To the Seven Churches & the Church Universal | Revelation 1:4a

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Revelation 1:4-5a “John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from "he who is," and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ - the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth.”

These verses are an ancient epistolary greeting. How do we know this? What are the literary elements that make up an epistolary greeting?

John is writing to the seven churches. How should we interpret these seven? Are they simply literal churches? Or do they represent something more?

We will discuss these questions and more in this installment of our continuing series on the book of Revelation.

Sources:

Aune, David E. Revelation,. 3 vols. (WBC). Dallas: Word, 1997; Nashville: Nelson, 1998

Beale, G. K. The Book of Revelation (NIGTC). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999

Fanning, Buist. Revelation(ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 20

Ford, J. Massyngberde. Revelation (AB). Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1975.

Mounce, Robert H. The Book of Revelation (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997

NET Bible. Full Notes Edition.

Schreiner, Thomas R. Revelation (BECNT). Grand Rapids: Baker, 2023

Thomas, Robert L. Revelation. 2 vols. Chicago: Moody, 1992-1995.

Weinrich, W. C. ed. Revelation: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, NT Volume 12 [ACCS]. InterVarsity Press. 2005