CHAPTER 5
Revelation 5:1-7 And I saw a scroll written inside and outside, sealed with seven seals, in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll 1 and break its seals? But no one in Heaven, on earth, or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even look inside it. And I wept much because no one was found worthy to open the little scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the seven seals of the scroll.” And I saw in the midst of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders, a Lamb standing as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne .
The divine Scripture of God explains in detail to us about a certain scroll [βίβλον] in which all people happen to be written , perhaps metaphorically calling the record of our memory before God a “ scroll ”, except that the prophet calls it a small scroll 2 [βιβλίον] saying, “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and upon your small scroll all will be written.” (Ps. 138:16) Moses, the wisest of all, seeking to atone for Israel’s sins, wept and cried out to God, saying: “If you forgive their sin, forgive them; but if not, then erase me from the scroll you have written.” (Ex. 32:32)
This divine evangelist sees this scroll written inside and outside. And inside would be those from Israel, written as worshippers of God 3 [θεοσεβεῖς] according to the instruction of the law; outside, and in a worse fate, those from the nations 4 [ἐθνῶν] as idolaters before believing in Christ.
The little scroll was in the right hand of God; the paths of the saints, as I suppose, are those who succeeded in the ancient times. The little scroll was both sealed and secured with seven seals . The seventh, being a perfect number, signifies that the little scroll was sealed and marked very securely. What, then, does it mean that the little scroll is sealed ? It means that no one was found worthy to look at it except for a few. For how could what is sealed be revealed, given the transgression in Adam? Rather, the majority, immersed in sin, have prepared the little scroll to be sealed. For there were those (the majority, immersed in sin) who were innumerable, just like the few who were pleasing to God, who were allowed to speak freely; this freedom and the boldness before God inscribed within them all alike was sealed, since “everyone turned away and became corrupt”, according to the prophet (Ps. 13:3): for even though a few succeeded and were counted among the righteous in the past, they were merely human and did not become worthy to reclaim for all people the boldness lost through sin. Knowing this, the prophet cried out to God: “In the morning, when You hear the voice of my prayer, in the morning I will stand before You and You will look upon me.” (Ps. 5:4) “In the morning”, calling to mind the appearance of Christ, “the Sun of Righteousness,” (Mal. 4:2) having dispersed the darkness of ignorance. In this, humanity will gain boldness; and not otherwise. So that those who pray may be heard, and may be deemed worthy of this vision, with Christ having removed the sin that separates us from God. Before his visitation to humanity, “every mouth was closed, and the entire world was held accountable to God” according to what is written (Rom. 3:19). Therefore, the deep things recorded in the scroll, as has been said, indicate that the scroll was sealed and closed.
Oecumenius commentary on Romans 3:19
So that the Jews may not say, "Why do these things against us?" For it was not said absolutely concerning us. "Yes," he says, "concerning you." For we all know this, that whatever the law declares (and by "law" he means the whole Old Testament), it speaks to those under the law. For what need was there, he says, for David to accuse others and not his own, and to rebuke others, Isaiah having been sent to correct the Jews? "He speaks to those under the law." With great exactness he even set this. For he did not say, concerning those under law, but, "to those under the law." For he speaks much also concerning Babylonians, and Persians and Medes and Egyptians, and many other nations. Yet nevertheless he brought the Jews and these predictions concerning them to those under the law, that is, to those subject to the law. "That every mouth may be stopped." He shows the Jews to be boastful. Therefore the prophets rebuked them, so that the mouths of the boastful might be stopped. "And that the whole world may be held accountable to God." He intimates something like this: therefore, he says, the prophets refuted and showed the Jews as boasting without cause, and rather declared the whole world guilty of sins, so that they might progress toward faith, and human beings, knowing that neither by law and circumcision nor by uncircumcision is anyone saved, might readily approach Christ, who saves mankind by grace. And "held accountable"—liable to believe in Christ, in God. For if it has been said to those under the law by the prophets themselves that they do not walk uprightly but go far from the right way of life, and the Gentiles are much more in perdition and error, clearly the whole world is obliged to believe in Christ, in God alone who is able to save, both Jews and Greeks and the whole world through his own grace from their sins and from their long error and perdition.
He says, I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals? No one , he says, is worthy , O most divine angel, to speak to it, except the God who became man, who took away sin, “having wiped out the handwriting that was against us,” (Col. 2:14) and by his own obedience healed our disobedience (Rom. 5:19).
Oecumenius commentary on Colossians 2:14
"Having wiped out the handwriting that was against us." To say "having wiped out" is to mean almost completely blotted out. He says "handwriting" either meaning that personal, handwritten or vocal confession which they made to Moses, that "All the things which the Lord has spoken we will do and we will hear," (Ex. 24:3) or the obedience owed to God, or that command which God laid on Adam, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat; for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Gen. 2:17)
He said, But no one in Heaven, on earth, or under the earth was able to open the little scroll . For neither an angel accomplished these things for us, as Isaiah says; “neither an elder nor an angel, but he himself saved them because he loved them,” (Isa. 63:9) neither a living man, nor any of the dead. “ A brother is not redeemed, a man shall not redeem himself,” as it is written somewhere (Ps. 48:8). And what do I mean by saying to open the little scroll, when no one among men was able to look at it? For how could anyone filled with the mist of sin gaze upon the divine throne before which the little scroll was placed? And the unworthiness of all became the cause of my lamentations.
Then one of the elders said to me, “ Do not weep! Behold, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the seven seals of the little scroll .” He said, He who has overcome our conqueror (the Devil), this one who opened the little scroll and the seals.
Who is the lion of the tribe of Judah , but certainly Christ, concerning whom the patriarch Jacob said: "He crouched like a lion and like a young lion; who will rouse him?" (Gen. 49:9) And that the Lord arose according to the flesh from Judah, the divine apostle testified, saying it is evident that our Lord Jesus Christ arose from Judah (Heb. 7:14); and one might marvel why he did not say "a rod from the root of Jesse," nor "a flower from the root," as Isaiah said (Isa. 11:1), but rather " the Root of David ." He says this, showing that according to the human aspect, the rod was from the root of Jesse and David sprouting forth; but according to the divine aspect, the root itself is not only David, but of all visible and invisible creation, being the cause of all things, as has been stated before.
Oecumenius commentary on Hebrews 7:14
For it is said, "that our Lord arose from Judah." The word "arose" is related to the fleshly birth of our Savior God. A crafted expression referring to the fleshly birth of our Savior, the word "arose," taken from the prophecy of Balaam, "A star shall rise out of Jacob," (Num. 24:17) saying; and also from Malachi (4:2), calling him the sun of righteousness. Through these, it is shown that the coming of the Lord was for the enlightenment of the world.
He says, And I saw, in the midst of the throne and around the throne, a Lamb standing as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He came and took, that is the little scroll , from the right hand of the One seated on the throne . The Lord is called the Lamb because of His innocence and His role as the provider. Just as the lamb is a provider during the annual wool-shearing, so too the Lord “opens His hand and fills every living creature with good will.” (Ps. 144:16) Thus, prophecy itself also calls him in this way, through Isaiah saying that “he was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before the shearer, silent,” (Isa. 53:7) and through Jeremiah, saying, "I, he says, knew not that I was leading a harmless lamb to be sacrificed." (Jer. 11:19)
The lamb was not actually slain, but appeared as though it had been slain . For Christ overcame death by enduring it, and looted Hades of the souls held captive by it; thus, the death of Christ is not truly a permanent death, but a death brief in duration due to the resurrection. Since the Lord, after the resurrection, also bore the symbols of death, the marks of the nails (Jn. 20:25), the body made life-giving by His blood, as Isaiah says, speaking from the presence of the holy angels, “Why are your garments red, and your clothes like those of one treading in a winepress, full of the crushed grape?" (Isa. 63:2-3) Therefore, it appeared as though it had been slain in the vision of the apparition.
The seven horns testify to his great power, since the number seven, being perfect, signifies completeness, as has been said before; and the horns are a symbol of strength according to the prophet who says: "I will crush all the horns of the wicked, but the horn of the righteous shall be exalted," (Ps. 74:11) and the prophet Habakkuk “holds the horn in his hand.” (Hab. 3:4)
The seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth , are interpreted for us by Isaiah, who says that “a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and might, a spirit of knowledge and godliness, and a spirit filled with the fear of God shall rest upon him.” (Isa. 11:2-3)
The spirits , that is, the spiritual gifts, were indeed sent to every person from God, yet no one accepted them as having labored briefly in their journey toward all, to find rest in Christ. And what happened was superior in both word and understanding. For the spirits that he himself sent down from above as God, he himself received them below as a man, since it was both this and that. To him belongs the glory forever and ever, Amen.
[Fourth Discourse]
Therefore, when all those in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, wondered to open the little scroll or to look into it as it had been seen before, only Christ, the Son of God, who for us and through us became and remains what He was, took the little scroll.
Revelation 5:8-12 And when He took the little scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; and they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the little scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain and by Your blood You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing .”
Having received the little scroll from the Lord, all worshiped it, fully aware of the salvation it is destined to bring to humanity, and the punishment it holds for the impure demons. The elders holding harps signify the harmonious and melodious nature of their confession to God, according to the written word: "Sing to our God, sing." (Ps. 46:7)
The incense symbolizes the offering from all the nations. For Malachi says, in the person of God, to the disobedient Israel: "I do not accept a sacrifice from your hands, because from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name has been glorified among the nations, and in every place incense is offered in my name, and a pure sacrifice." (Mal. 1:10-11) Proclaiming beforehand through these the faith and gift-bearing of the nations.
and they sang a new song . For the song sung to God incarnate is new, having never before been brought forth prior to the incarnation. What was the song? Worthy are You , it says, "to bring this salvation to mankind, you who were slain for us and by your blood have redeemed many from under the heavens."
And he certainly spoke very securely from every tribe and language and people and nation . For he did not acquire all, for many died in unbelief, but from all those worthy of salvation. The prophet also said: “Arise, O God, judge the earth, for you shall judge all the nations; indeed, you will not condemn all the nations.” (Ps. 81:8)
And He made them kings and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth . Therefore, you are able also to understand the Scripture, for you are faithful servants of Christ, both kings and leaders of the churches; you are able to govern the passions rather than be governed by them; and as priests , you bring your own bodies “as a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice to God,” according to what is written. (Rom. 12:1)
And not only do the elders say this, but also the angels and incorporeal powers sang a victory hymn to Christ. Moreover, the number now mentioned by them was also foretold by Daniel (Dan. 7:10); the song of the angels attributes seven different honors to Christ, indicating through the seven that Christ ought to be crowned with countless praises.
Revelation 5:13-14 And every creature in heaven and on earth and under the sea, and all that is in them, heard saying to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him forever and ever.” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped .
The present text expresses the doxology universally accorded by all creation, both heavenly and earthly, to God the Father, and to the Word who became man and was made flesh 5 , that is, also glorified together with the Holy Spirit.
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Translator’s notes for chapter 5.
1. In some manuscripts of the commentary by Oecumenius, there is a gap (lacuna) in the Scripture text. The missing section reads, “and break its seals?” But no one in Heaven, on earth, or under the earth was able to open the scroll”. Though there is a gap in the Scripture text of the commentary, Oecumenius does comment on the missing text in his comments below the Scripture text. In other words, the original Scripture text that Oecumenius has does not omit that section
2. In Ancient Greek, βίβλος was the primary word for "papyrus" or "scroll," while βιβλίον was originally a diminutive meaning "little scroll" or "small book". Over time, however, the diminutive sense was lost, and βιβλίον became the common word for "book" or "document".
3. “worshippers of God” [θεοσεβεῖς] Θεοσεβεῖς means "godly," "pious," or "worshippers of God," a plural form of the Greek adjective θεοσεβής, combining theos (God) and sebō (to worship/revere), describing people showing deep reverence, piety, and right action toward God. And historically called "God-fearers," who were Gentiles attracted to Judaism but not fully converted, often observing Jewish practices like Sabbath and prayer.
4. The Greek word ἐθνῶν is the genitive plural of ἔθνος, meaning "of nations," "of peoples," or "of Gentiles". Its specific meaning depends on context, but it can refer to groups of people as nations or tribes, and in a biblical context, it often means non-Jewish people (Gentiles).
5. “ the Word who became man [ἐνανθρωπήσαντι] and was made flesh [σαρκωθέντα].” The Greek word ἐνανθρωπήσαντι is a theological term meaning "having become man" or "incarnate". The word "σαρκωθέντα" means "incarnate" or "became flesh." It derives from the verb σαρκόω, which means to give flesh or to incarnate.