Scars That Sing: The Lexeme spházō and the Cruciform Sovereignty of the Lamb in Revelation
Scars That Sing The Lexeme σφάζω and the Cruciform Sovereignty of the Lamb in Revelation
This article investigates the Christological significance of thelexeme σφάζω ("I slaughter") in the Apocalypse of John, arguing that its theological and literary function is central to Revelation’s vision of divine sovereignty. Traditionally associated with sacrificial and violent death, σ...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Neotestamentica
Year: 2025, Volume: 59, Issue: 1, Pages: 62-85 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Christology
/ Revelation
/ Martyrdom
/ Sacrificial death
/ Lamb
/ Slaughtering
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| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament NBF Christology |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article investigates the Christological significance of thelexeme σφάζω ("I slaughter") in the Apocalypse of John, arguing that its theological and literary function is central to Revelation’s vision of divine sovereignty. Traditionally associated with sacrificial and violent death, σφάζω is reconfigured in Revelation to express redemptive suffering, messianic identity, and ecclesial vocation. While prior scholarship has richly developed the symbolism of the Lamb, few studies have undertaken a sustained lexical-theological reading of σφάζω as a structuring term. Through close analysis of the verb’s eight appearances in Revelation—especially in chapters 5, 6, 13, and 18—this article shows that σφάζω anchors the Apocalypse’s paradoxical logic of triumph through suffering. The study employs narrative criticism, lexical-semantic analysis, and biblical-theological synthesis to demonstrate that σφάζω functions as a theological grammar in the Apocalypse: it defines Christ’s worthiness, shapes the church’s witness, and subverts imperial paradigms of power. By presenting the first sustained lexical-theological analysis of σφάζω as a structuring Christological term, this article makes a distinctive contribution to Revelation studies, showing how the Apocalypse reframes trauma as theological hope. |
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| ISSN: | 2518-4628 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Neotestamentica
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/neo.2025.a977029 |