gstafleu

Hi Jake,

I'm not sure if the lamb was slain from the foundation. The verse says that the beast will be worshiped by all people for whom the proposition holds that:

ου γεγραπται τα ονοματα
not are written the names
εν τη βιβλω της ζωης
in the book of life
του αρνιου εσφαγμενου
of [belonging to] the slain lamb
απο καταβολης κοσμου
since the foundation of the world

At least, AFAIK apo can mean "since" in the timely sense. Sounds to me as if the lamb has been writing down names of the good guys in this book forever, ab urbe condita so to speak. The bad guys, not in the book, will worship the beast. I think . So, dead (FTTB) lamb: yes; crucified lamb: not necessarily.

Same construction in 17:8 I think.

This construction (good guys since beginning of time in book, others not) is consistent with 20:15, where those not in the book get dumped into a lake of fire.

Gerard Stafleu

Gamera

I'm unaware of any passion plays until much much later. As I recall the earliest would be some 900 years later.

But in any case, Paul often uses the trope of exaggeration. This is just an instance of it. He's saying he did such a good job recounting the Jesus narrative that it was as if they saw Jesus' crucifixion live.