Andreas of Caesarea — Commentary on Scripture

Revelation 3:1

We have said before that the “seven stars” are divine angels. The “seven spirits” are either the selfsame angels or they are the energies of the life-giving Spirit. Either way, both are in the hand of Christ, for he governs the former as Lord, and as the Ὁμοούσιος he is the supplier of the Spirit.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3:1

Revelation 3:2-3

“I will come like a thief.” This is reasonably written. For neither the death of any individual nor the common consummation is known to anyone. To those who are prepared, it will be the cessation of toil; however, to those who are unprepared, like a “thief” he will bring on spiritual death.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3:3

Revelation 3:7

His kingdom is called “the key of David,” for this is a symbol of authority. And, moreover, the Holy Spirit is the key of the book of the Psalms and of every prophecy, for through him the treasures of knowledge are opened. He received the first key according to his humanity, but the second key he possesses according to his deity, which has no beginning. Since in some of the copies there is written “hades” instead of “David,” through the image of the “key of hades” the authority of life and death is ascribed to Christ.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3:7

Revelation 3:10

By the “hour of trial” he speaks either of the persecution against the Christians which occurred almost immediately by those who ruled Rome at that time, from which he promised that the church would be freed, or he speaks of the universal coming of the antichrist against the faithful at the end of time. From this coming he pledges to free those who are zealous, for they will beforehand be seized upward by a departure from there, lest they be tempted beyond what they are able [to endure].

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3:10-11

Revelation 3:15-16

Just as that which is lukewarm induces vomiting in those who take it in, so also, he says, I will vomit you out through the word of my mouth into eternal destruction, as though you were rotten food. For mixing together the seed of the divine word with the thistles of wealth, you have become unaware of your poverty in spiritual matters and of the blindness of your spiritual eyes and of your nakedness in good works.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3:16-17

Revelation 3:17-18

If you wish to be rich, he says, with a zealous intent and a willing heart obtain from me, who makes rich, gold that has been purified in fire, namely, the word of teaching that is made brilliant in the fire of temptations. And through this you will have in your heart a treasure that is secure, and you will wear the bright stole of virtue, through which the nakedness, which has come to you by sin, will be clothed. The salve is certainly poverty. For, if “gifts make blind the eyes of those who see,” then certainly that which is incorruptible will open them.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3:18

Revelation 3:21

“The throne” indicates the kingdom and the rest of the coming age. Therefore he says that those who have conquered the enemy “will be glorified with me and will rule with me.” When he says, “as I myself have conquered,” he is speaking in a human manner on account of the assumption [of the flesh]. For God the Word did not acquire the kingdom as a prize for virtue, for he has this essentially as an eternal possession. For if this were not so, he would not be able to share it with others. But according to the Theologian and the “son of thunder,” he shared from his fullness with all the saints. For this reason also he promised to his holy apostles that they would sit upon twelve thrones and judge the future twelve tribes of Israel. For when he who is God and the eternal King became man for us, he shared everything which is ours, except only sin, and shared everything of his with those who had conquered the devil, as it was possible for human nature to receive. Therefore, having made a cloud the chariot of his ascension into heaven, he said through the apostle that the saints would be sna…

“The throne” indicates the kingdom and the rest of the coming age. Therefore he says that those who have conquered the enemy “will be glorified with me and will rule with me.” When he says, “as I myself have conquered,” he is speaking in a human manner on account of the assumption [of the flesh]. For God the Word did not acquire the kingdom as a prize for virtue, for he has this essentially as an eternal possession. For if this were not so, he would not be able to share it with others. But according to the Theologian and the “son of thunder,” he shared from his fullness with all the saints. For this reason also he promised to his holy apostles that they would sit upon twelve thrones and judge the future twelve tribes of Israel. For when he who is God and the eternal King became man for us, he shared everything which is ours, except only sin, and shared everything of his with those who had conquered the devil, as it was possible for human nature to receive. Therefore, having made a cloud the chariot of his ascension into heaven, he said through the apostle that the saints would be snatched up to meet him on the clouds. And when he, who is the Creator and Lord of creation, shall come as judge, he will allow the saints to judge those who had rebelled against the truly divine and blessed service.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3:21-22

Revelation 4:1

The opening of the door signifies the revelation of the hidden mysteries of the Spirit. The trumpet represents the sonorous voice of the Revealer. “Come up here” indicates that the mind of the hearer is to turn away completely from the things of the earth and be turned toward heaven.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 4:1

Revelation 4:5

This passage shows how fearful and terrible God is to those unworthy of his long-suffering. However, [the lightning and thunder] become, to those worthy of salvation, their enlightenment. The lightning enlightens the eyes of the mind, and the thunder falls upon spiritual ears.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 4:5

Revelation 5:1

We recognize the book to be the most wise memory of God in which, according to David, all people are recorded, as well as the depths of the divine judgments. Those things written on the outside through the letter are more easily comprehended. Those things written on the inside through the Spirit are more difficult to decipher. The “seven seals” signify either the obscurity of the book which is known to no one or the economies of him “who searches the depths of the Spirit of God.” No created being is able to open these seals. The “book” also is understood to be the prophecy that Christ himself said to be fulfilled in the Gospel, but the rest of [the prophecy] will be fulfilled in the last days.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:1

Revelation 5:1

sealed with seven seals. this signifies either the fulfillment of the book, which is obscure and unknown to all, or the dispensation of the one who searches the depths of the Spirit of God. 1 Cor 2:10

book written within and without. is the all-wise memory of God. The things written on the outside are easily understood according to the literal meaning, but the things inside symbolizing the spiritual meaning are very hard to comprehend.

Revelation 5:3

This means that neither angels nor human beings, those in the flesh, nor the saints who had departed from the flesh are able to understand the knowledge of the divine judgments, except the lamb of God, by His presence releasing the obscurity of the things prophesied about him.

Revelation 5:4

wept. perhaps since the most spotless order of the angelic substances fell into ignorance.

Revelation 5:8

The harps indicate the harmonious and melodious divine doxology, while the incense indicates the sweet-smelling sacrifice of the faithful that is offered through a most pure life, as the apostle says: “We are the aroma of Christ.” The bowls are symbolic of the thoughts from which the sweet aroma of good works and pure prayer come.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:7-8

Revelation 5:9-10

Through this passage it is revealed that the elders, both those in the Old Testament and those in the New Testament, were well-pleasing to God, and that on behalf of the whole world they bring forth a [hymn of] thanksgiving to the Lamb of God who was slain and redeemed us. It is a “new song,” which we have been taught to sing, who from every tribe and tongue have been freed from the antiquity of the letter and through the Spirit have received light. He says that these will rule the new earth, which the Lord promised to the humble.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:9-10

Revelation 5:11-13

From all beings, whether intelligent or sensible, whether living or simply existing in some way, God, as the Creator of all things, is glorified by words proper to their natures. Also praised is his only begotten and consubstantial Son who graciously renewed humankind and the creation that was made through him. And it is written that, as man, he received authority over all things in heaven and upon the earth.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:11-13

Revelation 5:14

Through these, one flock and one church from angels and from men is indicated which has been formed through Christ, the God who united that which was separate and has destroyed the partition wall of separation. And so, as we have heard, with the four living creatures who surpass the other angelic ranks, also the [elders], who represent the fullness of those who are being saved, are worthy of the hymn and worship of God. Of which may also we be found worthy in Christ himself, the Giver of peace and our God, with whom together with the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory and might forever and ever. Amen.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 5:14

Revelation 6:1

Indeed, here is indicated the good order of those in heaven, which descends from the first ranks to the second. And therefore from one figure of the four-formed living creatures, namely, from the lion, he heard the first voice that gave the command, “Come!” to the angel who mystically symbolizes the vision. The first living creature, the lion, seems to me to signify the royal intention of the apostles against the demons. Concerning them it is said, “Behold, the kings of the earth have gathered together.” And again: “You will establish them as rulers over all the earth.”

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 6:1

Revelation 6:2

We understand the loosing of the first seal to signify the generation of the apostles. For, as though it were a bow, they stretch forth the gospel message against the demons and led to Christ those wounded by the arrows of salvation. And because they conquered the leader of deceit through the truth, they received a crown, and in hope they await a second victory, namely, the confession of the name of the Master unto a violent death. Therefore, it is written, “he went out conquering and to conquer.” For, the first victory is the conversion of the nations; the second is the willing departure from the body in persecution for the sake of that conversion.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 6:2

Revelation 6:3

I suppose that the second living creature is the bull to depict the sacred sacrifices of the holy martyrs, since the first [creature] signified the apostolic authority.

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 6:3