Mark of the Beast
I am researching the beast's mark. The number 666 had long been considered as the original. However, if you look into other early manuscripts of the Book of Revelation further, they supplied various numbers. The earliest version of the passage in the Book of Revelation describing the Number of the Beast was found in a fragment of papyrus 115, which was discovered in 2005. Given that it listed the number as 616, it is possible that this was the original (although 665 is also discovered). What does the common consensus show?
55 tc A few MSS (𝔓115 C, along with a few MSS known to Irenaeus {and two minuscule MSS, 5 and 11, no longer extant}), read 616 here, and several other witnesses have other variations. Irenaeus’ mention of MSS that have 616 is balanced by his rejection of such witnesses in this case. As intriguing as the reading 616 is (since the conversion of Nero Caesar’s name in Latin by way of gematria would come out to 616), it must remain suspect because such a reading seems motivated in that it conforms more neatly to Nero’s gematria.
Comments
-
Daniel Wallace, who if I remember correctly, is involved with the NET has written about this. Depending on your library, if you search "beast NEAR 616" you will find a number of resources that reference this.
0 -
In addition to Ronald's suggestion its worth looking at the Factbook article for some pointers
0 -
the conversion of Nero Caesar’s name in Latin by way of gematria would come out to 616
You might find this video interesting ...
Was Nero the Antichrist? Dr. Michael S. Heiser
I might comment further on Dr. Heiser's view and point out that those who (1) hold to a late date for Revelation (95AD) and (2) use the late date to reject Nero as the fulfillment ... In my experience, never have an answer if you inquire as to who the number identified in 95AD.
This is why dispensational commentators have always projected the beast into the future. But a yet future beast could not have been known by the original recipients of the prophecy.
0 -
Basically, 666 reflects the Latinized, but awkward spelling, Neron Caesar, and someone later down the road corrected it to Nero Caesar, which is 616. Or as Dan Wallace says, "666 is the number of the beast, and 616 is the neighbor of the beast." [:)]
That is a very simplified explanation, but searching for Neron, Nero, 616, and 666 will get you where you want to go.
Disclaimer: I hate using messaging, texting, and email for real communication. If anything that I type to you seems like anything other than humble and respectful, then I have not done a good job typing my thoughts.
0
