The use of ῥομφαία as a messianic interpretation in Rev 19,15

Authors

  • Waldecir Gonzaga Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)
  • George Camargo dos Santos Seminário Martin Bucer em São José dos Campos, SP https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0190-6800

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/2175-1838.16.003.AO09

Abstract

This work proposes to investigate the word ῥομφαία (rhomphaía – sword), notably in Rev 19,15, as a messianic reading. To this end, the use of this vernacular outside and within the NT is researched. In the pericope of Revelation with the wedding feast of the Lamb (Rev 19, 9). This divine warrior carries a sharp sword (ῥομφαία) and it is, in this context, that an investigation of the aforementioned lexicon is carried out in semantic domains. There are 230 records in the LXX and seven passages for ῥομφαία in the NT (Lc 2,35; Ap 1,16; Ap 2,12; Ap 2,16; Ap 6,8; Ap 19,15; Ap 19,21), classified in three distinct semantic domains: “weapons and armor”, “war and fight” and “feel grief”. Furthermore, there is the mention of six out of seven quotations from the NT in the Apocalypse of John, a canonical book written at the end of the first century AD. The use of ῥομφαία is noted in Christian literature of the second century, notably in the Epistle of Barnabas, in the Dialogue with Tryphon, in the First Apology of Justin of Rome and in the Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching of Irenaeus of Lyon, as a messianic reading. It is concluded that observing this vernacular, like others highlighted in Rev 19,15-21 in Christian literature from the first and second centuries AD, contributes to research in the area of ​​Christology, mainly in the theme of messianic interpretation.

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Author Biographies

Waldecir Gonzaga, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)

Doutor em Teologia Bíblica pela Pontifícia Universidade Gregoriana, Roma. Pós-doutorado pela FAJE (BH). Diretor e Professor de Teologia Bíblica do Departamento de Teologia da PUC-Rio. E-mail: <[email protected]>, Currículo Lattes:  http://lattes.cnpq.br/9171678019364477 e ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5929-382X

George Camargo dos Santos, Seminário Martin Bucer em São José dos Campos, SP

Doutorando em Teologia Sistemática-Pastoral pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro. Possui mestrado em teologia (PUC-Rio), mestrado em engenharia elétrica (UFRJ) e mestrado em engenharia de energia (UNIFEI). É professor visitante do programa de magister divinitatis do Seminário Martin Bucer em São José dos Campos, SP. E-mail: <[email protected]>, Currículo Lattes: http://lattes.cnpq.br/1550391663375510 e ORCID ID:  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0190-6800

Published

2024-12-17

How to Cite

Gonzaga, W., & Camargo dos Santos, G. (2024). The use of ῥομφαία as a messianic interpretation in Rev 19,15. Pistis Praxis, 16(3), 595–614. https://doi.org/10.7213/2175-1838.16.003.AO09