Teks -- Revelation 22:18 (NET)

22:18 I testify to the one who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rev 22:18 - I testify

I testify ( Egō marturō ).

Commentators disagree keenly about the words in Rev 22:18, Rev 22:19. Charles rejects them as an interpolation and out of harmony with the rest of the book. Beckwith takes them to be John’ s own warning, drawn from Deu 4:2 "to every man that heareth"(panti tōi akouonti , dative of the articular present active participle of akouō , which compare Rev 1:3). Swete properly holds these verses to be from Jesus himself, still bearing solemn witness to this book, with warning against wilful perversion of its teachings.

Robertson: Rev 22:18 - If any man shall add

If any man shall add ( ean tis epithēi ).

Condition of the third class with ean and the second aorist active subjunctive of epitithēmi , with epi added with auta , as also in the conclusion epithēsei ep' auton (future active). This warning is directed against perversions of this book, not about the New Testament or the Bible as a whole, though it may be true there also. Surely no warning was more needed when we consider the treatment accorded the Apocalypse, so that Dr. Robert South said that the Apocalypse either found one crazy or left him so.

Wesley: Rev 22:18-19 - I testify to every one, &c.

_From the fulness of his heart, the apostle utters this testimony, this weighty admonition, not only to the churches of Asia, but to all who should ever hear this book. He that adds, all the plagues shall be added to him; he that takes from it, all the blessings shall be taken from him; and, doubtless, this guilt is incurred by all those who lay hinderances in the way of the faithful, which prevent them from hearing their Lord's "I come," and answering, "Come, Lord Jesus." This may likewise be considered as an awful sanction, given to the whole New Testament; in like manner as Moses guarded the law, Deu 4:2, and Deu 12:32; and as God himself did, Mal 4:4, in closing the canon of the Old Testament.

JFB: Rev 22:18 - For I testify

None of our manuscripts have this. A, B, Vulgate, and ANDREAS read, "I" emphatic in the Greek. "I testify."

JFB: Rev 22:18 - unto these things

A, B, and ANDREAS read, "unto them."

JFB: Rev 22:18 - add . . . add

Just retribution in kind.

Clarke: Rev 22:18 - If any man shall add

If any man shall add - Shall give any other meaning to these prophecies, or any other application of them than God intends, he, though not originally intended, shall have the plagues threatened in this book for his portion.

Defender: Rev 22:18 - the words

Note the importance of the words. The conveyance of precise thoughts requires the use of precise words. Only the doctrine of verbal inerrancy adequately expresses the true nature of Biblical inspiration. This warning at the end of the book of Revelation (in fact, the end of the Bible) stresses the necessity of literal interpretation. Actually, a literal interpretation is not an interpretation at all, for it takes the words at face value, assuming that the Holy Spirit (using the thoughts and abilities of the human writer whose words He inspired) was able to say exactly what He meant to say. Any kind of allegorical or figurative interpretation of those words (unless directly indicated in the context) assumes that the interpreter knows better than the Holy Spirit what He should be saying, and such an attitude is presumptuous, if not blasphemous.

Defender: Rev 22:18 - this book

The word "book" is the Greek biblion (in Rev 22:19 it is biblos). This is where the "Bible" got its name. Here John warns against adding to the prophecies given in the book of Revelation. However, in a broader sense, he would warn against adding to the Bible itself, for he was the last of the apostles; and Jesus had in effect told His apostles that He would send the Holy Spirit to bring all things to their remembrance, to guide them into all truth and to reveal to them things to come (Joh 14:26; Joh 15:26). Also, the Apostle Paul had written that the church would be "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets," and that the truths of the New Testament would be "revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Eph 2:20; Eph 3:5). That "foundation" of divine revelation has been laid in the apostolic era, and thus need not be laid again. Furthermore, Paul had said that the gift of prophecy would cease once "that which is perfect [or 'complete'] is come" (1Co 13:8, 1Co 13:10). Therefore, there can be little doubt that John's warning in this vitally important verse at the end of the Bible applies to any new revelation. Both Christ and the apostles repeatedly warned against false prophets and here is the criterion by which to recognize such."

TSK: Rev 22:18 - testify // heareth // If // God

testify : Rev 22:16, Rev 3:14; Eph 4:17; 1Th 4:6

heareth : Rev 1:3

If : Deu 4:2, Deu 12:32; Pro 30:6; Mat 15:6-9, Mat 15:13

God : Rev 14:10,Rev 14:11, Rev 15:1, Rev 16:1, Rev 19:20, Rev 20:10,Rev 20:15; Lev 26:18, Lev 26:24, Lev 26:25, Lev 26:28, Lev 26:37

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

PBC: Rev 22:18

Are you a hearer of the things of God? The hearers are the ones who are endangered by adding to these sayings of Jesus Christ. Read again the plagues which were poured out on those who disobeyed throughout Jerusalem. Jesus says these shall be added to those who go further than the word teaches.— Eld. Charles Taylor

Haydock: Rev 22:18-19 - I

I, John, testify and bear witness of all the truths contained in this revelation: If any man shall add to these things, he becomes guilty of sin, and makes himself liable to the punishments and plagues that are written in this book. (Witham)

Gill: Rev 22:18 - For I testify to every man // that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book // if any man shall add unto these things // God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book

For I testify to every man,.... These are not the words of a scribe, who having wrote out a copy of this book, added the following adjuration to it, to deter persons from adding to it, or diminishing it; for the book is not yet finished, and both Christ and John speak after this; and to insert such a passage into the text would be a bold and daring action; nor are they even the words of John, the inspired writer of it, but of the Lord Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, as appears from Rev 22:16 who in a most solemn manner declares to every man, high or low, rich or poor, of whatsoever character, or however dignified, either in a civil or ecclesiastic way,

that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book read or explained,

if any man shall add unto these things. To "add" to the things contained in this book, is not to deliver, or write an exposition of it, in a modest manner, with a sincere view to give light into it, agreeably to the analogy of faith; for to expound Scripture, or to preach from it, consistent with it, is not to add unto it, but to give the sense of it; but then may it be said to be added unto, and so this book, when it is wrested and perverted, and a false gloss is put upon it, as the Pharisees did upon the law; and when unwritten traditions are made to be equal to it, or above it, as the same persons made the traditions of the elders, whereby they transgressed the law, and made the word of God of none effect, and so broke through the precept given, Deu 4:2 as do the Papists in like manner; and when men pretend to visions and revelations, and make them the rule of faith and practice, and to confirm things that are neither in this book, nor in any other part of the word of God; and when men interpolate it, and set up human fictitious writings upon equal authority with it; which shows the authenticity of this book, and of all the whole Scripture, and the perfection of it, whose canon is closed with it: the punishment of such a crime follows,

God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; the things threatened to the antichristian party, Rev 2:22 the seven last plagues in which the wrath of God is filled up, which will be inflicted on the same, Rev 16:1, the lake of fire and brimstone, into which the beast, the false prophet, the devil, and all wicked men will be cast, Rev 19:20 see Pro 30:5.