Pronunciation Guide: ah-po-KAH-loop-sis

Basic Definition

Strong’s G602: ἀποκάλυψις describes a divine unveiling or revelation of hidden truths, particularly referring to God’s self-disclosure of His nature, purposes, and mysteries to humanity. It carries the sense of removing a veil to expose what was previously concealed, implying both the act of revelation and the content being revealed. This word embodies the concept of God’s sovereign initiative to make Himself and His truth known to His people.

Etymology and Morphology

• Noun (feminine)
• Compound word from ἀπό (away from) + καλύπτω (to cover/hide)
• Primary usage in prophetic, teaching, and apocalyptic literature
• Common in epistolary genre for divine revelation
• Appears 18 times in the New Testament

ἀποκάλυψις Morphology:

• ἀποκάλυψις (nominative singular) – revelation/unveiling
• ἀποκαλύψεως (genitive singular) – of revelation
• ἀποκαλύψει (dative singular) – in/by revelation
• ἀποκάλυψιν (accusative singular) – revelation (direct object)
• ἀποκαλύψεις (nominative/accusative plural) – revelations

Origin & History

The term ἀποκάλυψις emerged from classical Greek literature where it described the act of uncovering or disclosing hidden things. In Plutarch’s “Moralia,” it was used for revealing secrets of nature. However, its profound theological significance developed through the Septuagint’s translation of Hebrew concepts of divine revelation, though interestingly, the noun form is absent in the Septuagint.

The early church fathers, particularly Origen in his “Contra Celsum,” expanded its usage to encompass God’s self-revelation in the Messiah Jesus. Justin Martyr, in his “Dialogue with Trypho,” employed ἀποκάλυψις specifically to describe divine revelations given to the prophets and apostles.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Divine revelation of previously hidden spiritual truths
• Supernatural disclosure of God’s mysteries
• Manifestation of God’s character and purposes
• Unveiling of prophetic future events
• Personal illumination of spiritual truth to believers

ἀποκάλυψις Translation Options:

• Revelation – Best captures both the process and content of divine disclosure
• Unveiling – Emphasizes the removal of what conceals truth
• Disclosure – Highlights the making known of hidden things
• Manifestation – Useful when describing visible appearances of divine truth
• Apocalypse – Specifically for prophetic or eschatological contexts

Biblical Usage

ἀποκάλυψις first appears in Luke 2:32 where Simeon prophesies that the infant Jesus would be “a light for revelation [ἀποκάλυψιν] to the Gentiles.” This inaugural usage beautifully connects with the word’s fundamental meaning – God taking the initiative to make Himself known.

Throughout the New Testament, ἀποκάλυψις carries three primary spheres of meaning: the revelation of spiritual truth, the manifestation of the Messiah Jesus, and the unveiling of end-time events. Paul frequently uses it to describe both his reception of the gospel message and the progressive revelation of God’s mysteries to the church.

Key verses include:

• “A light for revelation [ἀποκάλυψιν] to the Gentiles” Luke 2:32
• “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the revelation [ἀποκάλυψιν] of glory” Romans 8:18
• “Waiting for the revelation [ἀποκάλυψιν] of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 1:7
• “I received it through a revelation [ἀποκαλύψεως] of Jesus Christ” Galatians 1:12
• “That by revelation [ἀποκάλυψιν] there was made known to me the mystery” Ephesians 3:3
• “At the revelation [ἀποκαλύψει] of Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 1:7
• “The revelation [ἀποκάλυψις] of Jesus Christ” Revelation 1:1

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish apocalyptic literature, the concept of revelation was often associated with the lifting of a curtain in the Temple, particularly the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This imagery powerfully connects with the moment of the Messiah’s death when the Temple veil was torn (Matthew 27:51), symbolizing the new access to God’s presence and the revelation of His mysteries in the Messiah.

The Jewish concept of הִתגַּלּוּת (hitgallut), divine revelation, particularly in rabbinic literature, shares semantic overlap with ἀποκάλυψις. Both terms emphasize God’s sovereign initiative in making Himself known, rather than human discovery of divine truth. This understanding shaped how the early Jewish believers in Jesus understood and used ἀποκάλυψις in their writings.

Theological Significance

ἀποκάλυψις stands at the heart of biblical theology, emphasizing that God is a self-revealing God who takes the initiative to make Himself known. This revelation reaches its pinnacle in the person of the Messiah Jesus, who is both the means and the content of God’s supreme revelation to humanity (Hebrews 1:1-2).

The progressive nature of revelation highlighted by ἀποκάλυψις shows God’s wisdom in gradually unveiling His redemptive plan throughout history. This culminates in the full revelation of His glory in the Messiah and the future unveiling of His kingdom purposes. The word thus bridges past, present, and future aspects of God’s self-disclosure, emphasizing both the “already” and “not yet” aspects of divine revelation.

The concept also underscores the supernatural character of divine truth – it cannot be discovered through human reasoning alone but must be revealed by God Himself. This humbling reality reminds us of our dependence on God’s gracious initiative in making Himself known.

Personal Application

Understanding ἀποκάλυψις challenges us to approach Scripture not merely as a text to be studied, but as the living revelation of God to be encountered. It invites us to come to His Word with hearts open to progressive revelation, expecting Him to continually unveil new depths of His truth and character to us.

This word also reminds us that true spiritual understanding comes not through intellectual effort alone, but through divine revelation. We should therefore combine diligent study with humble prayer for the Holy Spirit to reveal the depths of God’s truth to our hearts, always maintaining an attitude of reverent expectation for fresh revelations of His character and purposes.

Related Words

• φανέρωσις (phanerosis) – manifestation, disclosure; emphasizes the visible aspect of revelation, particularly in creation and conscience. See G5321
• ἀνακάλυψις (anakalypsis) – uncovering, particularly used for the removal of veils; connects to the imagery of Moses’ veil. See G343
• ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia) – appearance, manifestation; specifically used for the appearing of the Messiah. See G2015
• γνῶσις (gnosis) – knowledge gained through revelation or experience; emphasizes the content of what is revealed. See G1108
• δήλωσις (delosis) – manifestation, declaration; used for clear and evident revelation. See G1213

Did you Know?

• The English word “apocalypse” comes directly from ἀποκάλυψις, though its modern usage often emphasizes catastrophic events rather than the original meaning of divine revelation. This shift in meaning began during the medieval period when apocalyptic literature became increasingly focused on end-time judgments.
• In modern Greek, ἀποκάλυψις is still used in both religious and secular contexts. In Orthodox Christian liturgy, the Feast of the Revelation (Η εορτή της Αποκαλύψεως) celebrates God’s self-revelation in the Messiah’s baptism.
• The concept of ἀποκάλυψις profoundly influenced Jewish mystical traditions, particularly Merkavah mysticism, which focused on visions of God’s throne chariot. This connection highlights the word’s association with direct, experiential knowledge of God.

Remember This

ἀποκάλυψις reminds us that our God is not silent or hidden, but One who delights in revealing Himself, His truth, and His purposes to those who seek Him with humble, expectant hearts.