啟示錄 3
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Traditional)
寄信給撒狄
3 「你要寫信給撒狄教會的使者說：『那有神的七靈和七星的說：我知道你的行為，按名你是活的，其實是死的。 2 你要警醒，堅固那剩下將要衰微[a]的，因我見你的行為在我神面前，沒有一樣是完全的。
當回想所聽見所領受的
3 『所以要回想你是怎樣領受、怎樣聽見的，又要遵守，並要悔改。若不警醒，我必臨到你那裡，如同賊一樣。我幾時臨到，你也決不能知道。 4 然而在撒狄，你還有幾名是未曾汙穢自己衣服的，他們要穿白衣與我同行，因為他們是配得過的。 5 凡得勝的，必這樣穿白衣，我也必不從生命冊上塗抹他的名，且要在我父面前和我父眾使者面前，認他的名。 6 聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！』
寄信給非拉鐵非
7 「你要寫信給非拉鐵非教會的使者說：『那聖潔、真實，拿著大衛的鑰匙，開了就沒有人能關、關了就沒有人能開的說： 8 我知道你的行為，你略有一點力量，也曾遵守我的道，沒有棄絕我的名，看哪，我在你面前給你一個敞開的門，是無人能關的。 9 那撒旦一會的，自稱是猶太人，其實不是猶太人，乃是說謊話的，我要使他們來在你腳前下拜，也使他們知道我是已經愛你了。
要持守免得失去冠冕
10 『你既遵守我忍耐的道，我必在普天下人受試煉的時候，保守你免去你的試煉。 11 我必快來！你要持守你所有的，免得人奪去你的冠冕。 12 得勝的，我要叫他在我神殿中做柱子，他也必不再從那裡出去。我又要將我神的名和我神城的名——這城就是從天上、從我神那裡降下來的新耶路撒冷——並我的新名，都寫在他上面。 13 聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！』
寄信給老底嘉
14 「你要寫信給老底嘉教會的使者說：『那為阿們的，為誠信真實見證的，在神創造萬物之上為元首的說： 15 我知道你的行為，你也不冷也不熱。我巴不得你或冷或熱！ 16 你既如溫水，也不冷也不熱，所以我必從我口中把你吐出去。
當買火煉金子
17 『你說「我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺」，卻不知道你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。 18 我勸你向我買火煉的金子，叫你富足；又買白衣穿上，叫你赤身的羞恥不露出來；又買眼藥擦你的眼睛，使你能看見。 19 凡我所疼愛的，我就責備管教他，所以你要發熱心，也要悔改。 20 看哪，我站在門外叩門；若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裡去，我與他、他與我一同坐席。 21 得勝的，我要賜他在我寶座上與我同坐，就如我得了勝，在我父的寶座上與他同坐一般。 22 聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！』」
Footnotes
- 啟示錄 3:2 「衰微」原文作「死」。
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”。
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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