. Other men are named in scripture before they are even born. How about Josiah (1 Kings 13)? How about Cyrus (Is. 44-45)? How about John the Baptist and our Lord (Luke 1)? As the events of the great tribulation unfold, Antipas will be martyred for Christ, as will many others (Rev. 6-7, 20), and the identity of the Nicolaitanes will be known. No need to delve into the history books or Greek dictionaries. Just believe Rev. 1:10 and stand in awe of God's prophecies. For more information, please see E.W. Bullinger's Commentary on Revelation (Kregel).
Friday, January 25, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Of Barbarians and Scythians
The words "Barbarian" and "Scythian" occur together in Col. 3:11, in the context of the body of Christ (3:10). I would like to explore the senses and significance of these two words (and their relatives) in this post.
First, Barbarian. This word and its relatives appears in the following passages.
Acts 28:2, "And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold."
Rom. 1:14, "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."
1 Cor. 14:11, "Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me."
Col 3:11, "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Looking at all of these verses together, it would appear that the word "barbarian" connotes a "foreigner." In Rom. 1:14, they are non-Greeks (and therefore unwise; 1 Cor. 1:22). In 1 Cor. 14:11, the sense seems to be a foreigner or stranger. Bear in mind that Greek was the universal language of Paul's day, as English is in ours (Acts 21:37, 39; Eccl. 1:9-10!). But note in Acts 28:2 that the barbarous people are within the Roman empire, for Melita is ruled by Publius, obviously a Roman due to his Latin name (28:7). So these "barbarians" are not wild people, since they are subject to Rome; the sense of "barbarous" is the natives of the island, probably non-Greek.
Finally coming to our text in Col. 3:11, Jews are contrasted with Greeks (non-Jews), who are distinguished from Barbarians (non-Greeks), inside or outside the Roman empire. But who are the Scythians...? They are not mentioned anywhere else, except in a passage stressing the comprehensive unity of the body of Christ. Racial, social (bond nor free), even gender (Gal. 3:28a) barriers in the physical realm do not affect our unity in the Spirit (Gal. 3:28b). So being a Scythian does not exclude you from the unity in Christ. A brief look at Wikipedia or an encyclopedia sheds light on the non-Roman character of the Scythian. They were peoples on the outskirts of the empire, in places like southern Russia. I think that Paul may have included them in this passage on the scope of those in Christ to show that just because someone is outside the Roman empire, i.e. the civilized world, does not mean they can't be in Christ, any more than being a non-Greek barbarian does. Praise God, he will take the "savage" Scythians into his Son, if they will only believe!
First, Barbarian. This word and its relatives appears in the following passages.
Acts 28:2, "And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold."
Rom. 1:14, "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."
1 Cor. 14:11, "Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me."
Col 3:11, "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Looking at all of these verses together, it would appear that the word "barbarian" connotes a "foreigner." In Rom. 1:14, they are non-Greeks (and therefore unwise; 1 Cor. 1:22). In 1 Cor. 14:11, the sense seems to be a foreigner or stranger. Bear in mind that Greek was the universal language of Paul's day, as English is in ours (Acts 21:37, 39; Eccl. 1:9-10!). But note in Acts 28:2 that the barbarous people are within the Roman empire, for Melita is ruled by Publius, obviously a Roman due to his Latin name (28:7). So these "barbarians" are not wild people, since they are subject to Rome; the sense of "barbarous" is the natives of the island, probably non-Greek.
Finally coming to our text in Col. 3:11, Jews are contrasted with Greeks (non-Jews), who are distinguished from Barbarians (non-Greeks), inside or outside the Roman empire. But who are the Scythians...? They are not mentioned anywhere else, except in a passage stressing the comprehensive unity of the body of Christ. Racial, social (bond nor free), even gender (Gal. 3:28a) barriers in the physical realm do not affect our unity in the Spirit (Gal. 3:28b). So being a Scythian does not exclude you from the unity in Christ. A brief look at Wikipedia or an encyclopedia sheds light on the non-Roman character of the Scythian. They were peoples on the outskirts of the empire, in places like southern Russia. I think that Paul may have included them in this passage on the scope of those in Christ to show that just because someone is outside the Roman empire, i.e. the civilized world, does not mean they can't be in Christ, any more than being a non-Greek barbarian does. Praise God, he will take the "savage" Scythians into his Son, if they will only believe!
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