Revelation 17 in the early church

[Vulgate: Apocalypse]

103 passages quote, allude to, or echo Revelation 17, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18

Revelation 17:1

Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:1–4	On the Dress of Women 2.12 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 197–206
Rev 17:1–6	6 Ezra 15.46 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	3rd century
Rev 17:1	On Christ and Antichrist 29 · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:1	On Christ and Antichrist 36 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:1–4	To Quirinus 3.36 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Rev 17:1	On the Dress of Virgins 12 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 249
Rev 17:1	Commentary on the Apocalypse 14.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 17:1–6	Part 4, chapter 7 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Revelation 17:2

The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:2	On Christ and Antichrist 36 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:2	On the Dress of Virgins 12 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 249

Revelation 17:3

And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:3	On Christ and Antichrist 36 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:3	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 19 (on Rev 17, 4 — 7) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 17:3	On the Dress of Virgins 12 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 249
Rev 17:3	Commentary on the Apocalypse 14.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 17:3–5	Letter 121.11 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Rev 17:3–5	Against Jovinianus 2.38 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	393

Revelation 17:4

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:4	On Christ and Antichrist 36 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:4	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 19 (on Rev 17, 4 — 7) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 17:4	On the Dress of Virgins 12 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 249
Rev 17:4–5	On the Holy Spirit 0 · Didymus the Blind	allusion, medium confidence	Greek ca. 360-390; Latin 387-391
Rev 17:4	Letter 46.12 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Rev 17:4	Letter 133.3 · Jerome	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 370–419
Rev 17:4	Book of Rules 7 · Tyconius	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380
Rev 17:4	On Cain and Abel 1.14 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 375-378
Rev 17:4	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 1.33.2 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 387-397
Rev 17:4	Apology against Rufinus 3.25 · Jerome	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 401–402
Rev 17:4–5	Apology against Jerome 2.24 · Rufinus of Aquileia	allusion, high confidence	ca. 401
Rev 17:4	Book 2, chapter 11 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 440-450

Revelation 17:5

And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:5–6	Against the Jews 9 · Tertullian	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 197–207
Rev 17:5	On Christ and Antichrist 36 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:5	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 19 (on Rev 17, 4 — 7) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 17:5	Against Marcion 3.13 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Rev 17:5	Commentary on the Apocalypse 8.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, medium confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 17:5	Letter 46.12 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419

Revelation 17:6

I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:6	6 Ezra 15.53 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	3rd century
Rev 17:6	On Christ and Antichrist 37 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:6	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 19 (on Rev 17, 4 — 7) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 17:6	Antidote for the Scorpion's Sting 12 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 211–213
Rev 17:6	Commentary on the Apocalypse 14.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 17:6	Tractates 0 · Gaudentius of Brescia	quotation, high confidence	ca. 397-410
Rev 17:6	Part 4, chapter 9 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	allusion, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Revelation 17:7

“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:7	On Christ and Antichrist 37 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:7	Literal Commentary on Genesis 12.26 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 401–415
Rev 17:7–12	Part 4, chapter 8 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Revelation 17:8

The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:8	Against Heresies 5.30.4 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 17:8	On Christ and Antichrist 37 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:8	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 20 (on Rev 17, 8) · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 200-235

Revelation 17:9

This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:9	On the Dress of Women 2.12 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 197–206
Rev 17:9	On Christ and Antichrist 29 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:9	On Christ and Antichrist 38 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:9	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 21 (on Rev 17, 10) · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 17:9	Commentary on the Apocalypse 13.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 17:9	Letter 46.12 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419

Revelation 17:10

There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. But when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:10	On Christ and Antichrist 38 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:10	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 21 (on Rev 17, 10) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 17:10	Commentary on Daniel 4.22-23 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 202-204
Rev 17:10	Commentary on the Apocalypse 13.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century

Revelation 17:11

The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:11	On Christ and Antichrist 38 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:11	Commentary on the Apocalypse 13.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 17:11	Eleven Tractates 1.16 · Priscillian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380–385

Revelation 17:12

The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:12	Against Heresies 5.26.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 17:12	On Christ and Antichrist 38 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:12	On the Resurrection of the Flesh 24 · Tertullian	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 208–212
Rev 17:12	Commentary on the Apocalypse 13.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 17:12	Divine Institutes 7.16.1 · Lactantius	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 303–311
Rev 17:12	Epitome of the Divine Institutes 66.3 · Lactantius	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 314–320
Rev 17:12	Dialogues 2.14 · Sulpicius Severus	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 404–406

Revelation 17:13

These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:13	Against Heresies 5.26.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 17:13	On Christ and Antichrist 38 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215

Revelation 17:14

They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:14	Against Heresies 5.26.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 17:14	Miscellanies 7.2.6 · Clement of Alexandria	echo, low confidence	ca. 198–203
Rev 17:14	On Christ and Antichrist 38 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:14	The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity 7 · Anonymous	echo, low confidence	203
Rev 17:14	Homilies on Jeremiah 8.6 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 240
Rev 17:14	Homilies 3.72 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	4th century (reworking earlier material)
Rev 17:14	Part 4, chapter 8 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Revelation 17:15

Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:15	On Christ and Antichrist 39 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:15	Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.161 · Origen	allusion, low confidence	ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Rev 17:15	Letter 63.12 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	249/250–258
Rev 17:15	Against Novatian 5 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	after 251 (disputed)
Rev 17:15	Commentary on the Apocalypse 1.5 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, medium confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 17:15	Tractates on the Psalms 54.11 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 360–367
Rev 17:15	Tractates on the Psalms 123.5 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 360–367
Rev 17:15	Eleven Tractates 1.13 · Priscillian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380–385
Rev 17:15	Letter 187.38 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386–430
Rev 17:15	Tractates on Matthew 4.3 · Chromatius of Aquileia	quotation, high confidence	ca. 388–407
Rev 17:15	Sermon 125.3 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 17:15	On Christian Doctrine 3.25 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	Books 1–3 ca. 396–397; completed 426–427
Rev 17:15	Tractates 5 · Gaudentius of Brescia	quotation, high confidence	ca. 397-410
Rev 17:15	On Baptism, against the Donatists 3.20 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 400–401
Rev 17:15	Against the Letter of Parmenian 2.22 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400
Rev 17:15	Literal Commentary on Genesis 12.4 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 401–415
Rev 17:15	Tractates on the Gospel of John 17.2 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 406–420
Rev 17:15	Homilies on the First Epistle of John 6.11 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, low confidence	ca. 407

Revelation 17:16

And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:16	Against Heresies 5.26.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons	allusion, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 17:16	On Christ and Antichrist 39 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:16	On the Resurrection of the Flesh 25 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 208–212
Rev 17:16	Lines 909–932 · Commodian	allusion, medium confidence	3rd century (disputed)
Rev 17:16	Commentary on the Apocalypse 13.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century

Revelation 17:17

For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:17	Against Heresies 5.26.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 17:17	On Christ and Antichrist 39 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215

Revelation 17:18

And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 17:18	On Christ and Antichrist 39 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 17:18	Literal Commentary on Genesis 12.4 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 401–415