Thursday, August 28, 2008

How Does 2 Cor. 1:20 relate to Revelation 19:10?

Dr. Couch, does 2 Corinthians 1:20 relate in any way to the last part of Revelation 19:10?

ANSWER:  Yes, I thank it could, at least to some degree. Revelation 19:10b reads: "For the testimony of [about, concerning] Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." And, 2 Corinthians 1:20 reads: "For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us."

   Thomas writes on Revelation 19:10b: "He who has the spirit of prophecy will convey Jesus' testimony. … In essence, this statement means that the testimony given by Jesus is the substance of what the Spirit inspires Christian prophets to speak." This has to do with the prophets of Scripture, probably Old as well as New Testament. It is not about the average Christian being a divinely inspired prophet giving prophetic messages.

   The promises of God are in Him, in Jesus. He is the Amen, the Verily! The Right On! Revelation 3:14 also calls Christ "the Amen"! On 2 Corinthians 1:20 Hodge writes in His 2 Corinthians commentary:

    The promises of God are amen in Christ, because He is the sum and substance of them. … We say Amen, it is even so, to all God had promised, when we come to know Christ. … We Christians render a glad assent to the promises thus ratified in Christ. … In  Christ, therefore, the promises were fulfilled. … To receive God's testimony concerning His Son, to say Amen, and to believe, all mean the same thing.

   Thanks for asking.
   Dr. Mal Couch