Expert: Maria - 11/3/2009

Question
Hi!

I was just wondering about this verse from Revelation.  It's important to note that in the original Greek (even though I'm sure you know this), there was no punctuation at all (nor accents, breathing marks, etc.hh).  I was wondering about Revelation 17:8, which would read like this:

το θηριον ο ειδες ην και ουκ εστιν και μελλει αναβαινειν εκ της αβυσσου και εις απωλειαν υπαγειν και θαυμασονται οι κατοικουντες επι της γης ων ου γεγραπται τα ονοματα επι το βιβλιον της ζωης απο καταβολης κοσμου βλεποντες το θηριον ο τι ην και ουκ εστιν καιπερ εστιν

I'm just wondering if the phrase "from the foundation of the world" refers to the names in the book, or if it could refer to the book itself.  Like, does this verse speak of the names being written from the foundation of the world, or the book being from the foundation of the world?  Or is it polyvalent and could mean either?  In the English it seems to be such.

Thanks a lot!

Answer
Hello,

The expression “απο καταβολης κοσμου” ("from the foundation of the world") we read in Revelation 17:8 (“And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world”) just refers simply to the dwellers (οι κατοικουντες) on earth (επι της γης) whose( ων) names (τα ονοματα ) have not been written (ου γεγραπται) in the book (επι το βιβλιον ) of life (της ζωης )beginning from the foundation of the world.

Therefore “απο καταβολης κοσμου” (i.e. “ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου” with accents & breathing marks) refers to the names in the book, not  to the book itself.  

Best regards,
Maria