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, but the precise identity of the author remains a point of academic debate. 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.

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:
'' showing the island of Patmos and the location of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Old Testament references

Verse 1

The Textus Receptus has the words το ονομα, to onoma, the name. Biblical exegete Heinrich Meyer notes that the definite article does not appear in several of the ancient manuscripts and is "to be deleted". 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.

The Message to Philadelphia (3:7–13)

Verse 7

The citation is from

Verse 9

Verse 12

Cross reference:

The Message to Laodicea (3:14–22)

Verse 14

In - he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth - the literal translation refers to the God of Amen. The Common English Bible gives the translation as "the God called Amen".

Verse 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 state, if it be the transitional stage to a warmer, is a desirable state ; but most fatal when, as here, an abiding condition, for it is mistaken for a safe state."

Verse 18

Verse 20

The vision of Christ "standing at the door" may be expressive of the near approach, or sudden coming of Christ to judgment, 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.