Revelation 5 in the early church

[Vulgate: Apocalypse]

130 passages quote, allude to, or echo Revelation 5, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13

Revelation 5:1

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:1	Against the Jews 5 · Anonymous	echo, low confidence	3rd cent. (disputed)
Rev 5:1	Commentary on Daniel 4.31-34 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 202-204
Rev 5:1	PG 12:1077 (Ps 1 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Rev 5:1–5	Commentary on John 5.6 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 230–248
Rev 5:1	Homilies on Exodus 12.4 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Rev 5:1	Commentary on Romans 3.2 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Rev 5:1–5	To Quirinus 2.11 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Rev 5:1	Commentary on the Apocalypse 5.1 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:1	On the Making of the World 8 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:1–14	On the Trinity 6.43 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 356–360
Rev 5:1–5	Tractates on the Psalms 0.6 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Rev 5:1	Letter 53.5 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Rev 5:1	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 64.6.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, high confidence	374-377
Rev 5:1	On the Christian Faith 3.15 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 378–380

Revelation 5:2

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:2	PG 12:1077 (Ps 1 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Rev 5:2	Homilies on Ezekiel 14.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s)
Rev 5:2	Commentary on the Apocalypse 5.1 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:2	Question 122, section 25 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–384
Rev 5:2	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 64.6.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, high confidence	374-377
Rev 5:2–3	Apologetic Book 15.5 · Orosius	quotation, high confidence	ca. 415–416

Revelation 5:3

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:3	Against Heresies 4.20.2 · Irenaeus of Lyons	allusion, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 5:3	PG 12:1077 (Ps 1 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Rev 5:3	Homilies on Ezekiel 14.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s)
Rev 5:3	Commentary on the Apocalypse 5.1 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:3	Tractates on the Psalms 2.32 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Rev 5:3	Commentary on Romans 9:29–30 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Rev 5:3	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 64.6.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, high confidence	374-377
Rev 5:3	On the Christian Faith 3.15 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 378–380
Rev 5:3	Exposition of Psalm 118 2.31.2 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386-397
Rev 5:3	Commonitory 5 · Vincent of Lérins	allusion, high confidence	434

Revelation 5:4

And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:4	PG 12:1077 (Ps 1 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Rev 5:4	Homilies on Ezekiel 14.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s)
Rev 5:4	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 64.6.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, high confidence	374-377
Rev 5:4	Eleven Tractates 6.111 · Priscillian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380–385
Rev 5:4–5	Apologetic Book 15.6 · Orosius	quotation, high confidence	ca. 415–416

Revelation 5:5

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:5	On Christ and Antichrist 6 · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 5:5	On Ezekiel (Syriac fragment I, on Ezek 1:5-10) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 5:5	Commentary on Daniel 4.31-34 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 202-204
Rev 5:5	PG 12:1077 (Ps 1 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Rev 5:5	Homilies on Exodus 12.4 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Rev 5:5	Homilies on Ezekiel 14.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s)
Rev 5:5	Homilies on Numbers 16.8 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Rev 5:5	Commentary on Romans 3.2 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Rev 5:5	Commentary on Romans 7.20 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Rev 5:5	Letter 63.6 · Cyprian of Carthage	echo, medium confidence	249/250–258
Rev 5:5	Commentary on the Apocalypse 5.1 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:5	Commentary on the Apocalypse 5.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:5	Demonstration of the Gospel 8.2.31 · Eusebius of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 314–324
Rev 5:5	Catechetical Lecture 10.3 · Cyril of Jerusalem	allusion, high confidence	ca. 350
Rev 5:5	On the Orthodox Faith against the Arians 6 · Gregory of Elvira	allusion, high confidence	ca. 360-392
Rev 5:5	Commentary on Romans 9:29–30 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 366–384
Rev 5:5	Question 122, section 25 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–384
Rev 5:5	Ancoratus 19.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis	allusion, high confidence	374
Rev 5:5	Ancoratus 45.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis	allusion, medium confidence	374
Rev 5:5	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 64.6.5 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, high confidence	374-377
Rev 5:5	Eleven Tractates 1.31 · Priscillian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380–385
Rev 5:5	Exposition of Psalm 118 2.31.2 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386-397
Rev 5:5	Exposition of Psalm 118 8.60.3 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386-397
Rev 5:5	Letter 55.11 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386–430
Rev 5:5	On the Blessings of the Patriarchs 18 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-392
Rev 5:5	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 61.34.1 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-397
Rev 5:5	Sermon 4.22 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 5:5	Sermon 4.25 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 5:5	Sermon 37.2 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 5:5	Sermon 73.2 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 5:5–6	Sermon 138.4 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, low confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 5:5	Sermon 210.5 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 5:5	Sermon 263.1 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 5:5–6	Sermon 311.1 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 5:5	Sermon 375.1 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 5:5	Letters 23.16 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 394–413
Rev 5:5	On Christian Doctrine 3.25 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	Books 1–3 ca. 396–397; completed 426–427
Rev 5:5	Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.87 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 398–400
Rev 5:5	The Harmony of the Gospels 1.9 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 399–400
Rev 5:5	Tractates on the Gospel of John 13.5 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 406–420
Rev 5:5	Tractates on the Gospel of John 21.14 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 406–420
Rev 5:5	Tractates on the Gospel of John 46.3 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 406–420
Rev 5:5	Tractates on the Gospel of John 47.6 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 406–420
Rev 5:5	Against Lying 24 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 420
Rev 5:5	Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 4 · Eucherius of Lyon	quotation, high confidence	ca. 420-430
Rev 5:5	Carmina 2.1–10 · Orientius of Auch	echo, medium confidence	5th-6th century(?)
Rev 5:5	Carmina 4.96–125 · Orientius of Auch	allusion, high confidence	5th-6th century(?)

Revelation 5:6

Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:6	Against Heresies 4.20.11 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 5:6	Miscellanies 5.6.35 · Clement of Alexandria	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 198–203
Rev 5:6	Commentary on Daniel 4.31-34 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 202-204
Rev 5:6	Commentary on John 6.274 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 230–248
Rev 5:6–10	To Quirinus 2.15 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Rev 5:6	Commentary on the Apocalypse 5.1 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:6	Commentary on the Apocalypse 5.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:6	On the Making of the World 8 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:6	Tractates on the Psalms 118.3.7 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 360–367
Rev 5:6	Sermon 263.1 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 5:6	Poem 27, lines 198–224 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 393–431
Rev 5:6	Letters 32.17 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 394–413
Rev 5:6	On the Trinity 2.6 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 399–419
Rev 5:6	Apologetic Book 15.7 · Orosius	allusion, high confidence	ca. 415–416
Rev 5:6	Apologetic Book 16.5 · Orosius	allusion, high confidence	ca. 415–416
Rev 5:6	On the Soul and Its Origin 4.34 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 419–420
Rev 5:6	The Conferences 24.1 · John Cassian	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 426–429

Revelation 5:8

When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:8	Against Heresies 4.17.6 · Irenaeus of Lyons	allusion, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 5:8	Miscellanies 7.6.32 · Clement of Alexandria	echo, low confidence	ca. 198–203
Rev 5:8	Homilies on Ezekiel 7.4 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s)
Rev 5:8	Against Celsus 8.17 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 248
Rev 5:8	Symposium 5.8 · Methodius of Olympus	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:8	Commentary on the Apocalypse 5.3 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:8	Apostolic Church Order 18 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 300
Rev 5:8	Tractates on the Psalms 140.2 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Rev 5:8	Letter 94.6 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386–430
Rev 5:8	Letters 23.33 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 394–413
Rev 5:8	Letters 45.6 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 394–413
Rev 5:8	Commentary on Jeremiah 6.29 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 414-419

Revelation 5:9

And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:9	Against Heresies 4.20.2 · Irenaeus of Lyons	allusion, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 5:9	Acts of Thomas 71 · Anonymous	echo, medium confidence	ca. 200–250
Rev 5:9	Commentary on Daniel 4.31-34 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 202-204
Rev 5:9	On the Resurrection of the Flesh 56 · Tertullian	echo, medium confidence	ca. 208–212
Rev 5:9	Commentary on Romans 3.2 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Rev 5:9	Commentary on the Apocalypse 5.3 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:9	Exposition of Psalm 118 8.60.3 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386-397
Rev 5:9	Letter 94.6 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386–430
Rev 5:9	Letter 108.17 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386–430
Rev 5:9	Poem 20, lines 32–64 · Paulinus of Nola	echo, medium confidence	ca. 393–431
Rev 5:9	Letters 45.6 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 394–413
Rev 5:9	Confessions 10.70 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 397–401
Rev 5:9	On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 1.51 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	411–412

Revelation 5:10

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:10	Commentary on Daniel 4.31-34 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 202-204

Revelation 5:11

Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:11	Commentary on the Apocalypse 5.3 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 5:11	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 1.2.1 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-397
Rev 5:11	Poem 33, lines 63–96 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 393–431

Revelation 5:12

In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:12	Evening hymn (Phos hilaron) · Anonymous	echo, low confidence	second or third century

Revelation 5:13

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 5:13	Theological Oration 5 (Or. 31), On the Holy Spirit 33 · Gregory of Nazianzus	echo, low confidence	380