Revelation 3
Wycliffe Bible
3 And to the angel of the church of Sardis write thou, These things saith he, that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars. I know thy works, for thou hast a name, that thou livest, and thou art dead.
2 Be thou waking, and confirm thou other things, that were to dying [and confirm other things, that were to die]; for I find not thy works full before my God.
3 Therefore have thou in mind, how thou receivedest, and heardest; and keep, and do penance. Therefore if thou wake not, I shall come as a night thief to thee [Therefore if thou shalt not wake, I shall come to thee as a night thief], and thou shalt not know in what hour I shall come to thee.
4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis, which have not defouled their clothes; and they shall walk with me in white clothes, for they be worthy.
5 He that overcometh, shall be clothed thus with white clothes; and I shall not do away his name from the book of life [and I shall not do away his name of the book of life], and I shall acknowledge his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath ears, hear he, what the Spirit saith to the churches.
7 And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write thou, These things saith the holy and true, that hath the key of David; which openeth, and no man closeth, he closeth, and no man openeth[a].
8 I know thy works, and lo! I gave before thee a door opened, which no man may close[b]; for thou hast a little virtue, and hast kept my word, and deniedest not my name.
9 Lo! I shall give to thee of the synagogue of Satan, which say that they be Jews, and be not, but lie. Lo! I shall make them, that they come, and worship before thy feet; and they shall know, that I loved thee,
10 for thou keptest the word of my patience. And I shall keep thee from the hour of temptation, that is to coming [that is to come] into all the world, to tempt men that dwell in earth.
11 Lo! I come soon; hold thou that that thou hast [hold that that thou hast], that no man take thy crown.
12 And him that shall overcome, I shall make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall no more go out; and I shall write on [upon] him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, of the new Jerusalem, that cometh down from heaven of my God, and my new name.
13 He that hath ears, hear he, what the Spirit saith to the churches.
14 And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write thou, These things saith Amen, the faithful witness and true, which is beginning of God's creature [that is the beginning of God's creature].
15 I know thy works, for neither thou art cold, neither thou art hot; I would that thou were cold, either hot; [I know thy works, for neither thou art cold, nor hot; I would thou were cold, or hot;]
16 but for thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, neither hot, I shall begin to cast thee out of my mouth. [but for thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, nor hot, I shall begin for to vomit thee out of my mouth.]
17 For thou sayest, That I am rich, and full of goods, and have need of nothing; and thou knowest not, that thou art a wretch, and wretchful [for thou art a wretch, and wretched], and poor, and blind, and naked.
18 I counsel thee to buy of me burnt gold, and proved, that thou be made rich, and be clothed with white clothes, that the confusion of thy nakedness be not seen; and anoint thine eyes with a collyrium, that thou see.[c]
19 I reprove, and chastise whom I love; therefore follow thou good men, and do penance. [I whom I love, reprove and chastise; love thou therefore, and do penance.]
20 Lo! I stand at the door, and knock; if any man heareth my voice, and openeth the gate to me [if any man shall hear my voice, and open the gate], I shall enter to him, and sup with him, and he with me.
21 And I shall give to him that shall overcome, to sit with me in my throne, as also I overcame, and sat with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath ears, hear he, what the Spirit saith to the churches.
Footnotes
- Revelation 3:7 that openeth, and no man closeth, closeth, and no man openeth
- Revelation 3:8 and lo! I have before thee a door opened, that no man may close
- Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee, to buy of me gold fired, and proved, that thou be made rich, and be clothed with white clothes, that the confusion, or shame, of thy nakedness appear not; and anoint thine eyes with a collyrium, that is, a medicine for eyes, made of diverse herbs, that thou see.
Revelation 3
New Matthew Bible
He instructs and informs the angels of the three remaining congregations, declaring again the reward of the person who overcomes.
3 And write to the messenger of the congregation of Sardis: This says he who has the Spirit of God and the seven stars: I know your works. You have a name that you live, and you are dead. 2 Be awake, and strengthen the things that remain, which are ready to die. For I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If you will not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
4 You have a few names in Sardis that have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes will be clothed in white array, and I will not put his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.
7 And write to the tidings-bringer of the congregation of Philadelphia: This says he that is holy and true, who has the key of David – who opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens. 8 I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it. For you have a little strength, and have kept my sayings, and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I make those of the congregation of Satan – who call themselves Jews, and are not, but do lie – behold, I will make them to come and bow before your feet, and to know that I love you.
10 Because you have kept the words of my patience, therefore I will keep you from the hour of adversity that will come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come shortly. Hold that which you have, so that no one may take away your crown. 12 Him who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out no more. And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write upon him my new name. 13 Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.
14 And to the messenger of the congregation that is in Laodicea write: This says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are between both and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth – 17 because you say you are rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and know not how you are wretched and miserable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire so that you may be rich, and white raiment so that you may be clothed, so that your shameful nakedness does not appear. And anoint your eyes with eye-salve, so that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be fervent therefore, and repent. 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 will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me in my seat, even as I overcame and have sat with my Father in his seat. 22 Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.
Revelation 3
1599 Geneva Bible
3 1 The first Epistle sent to the Pastors of the Church of Sardis, 7 of Philadelphia, 14 And of the Laodiceans, 16 that they be not lukewarm, 20 but endeavor to further God’s glory.
1 [a]And write unto the Angel of the Church which is at [b]Sardis, These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, [c]I know thy works: for thou hast a [d]name that thou livest, but thou art dead.
2 Be awake, and strengthen the things which remain, that are [e]ready to die: for I have not found thy work perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. (A)If therefore thou wilt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Notwithstanding thou hast a few names yet in Sardis, [f]which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in [g]white: for they are [h]worthy.
5 He [i]that overcometh, shall be clothed in white array, and I will not put out his Name out of the (B)book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his Angels.
6 Let him that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.
7 ¶ [j]And write unto the Angel of the Church which is of Philadelphia, These things saith he that is Holy, and True, which hath the [k]key of David, which openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth.
8 [l]I know thy works: behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my Name.
9 Behold, I will make them [m]of the Synagogue of Satan, which call themselves Jews, and are not, but do lie: behold, I say, I will make them that they shall come [n]and worship before thy feet, and shall know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast [o]kept the word of my patience, therefore I will deliver thee from the hour of tentation, which will come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come shortly: hold that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 [p]Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: [q]and I will write upon him the Name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new Name.
13 Let him that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.
14 [r]And unto the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith [s]Amen, the faithful and true witness, that [t]beginning of the creatures of God.
15 [u]I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou werest cold or hot.
16 Therefore because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, it will come to pass, that I shall spew thee out of my mouth.
17 For thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not how thou art wretched and miserable, [v]and poor, and blind, and naked.
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried by the fire, that thou mayest be made rich: and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that thy filthy nakedness do not appear: and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, (C)I rebuke and chasten: be [w]zealous therefore and amend.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock, [x]If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 [y]To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame, and sit with my Father in his throne.
22 Let him that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.
Footnotes
- Revelation 3:1 The fifth place is unto the Pastors of Sardis. The exordium is taken out of verses 4 and 16 of the first Chap.
- Revelation 3:1 Sardis is the name of a most flourishing and famous City, where the Kings of Lydia kept their courts.
- Revelation 3:1 The proposition of reproof is in this verse: of exhortation joined with a threatening in the two verses that follow, and of qualification by way of correction unto the comfort of the good which yet remained there, verse 4.
- Revelation 3:1 Thou art said to live, but art dead indeed.
- Revelation 3:2 Other things, whose state is such, that they are now going, and unless they be confirmed, will perish forthwith.
- Revelation 3:4 That is, who have with all religion guarded themselves from sin and moral contagion, even from the very show of evil, as S. Jude exhorteth, verse 23.
- Revelation 3:4 Pure from all spot and shining with glory. So it is to be understood always hereafter as in the next verse.
- Revelation 3:4 They are meet and fit, to wit, because they are justified in Christ, as they have truly showed it: for he is righteous that worketh righteousness: but so, as the tree bringeth forth fruit. See Rom. 8:18.
- Revelation 3:5 The conclusion standing upon a promise and a commandment as before.
- Revelation 3:7 The sixth place is unto the Pastors of Philadelphia. The exordium is taken out of verse 18 of the first chapter.
- Revelation 3:7 All power of rule in commanding and forbidding, delivering and punishing. And the house of David is the Church, and the continual promise of David’s Kingdom belongeth to Christ.
- Revelation 3:8 The proposition of praise is in this verse, of promises, to bring home again them that wander, verse 9, and to preserve the godly, verse 10, and of exhortation, verse 11.
- Revelation 3:9 I will bring them to that case.
- Revelation 3:9 That is, fall down and worship either thee civilly, or Christ religiously at thy feet (and thus I had rather take it) whether here in the Church (which seemeth more proper to the argument of this place) or there in the world to come. For Christ verily shall fulfill his word.
- Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast been patient and constant, as I would my servants should be.
- Revelation 3:12 The conclusion, which containeth a promise and a commandment.
- Revelation 3:12 That is, the new man shall be turned after his Father, Mother, and head Christ.
- Revelation 3:14 The seventh place is unto the pastors of the Church of Laodicea. The exordium is taken out of verse 15 of the first chapter.
- Revelation 3:14 Amen soundeth as much in the Hebrew tongue, as Truly, or Truth itself.
- Revelation 3:14 Of whom all things that are made, have their beginning.
- Revelation 3:15 The proposition of reproof is in this verse, whereunto is adjoined a threatening, verse 16, with a confirmation declaring the same, verse 17, and of exhortation unto faith and repentance, verses 18, 19, whereunto is added a conditional promise, verse 20.
- Revelation 3:17 The spiritual misery of men is metaphorically expressed in three points: unto which are matched as correspondent those remedies which are offered, verse 18.
- Revelation 3:19 Zeal is set against them which are neither hot nor cold.
- Revelation 3:20 This must be taken after the manner of an allegory, as John 14:23.
- Revelation 3:21 The conclusion, consisting of a promise, as Rev. 2:26, and of an exhortation. Hitherto hath been the first part of the book of the Apocalypse.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
