A Problem with the Churches
A strange commentary by Victorinus. He mentions the churches Paul wrote to but not the ones John wrote to. This is hard to believe but it would be consistent with both Eusebius and Victorinus looking at the Apocalypse John the Baptist wrote and that would not include the seven churches.
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A City of God
A new bible translated by Jerome precedes Augustine’s commentary on the Apocalypse in The City of God. Prior to the Vulgate many believed the Apocalypse did not belong in the bible. This was settled once and for all by Jerome who had the authority to define the bible.
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A Witness
A view of what was. We don’t know what the Apocalypse looked like in the third century. Victorinus knew and we know what his commentary looked like. It didn’t include the seven churches John wrote to. It did include the seven churches Paul wrote to. There is a reasonable explanation for this.
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A Commentary on the Apocalypse
A dog that didn’t bark. Victorinus didn’t mention the churches. He does mention the seven churches that Paul wrote to. So why not mention the seven churches that John wrote to? It is possible that his version of the Apocalypse didn’t have the seven churches. We need to look at Eusebius to see if he has the same problem.
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A History
A witness to what no longer exists. What was Victorinus looking at when he wrote his commentary on the Apocalypse? What was Eusebius looking at when he wrote his history of the Church? We can only speculate based on what they wrote and what is reasonable. Can we make sense of it?
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A Recapitulation
A commentary on the Apocalypse by Victorinus who introduced the theory of recapitulation. Without it misinterpretation is likely. The visions of John cannot be understood to be in chronological order. Each vision should be considered independent of the others. Some are a repetition of others. Recapitulation is a necessary tool in understanding the Apocalypse.
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A Recapitulation
A vision not in chronological order. In chapter 9 and 11 we have the beast coming out of the “bottomless pit” and in chapter 20 the beast is being cast into it. Victorinus was the first to suggest this theory of recapitulation. The bottomless pit is also consistent with the beast that was, is not, and yet is. The two beasts are really the same.
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A Dog That Didn’t Bark
A commentary by Victorinus on the Apocalypse. He mentions the seven churches that Paul wrote to but not the ones John wrote to. Eusebius has the same problem. He mentions six of the seven churches of the Apocalypse but never associates any of them with the Apocalypse.
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A commentary by Victorinus does not mention the seven churches of the Apocalypse but does mention the churches Paul wrote to. It is possible that he and Eusebius had an early version of the Apocalypse that did not contain the seven churches. History helps us understand what is possible.
A History Of Interpretation
A hijack of the Apocalypse. How does a commentator become a prophet? Simply by interpreting the Word of God. Historians are less likely to have an agenda which makes them more trustworthy and possibly inspired by God. History can be used to interpret prophecy but only after it has been fulfilled.
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