Revelation 3:2-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:1-6

The words of Christ to the congregation at Sardis. "Sardis," says Dr. Eadie, "was a city of ancient Lydia. Its modern name is Sert Kalesi, and it lies about thirty miles south-cast of Thyatira, and two miles south of the river Hermus. It is, however, but a miserable village, inhabited chiefly by shepherds, though it is one of the stopping places of the Persian caravans. The original city was plundered by Cyrus, and afterwards desolated by an earthquake, the ruins of it being still... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:2

Be watchful ; literally, become watching. The use of ψίψνομαι implies that the watchful state is not the normal one—a change is needed before the watching can come about (comp. Revelation 1:9 , Revelation 1:10 , Revelation 1:18 ; Revelation 2:8 ; Revelation 4:2 ; Revelation 6:12 , etc.). The use of the present participle instead of an adjective ("watching!" for "watchful") makes the charge more definite; not merely "be of a watchful character," but "become a watcher". ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:3

Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear (comp. Revelation 2:5 ). Like the Ephesians, the Sardians are reminded of the better condition from which they have receded. They are of those "who, when they have heard the Word, straightway receive it with joy; and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while". The "how," as is shown by the verbs "receive" and "hear," refers to the readiness with which they accepted the gospel, rather than to the power with which it was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 3:2

Be watchful - Be wakeful; be attentive and earnest - in contradistinction from the drowsy condition of the church.Strengthen the things which remain - The true piety that still lives and lingers among you. Whatever there was of religion among them, it was of importance to strengthen it, that the love of the Saviour might not become wholly extinct. An important duty in a low and languishing state of religion is, to “strengthen the things that still survive.” It is to cultivate all the graces... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 3:3

Remember therefore how thou hast received - This may refer either to some uniqueness in the manner in which the gospel was conveyed to them - as, By the labors of the apostles, and by the remarkable effusions of the Holy Spirit; or to the ardor and love with which they embraced it; or to the greatness of the favors and privileges conferred on them; or to their own understanding of what the gospel required, when they were converted. It is not possible to determined in which sense the language is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 3:2-3

Revelation 3:2-3. Be watchful Therefore awake to a sense of thy danger, and stand on thy guard against the enemies, visible and invisible, which threaten thy eternal destruction; and strengthen By prayer, hearing and reading the word, by meditation thereon, and a conscientious use of every private and public means of grace; the things which remain In thy soul: such as knowledge of the truth, good desires, convictions of sin, of depravity and weakness, and of thy duty and interest; ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 3:1-6

Letter to Sardis (3:1-6)The church in Sardis had so much followed the ways of the society around it that it was Christian in name only. Spiritually it was dead (3:1). The Lord of the church can give it new life through the Spirit (see v. 1; cf. 1:4,20), but first the believers must wake up, change their ways, and determine to follow the teaching of the gospel they first believed. If not, swift judgment will fall upon them (2-3).Some in the church had proved the genuineness of their faith by... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 3:2

Be = Become. watchful. See Matthew 24:42 . the . . . remain = the remaining (things). App-124 . are = were, with the texts. perfect. App-125 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 3:3

hold fast. Greek. tereo. Same as "keep" in Revelation 1:3 . repent. See Revelation 2:5 . on thee. The texts omit. as, &c. See Revelation 16:15 . 1Th 5:2 . 2 Peter 3:10 . know. App-132 . These words are not addressed to the members of the "church which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22 , Ephesians 1:23 ). See 2 Thessalonians 2:1 . 1 Timothy 3:16 . We do not "watch" for the "thief", but "wait" for the Lord. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 3:2

Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God.Be thou watchful ... Many commentators love to tie this in with the repeated destruction of the city of Sardis through failure to "watch"; but this is not necessary. Christ himself, in the great discourse on Olivet (Matthew 24 and parallels), enjoined watchfulness; and that discourse is frequently in the mind of the writer throughout Revelation; and this is... read more

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