Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
They overcame him (autoi enikhsan). First aorist active indicative of nikaw, the verb used by Jesus of his own victory (John 16:33) and about him (Revelation 3:21; Revelation 5:5). "The victory of the martyrs marks the failure of Satan's endeavours" (Swete).
Because of the blood of the Lamb (dia to aima tou arniou). As in Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:14. The blood of Christ is here presented by dia as the ground for the victory and not the means, as by en in Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:9. Both ideas are true, but dia with the accusative gives only the reason. The blood of Christ does cleanse us from sin (John 1:29; 1 John 1:7). Christ conquered Satan, and so makes our victory possible (Luke 11:21 f.; Hebrews 2:18). "Thus the Lamb is the true sunhgorov (like Michael) of the New Israel, its paraklhtov prov ton patera (1 John 2:1)" (Swete).
Because of the Word of their testimony (dia ton logon thv marturiav autwn). The same use of dia, "because of their testimony to Jesus" as in John's own case in Revelation 1:9. These martyrs have been true to their part.
They loved not their life even unto death (ouk hgaphsan ten yuxhn autwn axri qanatou). First aorist active indicative of agapaw. They did resist "unto blood" (mexriv aimatov Hebrews 12:4) and did not put their own lives before loyalty to Christ. There is a direct reference to the words of Jesus in John 12:25 as illustrated also in Mark 8:35; Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16:25; Luke 9:24; Luke 17:33. Paul's own example is pertinent (Acts 21:13; Philippians 1:20 ff.). Jesus himself had been "obedient unto death" (Philippians 2:8). These martyrs seem to be still alive on earth, but their heroism is proleptically pictured.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
1 Peter 1:2
Revelation 2:7
Revelation 12:13
Revelation 14:1
Revelation 19:13
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