The next logical step in determining how a given literary unit in the Bible is put together is to see how it is divided into even smaller units and then determining how those individual units relate to one another.
As a first approximation, one might compare several English translations of the passage in question and note where the paragraph breaks occur, unless one is happening to be relying on versions such as KJV or NASB which do not attempt to make such judgment calls. Below is a compilation of such breakdowns for our passage in question:
Figure 1: Translations of Revelation 22:6-21
RSV: 6-7a; 7b; 8-9; 10-11; 12-13; 14-15; 16; 17; 18-20; 21
NRSV: 6; 7; 8-9; 10-11; 12-13; 14-15; 16; 17; 18-19; 20a; 20b; 21
NEB: 6-7a; 7b-15; 16; 17;18-19; 20a; 20b; 21
Phillips: 6-7; 8-11; 12-16; 17; 18-21
TEV: 6; 7; 8-11; 12-13; 14-15; 16; 17; 18-19; 20a; 20b; 21
NIV: 6; 7; 8-11; 12-16; 17; 18-19; 20; 21
Living Bible: 6-7; 8-9; 10-11; 12-14; 15-19; 20a; 20b; 21
JB: 6-7; 8-9; 10-15; 16; 17; 18-19; 20; 21
Since there is less than unanimity here, it is best to strike out in another direction, keeping in mind that whatever conclusions we reach should probably be in rough agreement with many of the proposed breaks shown above. And there are two general approaches that may give us more success, based on what some scholars call the deep and surface structure of the text.
Noam Chomsky defines the deep structure as the concepts, feelings, thoughts, and ideas being expressed while the surface structure consists of the actual words and language used to express those ideas. Thus, we could either look for natural breaks in the logic of the text or the specific words used in the passage. In actuality, it is a combination of those two factors which usually leads to the most accurate representation of what the author had in mind. And for biblical texts specifically, there is one additional factor aiding us in this quest, the ubiquitous presence of some form of symmetry exhibited by discrete sections.
We are actually a little ahead of the game at this point, since in Part 1 of this series we demonstrated a symmetrical arrangement for the key words appearing at the beginning (vv. 6-7) and conclusion (vv. 18-21) of our passage. Since these division points are quite consistent with those in the proposed in the majority of those seen in Figure 1, we are safe at this point in labeling them as Introduction and Conclusion, respectively.
For the next step in the process, I would personally look for other key words which happen to appear more than once to see if there is any rhyme or reason with where they are placed in the passage. One word which jumps out is “come.” It appears exactly seven times, a number which often has the symbolic indication (along with 10, 12, and multiples thereof) of perfection or completion. Thus, it sometimes serves as additional confirmation that the boundaries drawn for this passage in the previous post are correct. Plotting the contexts for each of these occurrences in order of appearance yields the following:
I am coming soon (7)
I am coming soon (12)
come! (3x in v. 17)
I am coming soon (20a)
Come, Lord Jesus (20b)
Note the symmetrical arrangement in which two references to Jesus' Second Coming bracket a threefold exhortation for people to turn to him. In addition, the final appearance of the word incorporates both those types of usage by alluding to the Second Coming but wording it in the form of an exhortation.
At this point it should be noted that the center section in the above arrangement is, in most translations, printed in indentations, indicating that it is a semi-poetic formulation, unlike the prose in the rest of the chapter. Since changes in genre like that often signal important shifts in idea, there is the possibility that it may indicate that v. 17 marks the center of our whole passage.
There are also repeated phrases in Revelation 22:6-21 combining “prophecy/prophets,” “words,” and “book.” Below is a summary of where these appear:
these words...of the prophets (6)
blessed is he who keeps the words of prophecy of this book (7)
the prophets...those who keep the words of this book (9)
do not seal up the words of prophecy of this book (10)
warning not to add to the words of prophecy of this book (18)
warning not to subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy (19)
Then there are the overall contrasts between blessings and curses found in in this passage:
blessing (7)
blessing (14a)
curses (14b)
curses (18-19)
Likewise there are contrasting descriptions of the saved and damned in vv. 11 and 14-15:
damned (11a)
saved (11b)
saved (14)
damned (15)
Finally, there is the appearance of the Trinity in the text with:
Lord God (6)
The Spirit (17)
Lord Jesus (21)
Just looking at the various subjects being covered in this section leads to some more clues as to its overall organization. For example, in each of verses 13 and 16 Jesus gives us a threefold description of who he is:
Verse 13: Alpha and Omega, first and last, beginning and end
Verse 16: root of David, descendant of David, bright morning star
Then, there is a marked contrast between those in v. 14 who have access to the tree of life and the holy city, and those in v. 19 who are denied access to them.
The two specific “blessings” pronounced in this chapter appear at the start (v. 7) and the center (v. 14) of the organization developed below. They complete the seven total blessings in the book.
With all these pieces in mind, let us attempt to put at least most of it together, looking for some sort of final symmetry in the final product.
A. Introduction (6-7)
1. true...Lord God
2. I am coming soon
3. blessing on those who keep the words of prophecy in this book
B. John “hears” and worships (8-9)
C. Center: Ultimate Fates
1. The Damned and Saved (10-11)
2. Jesus' self-description (13)
1'. The Saved and Damned (14-15)
2'. Jesus' self-description (16)
B'. The Spirit says, Everyone who “hears,” come (17)
A'. Conclusion (18-21):
3'. warnings for those who hears the words of prophecy of this book
2'. I am coming soon
1'. amen (truly)...Lord Jesus
Some of the insights one can get from this analysis as well as from scholarly commentators will be the subject of the next post in this series.
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