Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Revelation 3:14
COM commentary-section · status:draft · license:PD
14. Laodiceans —The city was in the southwest of Phrygia, on the river Lycus, not far from Colosse, and lying between it and Philadelphia. It was destroyed by an earthquake, , and rebuilt by its wealthy citizens without the help of the state [TACITUS, Annals, 14.27]. This wealth (arising from the excellence of its wools) led to a self-satisfied, lukewarm state in spiritual things, as :- describes. See on :- , on the Epistle which is thought to have been written to the Laodicean Church by Paul. The Church in latter times was apparently flourishing; for one of the councils at which the canon of Scripture was determined was held in Laodicea in . Hardly a Christian is now to be found on or near its site. the Amen — ( :- , Hebrew, "Bless Himself in the God of Amen . . . swear by the God of Amen, " :- ). He who not only says, but is, the Truth. The saints used Amen at the end of prayer, or in assenting to the word of God; but none, save the Son of God, ever said, "Amen, I say unto you," for it is the language peculiar to God, who avers by Himself. The New Testament formula, "Amen. I say unto you," is equivalent to the Old Testament formula, " as I live, saith Jehovah." In John's Gospel alone He uses (in the Greek ) the double "Amen," John 1:51 ; John 3:3 , c. in English Version, " Verily, verily." The title happily harmonizes with the address. His unchanging faithfulness as "the Amen" contrasts with Laodicea's wavering of purpose, "neither hot nor cold" ( Revelation 3:16 ). The angel of Laodicea has with some probability been conjectured to be Archippus, to whom, thirty years previously, Paul had already given a monition, as needing to be stirred up to diligence in his ministry. So the Apostolic Constitutions, [8.46], name him as the first bishop of Laodicea: supposed to be the son of Philemon ( Revelation 3:16- : ). faithful and true witness —As "the Amen" expresses the unchangeable truth of His promises; so "the faithful the true witness," the truth of His revelations as to the heavenly things which He has seen and testifies. "Faithful," that is, trustworthy ( 2 Timothy 2:11 ; 2 Timothy 2:13 ). "True" is here ( Greek, " alethinos ") not truth-speaking ( Greek, " alethes "), but "perfectly realizing all that is comprehended in the name Witness " ( 1 Timothy 6:13 ). Three things are necessary for this: (1) to have seen with His own eyes what He attests; (2) to be competent to relate it for others; (3) to be willing truthfully to do so. In Christ all these conditions meet [TRENCH]. beginning of the creation of God —not he whom God created first, but as in 1 Timothy 6:13- : (see on 1 Timothy 6:13- : ), the Beginner of all creation, its originating instrument. All creation would not be represented adoring Him, if He were but one of themselves. His being the Creator is a strong guarantee for His faithfulness as "the Witness and Amen." return to ' Top of Page ' <a name="verse-15" class="com-number"
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pericope/per-rev-3-005
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Source
source-manifest/jfb— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (PD)- evidence_grade: T_theological