Andreas of Caesarea — Commentary on Scripture

Revelation 1:1

Revelation is the revealing of hidden mysteries when the intellect is enlightened by either divine dreams or by visions from divine enlightenment while awake.

things which must shortly come to pass. this means that some of the prophecies about them are to happen then, and the things concerning the end are not to come until later on, because to God a thousand years is like a prior day, which is like having already happened. Ps. 89:4

Revelation 1:3

for the time is at hand. the time of the giving out rewards, because the brief moment of life is small in comparison to the future.

Revelation 1:4

Although there are many churches in every place, he wrote to seven only. For through the number seven he indicates the mystery of the church which exists everywhere and that which corresponds to the present life in which there is a sevenfold period of days. And therefore he makes mention of seven angels and seven churches to which he says, “Grace to you and peace from the tri-hypostatic deity.” Through the phrase “who is” the Father is indicated, who spoke to Moses: “I am Who I am.” Through the phrase “who was” the Word is indicated, who was in the beginning with God. And through the phrase “who is to come” the Paraclete is indicated, who always visits the children of the church in holy baptism but will come more perfectly and more clearly in the age to come. It is possible to recognize in the seven spirits the seven angels who have received the governance of the churches. These are not numbered with the most divine and royal Trinity but are mentioned together with it as servants, even as the divine apostle says: “I testify to you before God and the elect angels.” These phrases may b…

Although there are many churches in every place, he wrote to seven only. For through the number seven he indicates the mystery of the church which exists everywhere and that which corresponds to the present life in which there is a sevenfold period of days. And therefore he makes mention of seven angels and seven churches to which he says, “Grace to you and peace from the tri-hypostatic deity.” Through the phrase “who is” the Father is indicated, who spoke to Moses: “I am Who I am.” Through the phrase “who was” the Word is indicated, who was in the beginning with God. And through the phrase “who is to come” the Paraclete is indicated, who always visits the children of the church in holy baptism but will come more perfectly and more clearly in the age to come. It is possible to recognize in the seven spirits the seven angels who have received the governance of the churches. These are not numbered with the most divine and royal Trinity but are mentioned together with it as servants, even as the divine apostle says: “I testify to you before God and the elect angels.” These phrases may be understood also in another manner. The phrase “who is and who was and who is to come” may signify the Father, who encompasses in himself the beginning, the middle and the end of all things.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 1:4

Revelation 1:5

washed us from our sins. the splendor belonged to him who redeemed us through love from the slavery of death, and He washed the stains of sin through the outpouring of his life-giving blood and water.

Revelation 1:7

he comes with the clouds. Either the bodiless powers are implied by the clouds, or those clouds which covered him on Mount Tabor with his holy disciples.

Revelation 1:12

He shows that the voice was not sensory when he says, “I turned,” not to hear but “to see the voice.” For spiritual hearing and spiritual seeing are the same thing.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 1:12

Revelation 1:13

He was clothed with a long robe, as a high priest of those things above “according to the order of Melchizedek.” Moreover, he was girded with a golden girdle, not around the loins, as other men are to check desires (for the divine flesh is not accessible to these), but at the chest, around the breasts, so that the boundlessness of the divine wrath might be restrained by benevolence and that the truth might be revealed girding about the two Testaments which are the dominical breasts through which the faithful are nourished. It is a golden girdle to indicate its excellence and purity and genuineness.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 1:12-13

Revelation 1:15

And the feet are also the foundations of the church. And they are “like bronze incense,” which, the medical people say, possesses a good smell when burned, and which is called by them masculine incense. There is another interpretation: since the bronze refers to the human nature and the incense refers to the divine nature, through these is indicated the sweet odor of the faith and the unconfusedness of the unity. Or another interpretation: the bronze shows the euphony of the proclamation, while the incense shows the conversion of the nations, from which the Bride is commanded to come.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 1:15

Revelation 2:7

Every person has a physical ear, but only the spiritual person has a spiritual ear, such as was granted to Isaiah. And to such as conquer in the struggle against the demons, he promised to give “to eat from the tree of life,” that is, to grant them to share in the blessings of the future age, for eternal life is figuratively depicted through the tree. And Christ is said to be both, as is clear from what Solomon says and what our apostle writes in another passage. For, concerning wisdom, Solomon says, “She is the tree of life,” while John writes about Christ,“This is God and eternal life.” If, therefore, we are allowed to attain to these things, let us accomplish the victory over our sufferings. For, most certainly proper recompense will follow our trials, by the grace and beneficence of our Lord, Jesus Christ, with whom be glory to the Father together with the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:7

Revelation 2:9

In the things of the flesh you have tribulation and poverty, which you endure for my sake, being beaten by unbelievers and being deprived of present goods. But in the things of the Spirit you are rich, for you have the “hidden treasure in the field” of your heart.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:9

Revelation 2:12

The city to which this is said was given to idolatry, but he is expressing approval of those in it who remained faithful through the endurance of trials. The “two-edged sword” is either the word of the gospel, which cuts the heart and separates the faithful from the unfaithful, or it is the relentless judgment against the impious.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:12-13

Revelation 2:13

Antipas was a most courageous martyr in Pergamum, whose martyrdom I have read. Here the Evangelist recalls his memory as a demonstration of their endurance, as well as of the cruelty of those who were deceived.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:13

Revelation 2:14

It seems that this city had two evils. There were a good number of Greeks, and among those regarded as faithful the shameful Nicolaitans were sown as evil weeds among the wheat. And therefore he reminds them of Balaam, saying, “who through Balaam taught Balak.” Through these words it is clear that he refers to the mental Balaam, that is, the devil, who through the sensual Balaam taught Balak to throw a stone of stumbling before the Israelites, namely, to sacrifice to idols and to commit fornication. Through the pleasure of this heresy, they fell so low that they offered sacrifices to Beelphegor15.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:14-15

Revelation 2:17

The “hidden manna” is “the Bread of Life” which came down from heaven for us and became edible. Figuratively, those good things are also called “manna” which are in the future going to come down from heaven, from where comes also the “new Jerusalem.” Those who conquer the devil shall obtain these things.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:17

Revelation 2:18

The text speaks of the fiery likeness of the eyes, which signifies the illumination of the righteous and the punishment of the sinners. The feet and the burnished bronze symbolize the fragrance of Christ, the spiritual ointment, among those who are being saved. They symbolize as well the undivided and unmixed unity of the divinity and humanity. For this unity, as though hardened in fire by the Holy Spirit, is incomprehensible to human reasoning.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:18

Revelation 2:20-21

Although on account of [your] faithfulness and your service for those in need I acknowledge your piety and your endurance, nonetheless I rightly blame you, because you allow the heresy of the Nicolaitans to exist openly. This heresy is figuratively called “Jezebel” because of its impiety and licentiousness. Because of this [heresy] my servants, through their simplicity of mind, are presented with a stone of stumbling and are drawn toward idolatrous practices from which they had [previously] fled. You must curb this [heresy], because it deceitfully calls herself a prophetess, being moved by an evil spirit.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:19-20

Revelation 2:21

He continues to speak figuratively and compares the union with heretics to that with a harlot, and he threatens to throw her into sickness and death as well as those who have become defiled with her and have committed fornication before God, unless they should turn to him through repentance.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:22-23

Revelation 2:24-25

To the more simple, the Lord says, “Since on account of your simplicity you are not able to withstand those who are evil and have a facility with words,” namely, that you do not know “the deep things of Satan,” as you call it, I will not expect from you any war through words, but only that you preserve the teaching which you received until I remove you from there.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:24-25

Revelation 2:26-27

“To him who does my works,” the Lord says, “I will give authority over five or ten cities,” as he said in the Gospel. Or, this passage refers to the judgment of the unfaithful, through which the deceived will be crushed, as though beaten with a rod of iron, and will be judged by those who have believed in Christ. “The men of Nineveh will rise and condemn this generation.” The words “as I myself received from the Father” refer to his human nature, which he assumed through the flesh.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:26-27

Revelation 2:28

By morning star he means either that one of whom Isaiah spoke: “How have you fallen from heaven, O Day Star, O Morning Star?” and of whom it is promised that he will be “crushed under the feet of the saints,” or the Lord means that one of whom the blessed Peter speaks, of the “morning star who rises in the hearts of the faithful,” clearly meaning the illumination of Christ. Both John the Baptist and Elijah the Tishbite were called light bringers. For the one foretold of the first rising of the “sun of righteousness,” and the other is known as the forerunner of the second [rising]. And after these, we believe that those who have conquered the devil will receive their inheritance. Nor is it surprising that we should interpret this in so opposite a fashion. For we learn from the Holy Scriptures that the “lion” from Judah is Christ, while the “lion” from Bashan is the antichrist, the same image signifying both. And so is noted the rising of the coming day, in which the darkness of the present life will be hidden, and the angel proclaims this. For this precedes the “sun of righteousness”…

By morning star he means either that one of whom Isaiah spoke: “How have you fallen from heaven, O Day Star, O Morning Star?” and of whom it is promised that he will be “crushed under the feet of the saints,” or the Lord means that one of whom the blessed Peter speaks, of the “morning star who rises in the hearts of the faithful,” clearly meaning the illumination of Christ. Both John the Baptist and Elijah the Tishbite were called light bringers. For the one foretold of the first rising of the “sun of righteousness,” and the other is known as the forerunner of the second [rising]. And after these, we believe that those who have conquered the devil will receive their inheritance. Nor is it surprising that we should interpret this in so opposite a fashion. For we learn from the Holy Scriptures that the “lion” from Judah is Christ, while the “lion” from Bashan is the antichrist, the same image signifying both. And so is noted the rising of the coming day, in which the darkness of the present life will be hidden, and the angel proclaims this. For this precedes the “sun of righteousness” which will shine upon the saints and dispel the gloom of the present life, by whose rays may also we be made bright, by the good pleasure of the Father with the all-holy Spirit, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:28-29