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who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
Revelation 1:2 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB who testified to God’s word, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.
  • KJV Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
  • BSB who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
  • NASB who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw.
  • NLT who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

John testifies faithfully to everything he saw, grounding the book in eyewitness, Spirit-given testimony. This assures readers that the visions are trustworthy.

Overview

John presents himself as a faithful witness who reports God's word and the testimony of Jesus exactly as he received it. The language of "testimony" echoes the legal and prophetic weight of bearing true witness. As with the Gospel of John, the apostle's role is to point beyond himself to Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 19

  • John 19:35He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe.
  • 1 Cor 1:6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
  • 1 Jn 1:1That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life
  • Rev 1:19Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter;
  • John 21:24This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true.
  • Rev 12:17The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God’s commandments and hold Jesus’ testimony.
  • Rev 6:9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.
  • Acts 26:16But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you;
  • Rev 1:9I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
  • 1 Cor 2:1When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
  • 1 Jn 5:7–11For there are three who testify:
  • John 12:17The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it.
  • Acts 4:20for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”
  • 1 Jn 4:14We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.
  • John 1:32John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
  • John 3:11Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness.
  • Rev 12:11They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death.
  • Acts 22:15For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
  • 3 Jn 1:12Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Revelation videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Revelation 1:2YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on RevelationMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.

How Revelation 1:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.