Commentary on the Apocalypse

229 Pages·2006·1.13 MB·English

by  Oecumenius

THE FATHERS
OF THE CHURCH
A NEW TRANSLATION
VOLUME 112
THE FATHERS
OF THE CHURCH
A NEW TRANSLATION
EDITORIAL BOARD
Thomas P. Halton
The Catholic University of America
Editorial Director
Elizabeth Clark Robert D. Sider
Duke University Dickinson College
Joseph T. Lienhard, S.J. Michael Slusser
Fordham University Duquesne University
David G. Hunter Cynthia White
Iowa State University The University of Arizona
Kathleen McVey Rebecca Lyman
Princeton Theological Seminary Church Divinity School of the Pacific
David J. McGonagle
Director
The Catholic University of America Press
FORMER EDITORIAL DIRECTORS
Ludwig Schopp, Roy J. Deferrari, Bernard M. Peebles,
Hermigild Dressler, O.F.M.
Carole C. Burnett
Staff Editor
OECUMENIUS
COMMENTARY ON THE
APOCALYPSE
Translated by
JOHN N. SUGGIT
Rhodes University
Grahamstown, South Africa
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS
Washington, D.C.
Copyright © 2006
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the
American National Standards for Information Science—Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi z39.48 – 1984.
library of congress cataloging-in-publication data
Oecumenius, Bishop of Tricca.
[Oecumenii commentarius in Apocalypsin. English]
Commentary on the Apocalypse / Oecumenius ; translated by John N. Suggit.
p. cm. — (The Fathers of the Church, a new translation v. 112)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn-13: 978-0-8132-0112-2 (cloth : alk. paper)
isbn-10: 0-8132-0112-8 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Bible. N.T. Revelation—
Commentaries—Early works to 1800. I. Suggit, John. II. Title.
III. Series: Fathers of the Church ; v. 112.
bs2825.53.o3513 2006
228’.077—dc22
2005024588
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vii
Abbreviations ix
Select Bibliography xi
Introduction 1
commentary on the apocalypse
Chapter One 19
Chapter Two 35
Chapter Three 49
Chapter Four 64
Chapter Five 79
Chapter Six 95
Chapter Seven 110
Chapter Eight 123
Chapter Nine 140
Chapter Ten 155
Chapter Eleven 171
Chapter Twelve 189
indices
Index of Proper Names 207
Index of Holy Scripture 211

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Some years ago the late Dr. Alastair Kirkland, who was engaged
on writing a commentary on the book of Revelation, asked Mrs.
Barbara Churms to produce an English translation of Oecumen-
ius’s commentary. After Alastair’s tragic murder in 1997 Barbara
asked me to look over and revise her translation, which followed
the edition of Hoskier.
The present work, which represents a thorough revision of
Barbara’s version, has now become almost a new translation.
While acknowledging my indebtedness to Barbara Churms, with-
out whom I would never have learnt about Oecumenius, I must
be held responsible for any errors or infelicities of expression. I
am alone responsible for the Introduction and for the footnotes.
We both hope that the version will be of interest to those con-
cerned with the Revelation as well as to those who might care to
see a good example of exegetical principles followed in the sixth
century.
I am indebted to the editors of the Fathers of the Church se-
ries in the Catholic University of America, and especially to Joel
Kalvesmaki and Carole Burnett for their help and encourage-
ment. Marc de Groote’s edition of the original Greek has been
invaluable.

John Suggit
July 2005
vii

ABBREVIATIONS
Byz neugr Jahrb Byzantinisch-neugriechische Jahrbücher.
GCS Die griechischen christlichen Schriftsteller der
ersten drei Jahrhunderte.
GNB Good News Bible.
JTS Journal of Theological Studies.
LXX Septuagint (ed. A. Rahlfs).
Oec Marc de Groote, Oecumenii commentarius in
Apocalypsin (Leuven: Peeters, 1999).
RSV Revised Standard Version.
StudP Studia Patristica.
VC Vigiliae Christianae.
ix