Apocalipsis 1:5

Who is the faithful witness

(ο μαρτυς ο πιστος). "The witness the faithful," nominative in apposition like πρωτοτοκος and αρχων with the preceding ablative Ιησου Χριστου with απο, a habit of John in this book (apparently on purpose) as in Apocalipsis 2:13; Apocalipsis 2:20; Apocalipsis 3:12, etc.

See this same phrase in Apocalipsis 2:13; Apocalipsis 3:14. The use of μαρτυς of Jesus here is probably to the witness (Apocalipsis 1:1) in this book (Apocalipsis 22:16), not to the witness of Jesus before Pilate (1 Timoteo 6:13).The first-born of the dead

(ο πρωτοτοκος των νεκρων). A Jewish Messianic title (Salmo 88:28) and as in Colosenses 1:18 refers to priority in the resurrection to be followed by others. See Lucas 2:7 for the word.The ruler of the kings of the earth

(ο αρχων των βασιλεων της γης). Jesus by his resurrection won lordship over the kings of earth (Apocalipsis 17:14; Apocalipsis 19:16), what the devil offered him by surrender (Mateo 4:8).Unto him that loveth us

(τω αγαπωντ ημας). Dative of the articular present (not aorist αγαπησαντ) active participle of αγαπαω in a doxology to Christ, the first of many others to God and to Christ (Apocalipsis 1:6; Apocalipsis 4:11; Apocalipsis 5:9; Apocalipsis 5:12; Apocalipsis 7:10; Apocalipsis 7:12, etc.). For the thought see Juan 3:16.Loosed

(λυσαντ). First aorist active participle of λυω (Aleph A C), though some MSS. (P Q) read λουσαντ (washed), a manifest correction. Note the change of tense. Christ loosed us once for all, but loves us always.By his blood

(εν τω αιματ αυτου). As in Apocalipsis 5:9. John here as in the Gospel and Epistles states plainly and repeatedly the place of the blood of Christ in the work of redemption.