Revelation 3

Revelation 3 is the third chapter of the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle,[1] but the precise identity of the author remains a point of academic debate.[2] This chapter contains messages to the churches of Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea, three of the seven churches of Asia located in modern-day Turkey, continuing from the messages for the other four churches which appear in chapter 2.[3]

Revelation 3
Revelation 3:19-4:3 on Uncial 0169 from the fourth century.
BookBook of Revelation
CategoryApocalypse
Christian Bible partNew Testament
Order in the Christian part27

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 22 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are among others:[4][lower-alpha 1]

The map of West Anatolia (formerly the province of Asia) showing the island of Patmos and the location of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Old Testament references

The Message to Sardis (3:1–6)

Verse 1
"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead."'"[6]

The Textus Receptus has the words Greek: το ονομα, to onoma, the name. Biblical exegete Heinrich Meyer notes that the definite article (το) does not appear in several of the ancient manuscripts and is "to be deleted".[7] The Douai-Rheims translation and the Revised Standard Version refer to "the name" whereas the New Revised Standard Version and many modern translations refer to "a name"; the meaning is interpreted as "a reputation" by the Amplified Bible and the New International Version.[8]

The Message to Philadelphia (3:7–13)

Verse 7
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:[9]

The citation is from Isaiah 22:22

Verse 9
Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.[10]

Verse 12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go no more out:
and I will write upon him the name of my God,
and the name of the city of my God,
which is new Jerusalem,
which cometh down out of heaven from my God:
and I will write upon him my new name.[11]

Cross reference: Isaiah 56:5

The Message to Laodicea (3:14–22)

Verse 14
And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:'[12]

In Isaiah 65:16 - he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth - the literal translation refers to the God of Amen.[13] The Common English Bible gives the translation as "the God called Amen".[14]

Verse 15
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.[15]

According to the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, "cold" must mean "more than negatively cold", i.e. not warm: it must mean "positively, icy cold: never warmed", while "hot" literally means "boiling" or "fervent". They comment that "the lukewarm state (verse 16), if it be the transitional stage to a warmer, is a desirable state (for a little religion, if real, is better than none); but most fatal when, as here, an abiding condition, for it is mistaken for a safe state."[16]

Verse 18
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire,
that you may be rich;
and white garments, that you may be clothed,
that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed;
and anoint your eyes with eye salve,
that you may see.[17]

Verse 20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.[18]
See also: Laodicean Church § "Behold, I stand" (3:20)

The vision of Christ "standing at the door" may be expressive of the near approach, or sudden coming of Christ to judgment (see James 5:9), and his knocking may signify the notice that will be given of it, by some of the immediate forerunners and signs of his coming; which yet will be observed but by a few, such a general sleepiness will have seized all professors of religion; and particularly may intend the midnight cry, which will, in its issue, rouse them all.[19]

See also

Notes
  1. The Book of Revelation is missing from Codex Vaticanus.[5]

References
  1. Evans, Craig A. (2005). Craig A. Evans (ed.). Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: John, Hebrews-Revelation. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Victor. ISBN 0781442281.
  2. F. L. Cross, The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997), 45
  3. Bauckham 2007, p. 1289.
  4. Elliott, J. K. "Revelations from the apparatus criticus of the Book of Revelation: How Textual Criticism Can Help Historians." Union Seminary Quarterly Review 63, no. 3-4 (2012): 1-23.
  5. Claremont Coptic Encyclopaedia, Codex Vaticanus, accessed 29 September 2018
  6. Revelation 3:1 NKJV
  7. Meyer, H. A. W., Meyer's NT Commentary on Revelation 3, accessed 12 October 2018
  8. BibleGateway.com, Translations of Revelation 3:1
  9. Revelation 3:7 NKJV
  10. Revelation 3:9 NKJV
  11. Revelation 3:12 KJV
  12. Revelation 3:14 NKJV
  13. Jerusalem Bible (1966), footnote at Revelation 3:14
  14. Isaiah 65:16
  15. Revelation 3:15 NKJV
  16. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary on Revelation 3, accessed 14 October 2018
  17. Revelation 3:18 NKJV
  18. Revelation 3:20 NKJV
  19. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible - Revelation 3:20

Bibliography

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gill, John. Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746-1763).

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