启示录 3
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
给撒狄教会的信
3 “你要写信告诉撒狄教会的天使，有上帝的七灵又有七颗星的主说，
‘我知道你的行为，你名义上活着，实际上是死的。 2 你要警醒！把所剩无几、奄奄一息的生命振作起来，因为我发现你的行为在我的上帝面前不纯全。 3 因此，要回想你以前所领受、所听见的教导，遵守这些教导，并且悔改。你若不警醒，我必在你意想不到的时候像贼一样忽然来到。 4 不过在撒狄，你还有几个人未曾玷污自己的衣服，他们要穿白袍与我同行，因为他们配得这样。 5 得胜者必同样穿上白袍，我绝不会从生命册上抹去他的名字，我必在我父和众天使面前承认他的名。
6 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话，凡有耳朵的都应当听。’
给非拉铁非教会的信
7 “你要写信告诉非拉铁非教会的天使，那位圣洁、真实、拿着大卫的钥匙、开了门无人能关、关了门无人能开的主说，
8 ‘我知道你的行为，你力量微小，却遵守了我的教导，没有背弃我的名。所以，看啊！我在你面前为你打开了一扇无人能关闭的门。 9 看啊！我要使撒旦的同伙，就是那些假冒犹太人的说谎者，在你面前俯伏下拜，让他们知道你是我所疼爱的。 10 因为你遵守我有关坚忍的教导，所以当将来的试炼临到全人类的时候，我必使你免受磨难。 11 我很快就要来了！你要持守你所拥有的，免得有人夺去你的冠冕。 12 我要使得胜者在我上帝的殿中作栋梁，永不离开。我要将我上帝的名号和我上帝圣城的名号，就是从天上我上帝那里降下来的新耶路撒冷和我自己的新名号，都刻在他上面。
13 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话，凡有耳朵的都应当听。’
给老底嘉教会的信
14 “你要写信告诉老底嘉教会的天使，那位实实在在[a]、诚信无伪的见证人，就是上帝所造万物的元首说，
15 ‘我知道你的行为，你不冷也不热。我情愿你或冷或热， 16 可是现在你却像温水一样不冷不热，我必将你从我口中吐出去！ 17 你说，我很富有，已经发了财，什么都不缺。你却不知道自己困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身露体。 18 我劝你向我买精炼的金子，使你真正富有。你也要向我买白袍穿在身上，好遮盖你赤身露体的羞辱。你也要向我买眼药抹眼睛，使你能看见。 19 凡我所爱的，我都会责备、管教。因此，你要热心起来，也要悔改。 20 看啊！我站在门外敲门，若有谁闻声开门，我必进去，我与他，他与我，一同坐席吃饭。 21 得胜者可以和我一同坐在我的宝座上，正如我得胜后与我父一同坐在祂的宝座上一样。
22 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话，凡有耳朵的都应当听。’”
Footnotes
- 3:14 “那位实实在在”希腊文是“那位阿们的”。
启示录 3
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
给撒狄教会的信
3 “你要写信给在撒狄教会的使者，说：
‘那有 神七灵和七星的这样说：我知道你的行为，你有名声，说你是活着的，其实你是死的。 2 你要警醒，把那些剩下来将要死的坚强起来；因为我见你的行为在我 神面前是不完全的。 3 所以，你应当回想你是怎样领受、怎样听见的；应该遵守，也应该悔改。你若不警醒，我就要像贼来到一样。我甚么时候来到你那里，你决不能知道。 4 然而在撒狄你还有几名是未曾玷污自己衣服的，他们要身穿白衣与我同行；因为他们是配得上的。 5 得胜的，也必这样身穿白衣，我决不从生命册上涂抹他的名，我还要在我父和他的众天使面前，承认他的名。 6 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。’
给非拉铁非教会的信
7 “你要写信给在非拉铁非教会的使者，说：
‘那圣洁的、真实的，
拿着大卫的钥匙，
开了就没有人能关，
关了就没有人能开的（“拿着大卫的钥匙……没有人能开的”引自赛22:22），这样说：
8 我知道你的行为，看哪！我已经在你面前给你一道开着的门，是没有人能关的；因为你有一点点力量，也遵守我的道，没有否认我的名。 9 看哪！从撒但的一党，就是自称是犹太人，其实不是犹太人，而是说谎的人中，我要使他们一些人来在你脚前下拜，并且知道我已经爱了你。 10 你既然遵守了我忍耐的道，我也必定保守你脱离那试炼的时候；这就是那将要临到普天下，来试炼住在地上的人的时候。 11 我必快来！你要持守你所有的，不要让人拿走你的冠冕。 12 得胜的，我要叫他在我 神的圣所里作柱子，他决不再出去，我也要把我 神的名，和我 神的城的名，就是那从天上、从我 神那里降下来的新耶路撒冷，以及我的新名，都写在他身上。 13 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。’
给老底嘉教会的信
14 “你要写信给在老底嘉教会的使者，说：
‘那位阿们的，忠信真实的见证人， 神创造万有的根源，这样说： 15 我知道你的行为，你不冷也不热；我巴不得你或冷或热。 16 因为你好象温水，不热也不冷，所以我要把你从我口中吐出去。 17 你说：我是富足的，已经发了财，毫无缺乏。却不知你是困苦的、可怜的、贫穷的、瞎眼的、赤身的。 18 我劝你向我买精炼的金子，使你富足；又买白衣穿上，使你赤身的羞耻不会显露出来；也买眼药膏抹你的眼睛，使你可以看见。 19 凡是我所爱的，我就责备管教；所以你要热心，也要悔改。 20 看哪！我站在门外敲门；如果有人听见我的声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我要跟他在一起，他也要跟我在一起吃饭。 21 得胜的，我必定赐他和我一同坐在我的宝座上，正像我得了胜和我父一同坐在他的宝座上一样。 22 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。’”
Revelation 3
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 3
To Sardis.[a] 1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis,[b] write this:
“‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you.(A) 4 However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy.(B)
5 “‘“The victor will thus be dressed in white,[c] and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels.(C)
6 “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’
To Philadelphia.[d] 7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia,[e] write this:
“‘The holy one, the true,
who holds the key of David,
who opens and no one shall close,
who closes and no one shall open,(D)
says this:
8 “‘“I know your works (behold, I have left an open door[f] before you, which no one can close). You have limited strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the assembly of Satan who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying, behold I will make them come and fall prostrate at your feet, and they will realize that I love you.(E) 10 Because you have kept my message of endurance,[g] I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming quickly. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown.(F)
12 “‘“The victor I will make into a pillar[h] in the temple of my God, and he will never leave it again. On him I will inscribe the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, as well as my new name.(G)
13 “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’
To Laodicea.[i] 14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea,[j] write this:
“‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this:(H) 15 “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot.[k] I wish you were either cold or hot. 16 [l]So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 [m](I)For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire[n] so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.(J)
20 “‘“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.[o] 21 I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne.(K)
22 “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”
Footnotes
- 3:1–6 The letter to Sardis does not praise the community but admonishes its members to watchfulness, mutual support, and repentance (Rev 3:2–3). The few who have remained pure and faithful will share Christ’s victory and will be inscribed in the book of life (Rev 3:4–5).
- 3:1 Sardis: this city, located ca. thirty miles southeast of Thyatira, was once the capital of Lydia, known for its wealth at the time of Croesus (6th century B.C.). Its citadel, reputed to be unassailable, was captured by surprise, first by Cyrus and later by Antiochus. The church is therefore warned to be on guard.
- 3:5 In white: white is a sign of victory and joy as well as resurrection; see note on Rev 2:17. The book of life: the roll in which the names of the redeemed are kept; cf. Rev 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; Phil 4:3; Dn 12:1. They will be acknowledged by Christ in heaven; cf. Mt 10:32.
- 3:7–13 The letter to Philadelphia praises the Christians there for remaining faithful even with their limited strength (Rev 3:8). Members of the assembly of Satan are again singled out (Rev 3:9; see Rev 2:9). There is no admonition; rather, the letter promises that they will be kept safe at the great trial (Rev 3:10–11) and that the victors will become pillars of the heavenly temple, upon which three names will be inscribed: God, Jerusalem, and Christ (Rev 3:12).
- 3:7 Philadelphia: modern Alasehir, ca. thirty miles southeast of Sardis, founded by Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamum to be an “open door” (Rev 3:8) for Greek culture; it was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 17. Rebuilt by money from the Emperor Tiberius, the city was renamed Neo-Caesarea; this may explain the allusions to “name” in Rev 3:12. Key of David: to the heavenly city of David (cf. Is 22:22), “the new Jerusalem” (Rev 3:12), over which Christ has supreme authority.
- 3:8 An open door: opportunities for sharing and proclaiming the faith; cf. Acts 14:27; 1 Cor 16:9; 2 Cor 2:12.
- 3:10 My message of endurance: this does not refer to a saying of Jesus about patience but to the example of Christ’s patient endurance. The inhabitants of the earth: literally, “those who live on the earth.” This expression, which also occurs in Rev 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:2, 8, always refers to the pagan world.
- 3:12 Pillar: this may be an allusion to the rebuilding of the city; see note on v 7. New Jerusalem: it is described in Rev 21:10–22:5.
- 3:14–22 The letter to Laodicea reprimands the community for being lukewarm (Rev 3:15–16), but no particular faults are singled out. Their material prosperity is contrasted with their spiritual poverty, the violet tunics that were the source of their wealth with the white robe of baptism, and their famous eye ointment with true spiritual perception (Rev 3:17–18). But Christ’s chastisement is inspired by love and a desire to be allowed to share the messianic banquet with his followers in the heavenly kingdom (Rev 3:19–21).
- 3:14 Laodicea: ca. forty miles southeast of Philadelphia and ca. eighty miles east of Ephesus, a wealthy industrial and commercial center, with a renowned medical school. It exported fine woolen garments and was famous for its eye salves. It was so wealthy that it was proudly rebuilt without outside aid after the devastating earthquake of A.D. 60/61. The Amen: this is a divine title (cf. Hebrew text of Is 65:16) applied to Christ; cf. 2 Cor 1:20. Source of God’s creation: literally, “the beginning of God’s creation,” a concept found also in Jn 1:3; Col 1:16–17; Hb 1:2; cf. Prv 8:22–31; Wis 9:1–2.
- 3:15–16 Halfhearted commitment to the faith is nauseating to Christ; cf. Rom 12:11.
- 3:16 Spit: literally, “vomit.” The image is that of a beverage that should be either hot or cold. Perhaps there is an allusion to the hot springs of Hierapolis across the Lycus river from Laodicea, which would have been lukewarm by the time they reached Laodicea.
- 3:17 Economic prosperity occasioned spiritual bankruptcy.
- 3:18 Gold…fire: God’s grace. White garments: symbol of an upright life; the city was noted for its violet/purple cloth. Ointment…eyes: to remove spiritual blindness; one of the city’s exports was eye ointment (see note on Rev 3:14).
- 3:20 Christ invites all to the messianic banquet in heaven; cf. Is 25:6; Lk 14:15; 22:30.
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