God as the Φωστήρ (Light Source) of the New Jerusalem in Rev 21.11

Abstract

Abstract John refers to the φωστήρ of the New Jerusalem in Rev 21.11. This word is almost always translated by words like ‘radiance’ and ‘brilliance’, conveying the idea that φωστήρ is the glow that comes from the New Jerusalem as it reflects the glory of God. The author of this article proves, by means of careful exegesis, that the widely-attested normal meaning of φωστήρ in ancient Greek, ‘luminary’ or ‘light source’, is the only meaning justified by any known ancient text, including Rev 21.11, the two other texts alleged by lexicons to illustrate the meaning ‘radiance’ (1 Esdras 8.76 LXX and Anthologia Graeca 4.11, Epigram 359 line 7), and a few other extra-biblical instances of φωστήρ in which the meaning ‘radiance’ might conceivably be proposed. The author argues that a correct translation of Rev 21.11 leads to the conclusion that John intends his readers to be reminded of John’s vision of God on his throne in Rev 4.3, since in that verse he said that the Enthroned One appeared ‘like a jasper’, and in 21.11 he says that ‘her luminary [i.e. God] was like a precious stone, like a jasper stone’.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. New Testament Studies, 2026 · DOI ↗