John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection , etc.] This may be considered either as descriptive of the persons that shall partake of this privilege; as that they are only such who are blessed with spiritual blessings, with a justifying righteousness, with pardon of sin, and regenerating grace, and who are sanctified by the Spirit of God; these, and these only, will be first raised, and will be called to inherit the kingdom prepared for them, ( Matthew 25:34) or else as expressive of their happiness and holiness when raised; they shall be perfectly blessed in soul and body, and perfectly holy in both: they shall be blessed, for on such the second death hath no power ; which is the lake of fire, ( Revelation 20:14 21:8) the sense is, they shall escape everlasting burnings, the fire of hell, the torment and misery of the wicked; they shall be delivered from wrath to come; and as their bodies will die no more, their souls will not be subject to any sense of wrath, or to any sort of punishment: and they will be holy; they will have no sin in them: but they will be priests of God and of Christ ; of God the Father, and of his Son Jesus Christ, being made so to the former by the latter, ( Revelation 1:6) or of God, even of Christ, that is, of God, who is Christ, since it follows: and shall reign with him ; they will be wholly devoted to and employed in the service of God and of Christ, and will be continually offering up the sacrifices of praise, or singing the song of the Lamb, adoring the grace and goodness of God and Christ unto them, shown them both in providence and in grace: and shall reign with him a thousand years ; this is mentioned again, partly to assert the certainty of it, and partly to point at the blessedness of the risen saints.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-6 - Here is an account of the reign of the saints, for the same space of time as Satan is bound. Those who suffer with Christ, shall reign with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, in conformity to him in his wisdom, righteousness, and holiness: this is called the firs resurrection, with which none but those who serve Christ, and suffe for him, shall be favoured. The happiness of these servants of God is declared. None can be blessed but those that are holy; and all that ar holy shall be blessed. We know something thing of what the first deat is, and it is very awful; but we know not what this second death is. I must be much more dreadful; it is the death of the soul, eterna separation from God. May we never know what it is: those who have bee made partakers of a spiritual resurrection, are saved from the power of the second death. We may expect that a thousand years will follow the destruction of the antichristian, idolatrous, persecuting powers during which pure Christianity, in doctrine, worship, and holiness will be made known over all the earth. By the all-powerful working of the Holy Spirit, fallen man will be new-created; and faith and holines will as certainly prevail, as unbelief and unholiness now do. We ma easily perceive what a variety of dreadful pains, diseases, and othe calamities would cease, if all men were true and consistent Christians All the evils of public and private contests would be ended, an happiness of every kind largely increased. Every man would try to lighten suffering, instead of adding to the sorrows around him. It is our duty to pray for the promised glorious days, and to do every thin in our public and private stations which can prepare for them.
Greek Textus Receptus
μακαριος 3107 A-NSM και 2532 CONJ αγιος 40 A-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM εχων 2192 5723 V-PAP-NSM μερος 3313 N-ASN εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF αναστασει 386 N-DSF τη 3588 T-DSF πρωτη 4413 A-DSF επι 1909 PREP τουτων 5130 D-GPM ο 3588 T-NSM θανατος 2288 N-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM δευτερος 1208 A-NSM ουκ 3756 PRT-N εχει 2192 5719 V-PAI-3S εξουσιαν 1849 N-ASF αλλ 235 CONJ εσονται 2071 5704 V-FXI-3P ιερεις 2409 N-NPM του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ του 3588 T-GSM χριστου 5547 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ βασιλευσουσιν 936 5692 V-FAI-3P μετ 3326 PREP αυτου 846 P-GSM χιλια 5507 A-APN ετη 2094 N-APN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. Hath part (ecwn merov). A phrase peculiar to John as referring to a person. Compare John xiii. 8.Second death. See on ch. ii. 11.
