{Who is the faithful witness} (ho martus ho pistos). "The
witness the faithful," nominative in apposition like pr(9374)otokos
and arch(936e) with the preceding ablative I(8873)ou Christou with
apo, a habit of John in this book (apparently on purpose) as in
 2:13,20  3:12 , etc. See this same phrase in  2:13  3:14 . The
use of martus of Jesus here is probably to the witness ( 1:1 )
in this book ( 22:16f. ), not to the witness of Jesus before
Pilate ( 1Ti 6:13 ). {The first-born of the dead} (ho pr(9374)otokos
t(936e) nekr(936e)). A Jewish Messianic title ( Ps 88:28 ) and as in
 Col 1:18  refers to priority in the resurrection to be followed
by others. See  Lu 2:7  for the word. {The ruler of the kings of
the earth} (ho arch(936e) t(936e) basile(936e) t(8873) g(8873)). Jesus by his
resurrection won lordship over the kings of earth ( 17:14  19:16 ), what the devil offered him by surrender ( Mt 4:8f. ).
{Unto him that loveth us} (	(9369) agap(936e)ti h(886d)(8373)). Dative of the
articular present (not aorist agap(8873)anti) active participle of
agapa(935c) in a doxology to Christ, the first of many others to God
and to Christ ( 1:6  4:11  5:9,12f.  7:10,12 , etc.). For the
thought see  Joh 3:16 . {Loosed} (lusanti). First aorist active
participle of lu(935c) (Aleph A C), though some MSS. (P Q) read
lousanti (washed), a manifest correction. Note the change of
tense. Christ loosed us once for all, but loves us always. {By
his blood} (en t(9369) haimati autou). As in  5:9 . John here as in
the Gospel and Epistles states plainly and repeatedly the place
of the blood of Christ in the work of redemption.