Revelation 3:14-22 - Indepthbible.org

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485 486 487 488 489 490 3.19 I, whomever I love, I reprove and I discipline. Be zealous, therefore, 484 (...continued) almost certainly be blinded to the realities of the Kingdom of God! Aune mentions that “During the first century A.D. there was a medical school at Laodicea (Strabo 12.8.20), where a famous opthalmologist, Demosthenes Philalethes, practiced.” (P. 260) 485 Note the emphasis on the first person pronoun in this statement. 486 The present active subjunctive verb is öéë, philo, “I may love,” not avgapw/, agapo, the verb most commonly used for the divine love for humanity (avgapa/|, agapa, “he loves,” is the verb used in the Greek translation of Proverbs 3:12). The risen Lord is their true "friend," even though He speaks so straight-forwardly and critically to them. R. H. Charles is correct in noting that "Reproof and chastisement are evidence not of Christ's rejection of the Laodiceans, but of His love for them. Love is never cruel, but it can be severe." (P. 100) 487 The present indicative active verb evle,gcw, elegcho , “I reprove,” “i chasten,” occurs only here in Revelation; however, there is divine "reproof" to be found in the majority of the seven letters to the churches. In John 16:8, Jesus tells his followers that when the divine "Comforter," the Set-apart Spirit has come, He will "reprove" (evle,gxei, elegksei) the world concerning missing-of-the-mark, and concerning right relationships and concerning justice. Certainly this has been the task of the Spirit of God speaking through the mouths of the divine Spokespersons throughout the Jewish Bible! YHWH "reproves" his children, whom He loves! Compare Proverbs 3:12 as quoted in the next footnote. 488 The present indicative active verb ðáéäåýù, paideuo means "I bring up," "I instruct," "I train," "I educate"; "I practice discipline," "I correct," "I give guidance." The verb also has connotations of "disciplining with punishment.” “My son, do not despise YHWH's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because YHWH disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.” (Proverbs 3:11-12) Hebrews 12 quotes this passage from Proverbs in its entirety, and then adds: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our innermost beings and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His set-apartness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of right relationship and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:7-11) This letter of the risen Lord to the church at Laodicea is a living example of the Fatherly rebuke and discipline that Jesus exercises on behalf of His people whom He loves. 241
and turn around! 491 492 493 3.20 Look--I have taken a stand at the door, and I am knocking. If anyone should 489 nd The 2 person singular present imperative verb æÞëåõå, zeleue, “be zealous!”, is read by Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Ephraemi Rescriptus, Minuscules 2050, 2053, 2329, a few other Greek manuscripts and the Coptic tradition. It is changed to the aorist active imperative form zh,lwson, zeloson, by Minuscule 1854, the Majority Text (A) and the Syriac tradition. The change in tense does not effect the meaning of Revelation. It seems obvious from the context here that this carries the connotation, "Get hot!" zesto.j, zestos is closely related in sound to zhlo,j, zelos, “zealous,” but comes from the verb ze,w, zeo, which means "to boil." In the future, "I will boil" is zh,sw, zeso. There may not actually be a relationship between the two words, but there is a similarity in sound, and the author of Revelation may be using this similarity in sound for a play on words.. 490 The conjunction ïí, oun, “therefore,” is omitted by Minuscule 181 and a few other Greek manuscripts. Its omission does not change the meaning of Revelation. 491 The divine call and command to "turn around!" occurs throughout biblical literature. It is the call of YHWH through His servants the Spokespersons of Israel and Judah. It is the basic message of John the Immerser, and it is central for the Good News of Jesus (Mark 1:15). In Revelation, this verb occurs at 2:5, 5, 16, 21, 22; 3:3, 19 (here); 9:20, 21; 16:9, and 11 (again, another indication of the unity of the book). 492 Hough remarks that "The contrast between the sharp rebuke and the loving outreach of friendliness is most impressive. And it comes to a climax in the picture of the Lord of all standing outside a human life and asking for admission. The proud and stubborn sinner is still a possible host of God. The One Who is the Judge waits as a humble suppliant outside the human door. This combination of sternness and tenderness is a central characteristic of the gospel. Neither is complete without the other; they must be seen together." (P. 398) Compare Isaiah 65:1-2, where YHWH says to rebellious Israel, “I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’ to a nation not calling on My name. I spread out My hands all day=long to a people being stubborn...” It is YHWH God offering to be a Servant to His people, praying to them! 493 We have oftentimes remarked the importance of the word “if” in Biblical Theology. Of course, human beings are not divine, and their salvation is completely dependent upon the gracious goodness and forgiveness of God. But there is a human role to play, and whether or not the individual (“anyone”) will participate in the salvation which Jesus offers, is dependent upon their own decision as to whether or not to hear, and open the door. There is no divine “forcing” of salvation upon those who do not desire it! This same “If” is heard throughout the Jewish Bible. 242
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