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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 3:14 - 3:22
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_3:14-22
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Rev_3:14 "The Amen" This is an allusion to a title of YHWH, "the God of the Amen," in Isa_65:16. The term "Amen" is a form of the OT word for "believe" or "faith" (cf. Gen_15:16; Hab_2:4). It usually emphasized faithfulness or trustworthiness (cf. Rev_1:6; 2Co_1:20). See Special Topic at Rev_1:6.
▣ "the faithful and true Witness" This may be another phrase from chapter 1 (cf. Rev_1:5). In the Septuagint both of these adjectives are used to refer to YHWH. It is possible that emeth, which is the Hebrew word for "faith," "believe" or "trust," was translated as pistos (faithful) and alçtheia (truth). These two Greek terms are used often in Revelation for Jesus (cf. Rev_3:14; Rev_19:11; Rev_21:5; Rev_22:6).
NASB, NKJV "the Beginning of the creation of God"
NRSV "the origin of God's creation"
TEV "the origin of all that God has created"
NJB "the Principle of God's creation"
This is an allusion to both Gen_1:1 and Joh_1:1. The terms "beginning" (Hebrew, bereshith) and "origin" (Greek, archç) have two connotations: (1) start or (2) origin, source.
This phrase was used in the Arian/Athanasius (Trinitarian) controversy of the fourth century and is an allusion to Pro_8:22-31. Wisdom was YHWH's first creation and through wisdom all else was created. This was probably the origin of John's use of "logos" in his Gospel (cf. Joh_1:1). This is one of the strongest passages on the pre-existence of Christ (cf. Joh_1:1; Joh_8:57-58; 2Co_8:4; Php_2:6-7; Col_1:17), and also of Christ being the Father's agent in creation (cf. Joh_1:3; 1 Cor. 8:16; Col_1:15; Col_1:18; Heb_1:2).
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Rev_3:15 "you are neither cold nor hot" This may be an allusion to the lukewarm water that the people of this city had to drink because of the local hot springs. A similar charge is made against the church of Sardis (cf. Rev_3:1).
Rev_3:16 "I will spit you out of My mouth" The warnings of Rev_2:5; Rev_3:3; Rev_3:16-17 are shocking when it is realized that they are addressed to the visible churches of the first century. This is not the loss of salvation, but the loss of effective ministry (cf. Rev_3:19; Heb_12:5-13).
Rev_3:17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'" Rev_3:17-18 are a historical allusion to Laodicea as a center of banking, a center for dyed wool, and a center for eye salve. The tragedy of their prosperity was that they thought they had so much when they had so little (cf. Rev_3:1).
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Rev_3:18 "buy from Me" This may be an allusion to Isa_55:1-3, where God's offer of salvation was free, but described as a cost.
▣ "white garments" See note at Rev_3:4.
▣ "that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed" In the OT nakedness was a sign of defeat, judgment, and poverty.
Rev_3:19 "I reprove" This Greek term elegchô is used in the sense of "to expose and thereby to heal or correct" (cf. Joh_3:20; Eph_5:11-14).
▣ "and discipline" Being disciplined by God is a sign that we are members of His family (cf. Job_5:17; Pro_3:12; Psa_94:12; Heb_12:6).
▣ "be zealous" This is a Present active imperative. It is from the same word root as "hot" or "boiling" (zestos) used in Rev_3:15-16. Knowing and serving God must be a flaming passion and lifestyle.
▣ "and repent" This is an aorist active imperative. There is a recurring insistence throughout these seven letters that Christians, not just unbelievers, must repent and return to Christ for maturity, stability, and joy (cf. Rev_2:5; Rev_2:16; Rev_2:22; Rev_3:3; Rev_3:19). Repentance is a lifestyle, not only an initial action!
Rev_3:20 "I stand at the door and knock" This is a Perfect active indicative, "I stand and continue to stand at the door" followed by a present active indicative "and continue to knock." Although this church received no word of praise, it did receive a warm invitation. This is not the invitation to become a Christian, but rather an invitation for the church members to return to vital fellowship with Christ. This verse is often used out of context to refer to evangelism.
The metaphor of "a door" was used in the Gospels (cf. Mar_13:28-29; Luk_12:36) as a way of referring to the nearness of Christ's coming. See Special Topic: Door at Rev_3:7.
▣ "if anyone hears My voice and opens the door" This is a Third class conditional sentence implying potential but not certain action. In many parts of the world knocking is accompanied by a verbal greeting. Notice the volitional element; the person/church must respond and open the door. This is the covenantal aspect of all of God's relationships with humans. He takes the initiative, He sets the agenda, but humans must respond. Also, notice that the response is not just initial but continual. Salvation is not a product, but a lifestyle relationship. It has its ups and downs, but the existential fellowship is sure!
▣ "I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me" This is an allusion to the peace offering (cf. Leviticus 3, , 7), a time of fellowship where God symbolically ate with the offerer. Others see this as a reference to the eschatological Messianic banquet.
The term used here for a meal is the one used for the meal at the end of the day, which was the major time of family fellowship and companionship. In the East eating has always been a sign of covenant, friendship, and fellowship.
Rev_3:21 "I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne," This is a powerful image of intimate fellowship and inclusion. There are many allusions in the NT to believers' reigning with Christ (cf. Rev_2:26-27; Luk_22:30; Mat_19:28; 1Co_6:2 ff; 2Ti_2:12; Rev_20:4). Rev_22:5 implies Christians' eternal reign with Christ. See Special Topic on Reigning in the Kingdom of God at Rev_5:10.
▣ "as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" It is wonderful to know that Jesus has already overcome the world (cf. Joh_16:33; Eph_1:21-22) and that He is already seated at the Father's right hand (cf. Eph_1:20; 1Jn_2:1 and Rev_22:1) and that He wants us to join Him in His victory!
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