Revelation Chapter 3 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation Chapter 3 (New Testament)
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 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 of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation Chapter 3 (New Testament)
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
| Greek Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ὄνομα — onoma | Verse 1 — “…thou hast a name that thou livest…” | “Name,” reputation. | Onoma (“name/reputation”) signifies public identity (“name”). Sardis appears alive externally but is spiritually dead. The term stresses authenticity. — Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament (1896) |
| γρηγόρησον — grēgorēson | Verse 2 — “Be watchful…” | “Stay awake,” be alert. | Grēgorēson (“be watchful”) calls for spiritual vigilance (“watch”). It pertains to moral and doctrinal alertness. The term urges spiritual awakening. — J. H. Thayer, Lexicon (1889) |
| κρατέω — krateō | Verse 3 — “…hold fast…” | “Hold tightly,” seize firmly. | Krateō (“to hold firmly”) emphasizes resolute clinging to truth (“hold fast”). It implies protective tenacity. The term anchors perseverance. — Westcott, The Revelation of the Risen Lord (1898) |
| μολύνω — molynō | Verse 4 — “…not defiled their garments…” | “Stain,” pollute. | Molynō (“to defile”) conveys moral contamination (“defile”). The undefiled remnant represents purity. The term contrasts faithfulness and compromise. — Thayer, Lexicon (1889) |
| ζέω — zeō | Verse 15 — “…thou art lukewarm…” | “Boil,” seethe. | Zeō (“to boil”) signifies burning spiritual fervor (“boil/burn”). Lukewarmness represents spiritual apathy. The term illuminates Christ’s disgust with half-hearted devotion. — Trench, Synonyms (1896) |
| πλούσιος — plousios | Verse 17 — “…I am rich…” | “Rich,” wealthy. | Plousios (“rich”) exposes self-deception (“wealthy”). Spiritual poverty can hide behind material abundance. The term critiques false security. — Philip Schaff, Commentary on Revelation (1882) |
| ἀγοράζω — agorazō | Verse 18 — “…buy of Me gold tried…” | “Buy,” purchase. | Agorazō (“to buy”) evokes redemption imagery (“purchase”). Christ offers spiritual wealth. The term contrasts divine and earthly economy. — Westcott, Epistles of St. John (1883) |
| παιδεύω — paideuō | Verse 19 — “…I chasten…” | “Discipline,” train. | Paideuō (“to discipline/train”) expresses corrective love (“discipline”). Christ disciplines to restore. The term aligns suffering with sanctification. — Thayer, Lexicon (1889) |
| κρούω — krouō | Verse 20 — “I stand at the door and knock…” | “Knock,” strike lightly. | Krouō (“to knock”) reveals Christ’s patient invitation (“knock”). It pictures fellowship offered yet resistible. The term depicts gracious pursuit. — Trench, Commentary on the Seven Churches (1861) |
| συμπόσιον — symposion | Verse 20 — “…and sup with him…” | “Dine,” eat together. | Symposion (“dine”) expresses intimate fellowship (“fellowship meal”). Shared meals symbolize covenant acceptance. The term portrays restored communion. — Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church (1890) |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| R. H. Charles (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1855–1931) | The Revelation of St. John | The letters highlight spiritual vigilance, faithfulness, and the perils of complacency. |
| Adolf von Harnack (University of Berlin, Germany, 1851–1930) | History of Dogma | Harnack interprets the exhortations as an attempt to address moral decay and revive spiritual fervor. |
| A. T. Robertson (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, United States, 1863–1934) | Word Pictures in the New Testament | Robertson emphasizes the necessity of watchfulness and the rewards of steadfast faith. |
| Alfred Plummer (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1841–1926) | A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John | The chapter functions as both pastoral guidance and prophetic warning for diverse congregations. |
| William Rainey Harper (University of Chicago, United States, 1856–1906) | Hebrew Bible Studies | Harper notes that the letters combine theological instruction with practical moral exhortation. |
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Revelation Chapter 3
Verse: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)
Lesson: This verse emphasizes the importance of opening our hearts to Christ. He desires to have a personal relationship with each of us, but we must be willing to invite Him in.
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
Conclusion: Our relationship with Christ is not just about going to church or following rules. It's about having a personal, intimate relationship with Him. We must be intentional about opening our hearts to Him.
Prayer Points: Invite Christ to come into your heart and be the Lord of your life. Pray for a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. Ask Him to help you prioritize your relationship with Him above all else.
What's Next? Get A Piano Lesson in Houston or Online from The Alive Christians' School of Music
