3. drunk--
Re 14:8,
from which perhaps "the wine" may have been interpolated. They have
drunk of her fornication, the consequence of which will be
wrath to themselves. But A, B, and C read, "(owing to the wrath
of her fornication all nations) have fallen." Vulgate and
most versions read as English Version, which may be the right
reading though not supported by the oldest manuscripts. Babylon, the
whore, is destroyed before the beast slays the two witnesses
(Re 11:7),
and then the beast himself is destroyed.
the wine--so B, Syriac, and Coptic. But A, C, and
Vulgate omit.
abundance--literally, "power."
delicacies--Greek, "luxury." See on
1Ti 5:11,
where the Greek verb "wax wanton" is akin to the noun here.
Translate, "wanton luxury." The reference is not to earthly
merchandise, but to spiritual wares, indulgences, idolatries,
superstitions, worldly compromises, wherewith the harlot, that is, the
apostate Church, has made merchandise of men. This applies
especially to Rome; but the Greek, and even in a less degree
Protestant churches, are not guiltless. However, the principle
of evangelical Protestantism is pure, but the principle of Rome
and the Greek church is not so.
JFB.
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