1And to the angel of the Church in Sardis write:
He who has the seven Spirits2456 of God and the seven stars says these things:
“I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive when in fact you are dead. 2Wake up and strengthen the things which remain, which were about to die,2457 for I have not found any of your works perfected before my God.2458 3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent! But if you refuse to keep watch, I will come upon you as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4Nevertheless, you have a few names in Sardis that have not defiled their garments. They will walk with me in white [garments] because they are worthy. 5The one who overcomes will be vested in white garments and I will not blot his name from the book of life. I will confess that person’s name before my Father and before his angels. 6Whoever has an ear should listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.”
To Philadelphia
7To the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write:
He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, who opens and no one can shut, who shuts and no one opens, says these things:2459
8”I know your works! Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut! I know that you have a little power, that you have kept my word and you have not denied my Name. 9Behold, [consider] those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and they are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them come and express adoration2460 before your feet and they will know that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is about to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming quickly! Hold firmly to what you have, so that no one may take your crown. 12The one who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, from which he shall never be removed. On such a person I will write the Name of my God, the name of the city of my God which is the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from my God, and [I will write] my own new Name. 13Whoever has an ear should listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.”
To Laodicea
14To the angel of the Church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the origin2461 of God’s creation, says these things:
15”I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16But because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich, I have obtained wealth and I have need of nothing’ and yet you do not know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked! 18I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may become rich; and white garments, so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed. Buy also ointment that you may anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19As many as I love, I reprove and discipline. Therefore, be zealous and repent! 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and have supper with him, and he with me. 21To the one who overcomes, I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.2462 22Whoever has an ear should listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.”
Vision of heavenly worship
- Or “spirits”
- PT agrees with TR. Some manuscripts (MT) read “which you were about to throw away” while CT reads “which were about to die”
- TR reads “God” instead of “my God”
- Compare Isaias 22:22
- proskuneo can also be translated “worship (in the broad sense),” “venerate,” “fall down in reverence,” “do obeisance” (see NT introduction regarding proskuneo)
- Greek avrch. (also, beginning, principle, source, ruler)
- An important passage pertaining to theosis in the New Testament, along with 2 Peter 1:4-5
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
