Revelation 22:18

ἐάν τις. Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32. The parallel of those passages proves, that the curse denounced is on those who interpolate unauthorised doctrines in the prophecy, or who neglect essential ones; not on transcribers who might unadvisedly interpolate or omit something in the true text. The curse, if understood in the latter sense, has been remarkably ineffective, for the common text of this book is more corrupt, and the truer text oftener doubtful, than in any other part of the N.T. It is probable however that many more difficult expressions would have been softened away if scribes had not taken the warning to themselves: it was certainly applied in this sense by Andreas. But it may be feared that additions and omissions in the more serious sense have also been frequently made by rash interpreters. It is certain that the curse is designed to guard the integrity of this Book of the Revelation, not to close the N.T. canon. It is not even very probable that this was the last written of the canonical books.

ἐπʼ αὐτά. The unemphatic pronoun is best rendered “thereto.” Though it cannot refer grammatically to τοὺς λόγους κ.τ.λ., no doubt it does so ungrammatically.