Revelation 3:14-22 - Indepthbible.org

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468 469 470 471 And you do not know that you are the miserable one, and pitiable one, and poor one, 472 473 474 475 476 and blind one, and naked one! 3.18 I counsel you to purchase from Me gold 467 (...continued) the Majority Text and the Syriac tradition. The variant reading makes no difference for the meaning of <strong>Revelation</strong>, but is simply a grammatical correction by later copyists, seeking to enhance the original text. It is a terrible anomaly--the very people most in need, consider themselves in need of nothing--they are blind to their true condition of deep, life-threatening need! Hough comments that, “Worst of all, these people, so colorless morally, are completely and self-consciously complacent. They think of themselves as rich and altogether to be envied. And they think proudly of their pursuit of gain which has been so amply rewarded. It is their own achievement. As a result, they are full of smug contentment. They have everything they want. They are in need of nothing.” (P. 559) 468 Aune comments that this statement concerning the ignorance of the church in Laodicea is “a rhetorical way of underlining the truly desperate condition of the Laodicean congregation.” (P. 259) They are ignorant of their true condition! 469 The adjective ôáëáßðùñïò, talaiporos means "miserable," "wretched," or "distressed." Paul uses this adjective in his confession in Romans 7:24, "O miserable man that I am!" Paul does not consider himself superior to these Laodiceans! 470 The definite article o`, ho, “the (pitiable one),” is interpolated into the text by Alexandrinus, Minuscules 1006, 1611, 1841, 2329, 2351 and the Majority Text (K). The interpolation does not change the meaning of <strong>Revelation</strong>, but is only a matter of “taste” in writing style. The adjective evleeino,j eleeinos means "miserable," "pitiable." Paul uses this same adjective in its superlative form, "most pitiable" in 1 Corinthians 15:19, in a description of himself if there is no resurrection from among the dead. 471 The adjective ptwco.j, ptochos originally meant "begging," "dependent on others for support," but also simply "poor." BAGD notes that "At times the reference is not only to the unfavorable circumstances of these people from an economic point of view; the thought is also that since they are oppressed and disillusioned they are in special need of God's help, and may be expected to receive it shortly." (P. 728) 472 The adjective tuflo,j, tuphlos, used 34 times in the Four Gospels in a literal sense to depict those who have no eye-sight, but are "blind," is also used in a symbolical and figurative way for "mental and spiritual blindness." Compare Matthew 23:16, 24, and 26. It is their (continued...) 237
472 (...continued) riches that have "blinded" them. They think they can see everything, perfectly clearly--and that very way of thinking has blinded them to the real truth concerning themselves and their purpose in the world! 473 The adjective ãõìíüò, gumnos means "naked," "stripped," "bare"; "without an outer garment"; "poorly dressed"; "uncovered." Physical nakedness is used in the Jewish Bible as a reason for being exposed to the judgment of YHWH--see such a passage as: “Therefore, you prostitute [Judah], hear the word of YHWH! This is what my Lord YHWH says: Because you poured out your lust and exposed your nakedness in your sexual immorality with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children's blood, therefore I am going to gather all your lovers, with whom you found pleasure, those you loved as well as those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and will strip you in front of them, and they will see all your nakedness. I will sentence you to the punishment of women who violate covenants of marriage through sexual unfaithfulness and who shed blood; I will bring upon you the blood vengeance of My wrath and jealous anger!’” (Ezekiel 16:35-38; compare Nahum 3:5-6) These wealthy Laodiceans with their fine clothes, considered themselves the very best dressed people they could possibly be. The risen Lord looks upon them and sees through their superficial clothing--they are in truth "naked"! What a powerful string of five adjectives this makes in verse 17! Beasley-Murray comments that "Despite their overflowing banks they are poor; despite their physicians and medicaments they are blind; despite their clothing factories, they are naked. They are in truth wretched and pitiable." (P. 106) 474 Aune comments that “The negative aspects of the last three adjectives in verse 17b (‘poor,’ ‘blind,’ ‘naked’) are transformed into positive exhortations in verse 18...where the Laodiceans are advised to buy three commodities from the exalted Christ, (1) gold, (2) white garments, and (3) medication.” (P. 260) 475 The verb óõìâïõëåýù, sumbouleuo means "I advise," "I give advice to." The risen Lord has not forsaken his lukewarm church members at Laodicea. He knows their attitude-- their proud boasting and self-sufficiency, their conviction that they stand in need of nothing. Still He will not forsake them, but comes to them as their "Counselor." He speaks in their ear, urging them to follow His advice. Would you call this “pastoral counseling”? We are reminded of the picture of YHWH in Genesis, as He counsels the first male and female following their rebellion, or as He continues to give counsel to Cain following the murder of his brother Abel. We are reminded of the Spokespersons for YHWH who came to place their arms around Israel and Judah, speaking a divine word of counsel in their ear, begging them to turn away from their rebellious pride (compare Jeremiah 38:15 [45:15 in Greek, where this same verb is used]), “And Jeremiah said to Tsidqiyahu, ‘If I declare (the message I (continued...) 238
Page 1 and 2: THE LETTER OF THE RISEN LORD TO THE
Page 3 and 4: 446 447 448 449 450 says the Amen,
Page 5 and 6: 451 452 453 454 455 the creation of
Page 7 and 8: 459 460 461 462 463 464 neither hot
Page 9: 465 466 467 you are saying that "I
Page 13 and 14: 480 481 may be dressed, and so that
Page 15 and 16: and turn around! 491 492 493 3.20 L
Page 17 and 18: 500 3.21 The one who is conquering,
Page 19: 504 (...continued) can look at us o

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