[B-Greek] Rev. 3:1 -- TA hEPTA PNEUMATA TOU QEOU

Polycarp66 at aol.com Polycarp66 at aol.com
Sun Feb 1 19:09:59 EST 2004


In a message dated 2/1/2004 6:29:38 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
tedsmath at yahoo.com writes:
Revelation 3:1 reads, in part:
TA hEPTA PNEUMATA TOU QEOU
"the seven spirits of God".

I have seen more than one English-language Bible with a 
footnote that reads, "Or, the sevenfold Spirit of God."

It is easy to understand why, for theological purposes, one 
might want the footnoted translation.  Are there any 
linguistic reasons for such a translation?

Thank you very much!
You might also notice that in Re 1.4 you will also find 

KAI APO TWN hEPTA PNEUMATWN hA ENWPION TOU QRONOU AUTOU

Similarly in Re 4.5

hA EISIN TA hEPTA PNEUMATA TOU QEOU

In 5.6, however, the reading is uncertain since A happens to be the preferred 
text for the Apocalypse and lacks hEPTA though Sinaiticus and many others 
have it.

I would consider "seven-fold" as simply theologically motivated.  Sounds nice 
though.

gfsomsel



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