Revelation 1:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →John identifies himself as a faithful witness who reports the word of God and the testimony of Jesus, recording everything he saw.
What Does Revelation 1:2 Mean?
This verse continues the introduction, describing John's role in the chain of revelation just named. He is the eyewitness who bears record, the one who saw and now writes. His credentials are simple: he faithfully passes on the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, adding nothing and withholding nothing of what was shown him.
To bear record is to testify, to stand as a witness to what is true. John does not offer his own opinions; he reports what he received. This sets the tone for the whole book, which asks to be read as trustworthy testimony rather than human invention. The same Jesus who is the faithful witness has a faithful witness in John, and through him invites every later reader to trust what is written.
Revelation 1:2 in the Original Language
martyria (μαρτυρία), 'testimony' -- a witness or sworn account of what one has seen and knows to be true.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 1:2
What does Revelation 1:2 mean?
John identifies himself as a faithful witness who reports the word of God and the testimony of Jesus, recording everything he saw.