Revelation 3:3 NIV

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 3:3

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 3:3

Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent.Earle, in this and the preceding verse, found five steps to a revival: (1) "Be watchful"; (2) "Strengthen the things which remain"; (3) "Remember"; (4) "Hold fast"; and (5) "Repent."[12]Remember ... "Memory is again the lever for repentance, as in Revelation 2:5"[13] See notes on that verse, above. And just what were those things they were supposed to remember? We are not told, but Hinds is probably correct in the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 3:3

Revelation 3:3. Remember, therefore, &c.— Reflect again and again what doctrine thou hast received and heard from the apostles of the Lord; for this is a plain reference to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles; from which, as from a fountain, all the streams of sound Christian doctrine have flowed; and from the simplicity of which doctrine the Sardians had swerved. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 3:3

3. how thou hast received— (Colossians 2:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:20). What Sardis is to "remember" is, not how joyfully she had received originally the Gospel message, but how the precious deposit was committed to her originally, so that she could not say, she had not "received and heard" it. The Greek is not aorist (as in Revelation 2:4, as to Ephesus, "Thou didst leave thy first love"), but "thou hast received" (perfect), and still hast the permanent deposit of doctrine committed... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 3:1-6

E. The letter to the church in Sardis 3:1-6Jesus Christ sent this letter to commend the few faithful Christians in Sardis for their good deeds and to challenge the negligent majority to remember what they knew and to obey Him. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 3:2-3

3. Exhortation 3:2a, 3These believers needed to awake from their spiritual slumber, to examine their condition, and to realize their needs (cf. Matthew 24:42; Matthew 25:13; Matthew 26:41). Their city had fallen into enemy hands more than once due to the carelessness of sentries who had relied too much on the town’s natural fortifications. They also needed to strengthen the areas of weakness in their church, which was almost dead.As the Ephesians, they needed to remember the rich spiritual... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Revelation 3:3

3:3 know (e-32) See Note, ch. 2.23. read more