1. properly, to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up; to disclose, make bare: Exodus 20:26; Leviticus 18:11ff; Numbers 5:18; Susanna 32; τά στήθη, Plato, Prot., p. 352 a.; τήν κεφαλήν, Plutarch, Crass. 6.

2. metaphorically, to make known, make manifest, disclose, what before was unknown;

a. passages of any method whatever by which something before unknown becomes evident: Matthew 10:26; Luke 12:2.

b. passages of matters which come to light from things done: Luke 2:35 (some make the verb middle here); John 12:38 (Isaiah 53:1); Romans 1:18; from the gospel: Romans 1:17.

c. ἀποκαλύπτειν τί τίνι is used of God revealing to men things unknown (Daniel 2:19; Theod., 22, 28; Psalm 97:2 (); 1 Samuel 2:27, cf. 3:21), especially those relating to salvation: — whether by deeds, Matthew 11:25; Matthew 16:17; Luke 10:21 (by intimacy with Christ, by his words and acts); — or by the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 14:30; Ephesians 3:5; Philippians 3:15; 1 Peter 1:12; τόν υἱόν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοί who, what, how great his Son is, in my soul, Galatians 1:16. Of Christ teaching men: Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22.

d. passages of things, previously non-existent, coming into being and to view: as, ἡ δόξα, Romans 8:18 (εἰς ἡμᾶς to be conferred on us); 1 Peter 5:1; ἡ σωτηρία, 1 Peter 1:5; ἡ πίστις, Galatians 3:23; the day of judgment, 1 Corinthians 3:13.

e. passages of persons, previously concealed, making their appearance in public: of Christ, who will return from heaven where he is now hidden (Colossians 3:3) to the earth, Luke 17:30; of Anti-christ, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 6, 8. (On this word ἀποκαλύπτω (and the following) cf. Westcott, Introduction to the Study of the Gospels, p. 9f (American edition 34f); Lücke, Einl. in d. Offenb. d. Johan. 2nd edition, p. 18ff; especially F. G. B. van Bell, Disput. theelog. de vocabulis φανερουν et ἀποκαλύπτειν in N. T., Lugd. Bat., 1849. φανερόω is thought to describe an external manifestation, to the senses and hence, open to all, but single or isolated; ἀποκαλύπτω an internal disclosure, to the believer, and abiding. The ἀποκάλυψις or unveiling precedes and produces the φανέρωσις or manifestation; the former looks toward the object revealed, the latter toward the persons to whom the revelation is made. Others, however, seem to question the possibility of discrimination; see e. g. Fritzsche on Romans, vol. ii., 149. Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:13.)