III. (1) SARDIS. — The modern _Sart_ — now a mere village of paltry huts — once the capital of the old Lydian monarchy, and associated with the names of Crœsus, Cyrus, and Alexander. It was the great _entrepôt_ of dyed woollen fabrics, the sheep of “many-flocked” Phrygia supplying the raw material.... [ Continue Reading ]
BE WATCHFUL. — Rather, _become wakeful._ It will not do simply to rouse and sleepily grasp at their spiritual weapons, or even to stand for once at arms; you must become of wakeful habit. Strengthen the remaining things which were (when I roused you) about to die; for I have not found thy (or, _any... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THEREFORE HOW (or, _after what sort_) THOU HAST RECEIVED AND HEARD (or, _didst hear_ — the tense changes). — Remembering that the words are addressed primarily to the angel himself, the change of tense may have been designed to point him back to some particular period of his life, such as t... [ Continue Reading ]
The best MSS. commence this verse with “But,” or “Nevertheless.” The case of the Sardian Church was bad, yet the loving eyes of the faithful witness would not ignore the good. There were a few who had not defiled their garments. These had not succumbed to the oppressive moral atmosphere around them.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT OVERCOMETH. — The promise is repeated to all who overcome; all, not who have never fallen, or failed, but who conquer, shall be clothed in glistening white raiment. On this glistering appearance comp. Dante’s words, “robed in hue of living flame,” and the description so frequent in the _Pilg... [ Continue Reading ]
PHILADELPHIA. — The town of Philadelphia derived its name from Attalus Philadelphus, the king of Pergamos, who died B.C. 138. It was situated on the slopes of Mount Tmolus, in the midst of a district the soil of which was favourable to the cultivation of the vine. On the coins of the town are to be... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW THY WORKS: BEHOLD, I HAVE SET (better, _given_) BEFORE THEE AN OPEN DOOR (better, _a door opened_). — A reference to the passages (Acts 14:27; 1 Corinthians 16:8; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3) in which a similar expression is used reminds us that the open door was not simply a way of es... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I WILL MAKE. — Better, _Behold, I give some._ There is no word to express this in the original, but as a word must be supplied to complete the sense, it is better to adopt “some” than the “them” of the Authorised version, as it is not a promise that all of the synagogue of Satan should come.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THOU HAST KEPT (better, _didst keep_) THE WORD OF MY PATIENCE. — The one who keeps God’s word is kept. Such is “the _benigna talio_ of the kingdom of God,” as Archbishop Trench calls it. The promise does not mean the being kept away from, but the being kept out from the tribulation. The head... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I COME. — Omit “Behold.” Better, _I am coming quickly; hold fast; continue your race as those who are striving for a garland_ (1 Corinthians 9:24).... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL I MAKE A PILLAR. — A pillar, and an unshaken one. There may be reference to the frequent earthquakes which had shaken down buildings in their city. Those who overcome will prove real supports to the great Christian temple. (Comp. Galatians 2:9.) WRITE UPON HIM. — Or, _grave upon it._ On the sid... [ Continue Reading ]
LAODICEA. — Situated half way between Philadelphia and Colossae, and not far from Hierapolis. It received its name from Laodice, wife of Antiochus the second king of Syria, by whom it was rebuilt and beautified. It had borne in earlier times the names of Diospolis and afterwards Rhoas. It shared wit... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER COLD NOR HOT. — The “heat” here is the glowing, fervent zeal and devotion which is commended and commanded elsewhere (Romans 12:11). It is not, however, the self-conscious, galvanised earnestness which, in days of senile pietism, passes for zeal. It is an earnestness which does not know itse... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM RICH. — The verse means, more literally, _Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have grown rich, and in nothing have need, and knowest not that thou art the wretched_ (such is the emphasis) _one, and the pitiable one, and beggarly, and blind, and naked._ Thou art “the type, the embodiment of wret... [ Continue Reading ]
I COUNSEL THEE TO BUY. — There is, perhaps, a touch of irony here. How could the poor and naked buy? But the irony has no sting, for the counsel but recalled the invitation of the prophet to buy “without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1). GOLD — _i.e.,_ golden coin, “tried,” or, _fired out of f... [ Continue Reading ]
I REBUKE AND CHASTEN. — The first word is that used in the work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), and signifies to bring conviction; it is not empty censure. The second word signifies to educate by means of correction. The pronoun is emphatic, “I,” and calls attention to the fidelity of Christ’s love... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH.... — He will share Christ’s throne as Christ shared His Father’s throne. Here are two thrones mentioned. My throne, saith Christ: this is the condition of glorified saints who sit with Christ in His throne. “But My Father’s _(i.e.,_ God’s) throne is the power of divine majest... [ Continue Reading ]