SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:14
¶ Y escribe al ngel de la Iglesia de los laodicenses: He aquí, el que dice Amn, el testigo fiel y verdadero, el principio de la creacin de Dios;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 3:14
Verse 14. These things saith the Amen] That is, He who is true or faithful; from ma aman, he was tree; immediately interpreted, The faithful and true witness. See chap. i. 5. The beginning of the creation of God] That is, the head and governor of all creatures: the king of the creation. See on Col. i. 15. By his titles, here, he prepares them for the humiliating and awful truths which he was about to declare, and the authority on which the declaration was founded.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write , etc.] Of the city of Laodicea, (see Gill on Revelation 1:11); there was a church here in the times of the Apostle Paul; by whom it was founded is not known; mention is made of it in ( Colossians 2:1,2 4:13,15,16), who was now the angel, or pastor of it, whether Epaphras, who is there named, or another, is not certain. According to the Apostolical Constitutions f115 , Archippus was ordained bishop of it by the apostles; (see Colossians 4:16,17). There was a church here in the second century, for Sagaris, bishop of it, suffered martyrdom in the times of Antoninus Verus f116 ; and in the fourth century, this church was famous for two eminent bishops, Theodorus and Gregory; and in the fifth century, it was the metropolitan church of Phrygia, as it was in the seventh century, in which age Tyberius, bishop of this place, was in the sixth synod at Constantinople f117 ; but now it is even without inhabitants f118 . This church represents the state of the church, from the end of the spiritual reign of Christ, till the time of his personal appearing and kingdom, to judge the quick and dead; for after the spiritual reign is over, professors of religion will sink into a formality, and into a lukewarm frame of spirit, and into great spiritual sloth and security, ( Revelation 3:15,16), which will make those times like the times of Noah and of Lot; and such will be the days of the coming of the son of man to judge the world. Its name signifies either the righteousness of the people; and so may point at that popular and external righteousness, which the majority of the professors of religion in this period of time will be boasting of, and trusting in; being self-sufficient, and self-dependent, when at the same time they will be naked, as well as poor and blind, ( Revelation 3:17,18); or it signifies the judging of the people; for this church state, at the end of it, will bring on the general judgment; the Judge will now be at the door indeed, standing and knocking; and they that are ready to meet the bridegroom, when he comes, will be admitted into the nuptial chamber, and sit down with him in his throne, in the thousand years' kingdom, at the close of which will be the second resurrection, when all the people, small and great, shall be judged, ( Revelation 3:19-21). These things saith the Amen ; (see Isaiah 65:16); The word Amen is the name of a divine Person with the Jews, and it seems the second Person; for so on those words in ( Proverbs 8:30); then was I by him as one brought up with him, they observe f119 , do not read Amon, the word there used, but Amen; and, a little after, Amen, they say, is the notaricon, or sign of man lm la , God the faithful King; they make Amen to be one of the names of the second Sephira, or number in the Cabalistic tree, by whom the second Person in the Godhead seems to be designed: and they say f121 , that the word Amen, by gematry (or numerically) answers to the two names Jehovah, Adonai. Christ may be so called, because he is the God of truth, and truth itself; and it may be expressive of his faithfulness, both to God his Father, and to his people, in whom all the promises he either made, or received, are yea and amen; and also of the firmness, constancy, and immutability of Christ, in his nature, person, and offices, in his love, fulness of grace, power, blood, and righteousness; and is very appropriately assumed by him now, when he was about to give the finishing stroke to all covenant engagements, and to all promises and prophesies; (see Revelation 1:18). The faithful and true witness ; who as he was in the days of his flesh, (see Gill on Revelation 1:5); so he will be at the day of judgment, a swift witness against all ungodly men; and he may the rather take up this title, not only on that account, but to show that the description he gives of the state and condition of this church is just, ( Revelation 3:15,16); and to engage it to take his advice the more readily, ( Revelation 3:18); and to assure it of the nearness of his coming, ( Revelation 3:20); and to strengthen the faith of his people, and quicken their hope and expectation of the happiness with him promised, ( Revelation 3:21); the same character is given to the Logos, or Word of the Lord, by the Targumist in ( Jeremiah 42:5), let the Word of the Lord be to us myhmw jwq yhsl , for a true and faithful witness; the very phrase here used. The beginning of the creation of God ; not the first creature that God made, but the first cause of the creation; the first Parent, producer, and efficient cause of every creature; the author of the old creation, who made all things out of nothing in the beginning of time; and of the new creation, the everlasting Father of, everyone that is made a new creature; the Father of the world to come, or of the new age and Gospel dispensation; the Maker of the new heaven and new earth; and so a very fit person to be the Judge of the whole world, to summon all nations before him, and pass the final sentence on them. The phrase is Jewish, and it is a title the Jews give to Metatron, by whom they sometimes mean the Messiah; so those words in ( Genesis 24:2), and Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, they paraphrase thus f122 ; and Abraham said unto his servant, this is Metatron, (or the Mediator,) the servant of God, the eldest of his house; for he is wqm l wytwyrb tljt , the beginning of the creation of God, who rules over all that he has; for to him the holy blessed God has given the government of all his hosts.
Christ is the arch , the Prince, or Governor of all creatures.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-22 - Laodicea was the last and worst of the seven churches of Asia. Here ou Lord Jesus styles himself, "The Amen;" one steady and unchangeable in all his purposes and promises. If religion is worth anything, it is worth every thing. Christ expects men should be in earnest. How man professors of gospel doctrine are neither hot nor cold; except as the are indifferent in needful matters, and hot and fiery in disputes abou things of lesser moment! A severe punishment is threatened. They woul give a false opinion of Christianity, as if it were an unholy religion while others would conclude it could afford no real satisfaction otherwise its professors would not have been heartless in it, or s ready to seek pleasure or happiness from the world. One cause of thi indifference and inconsistency in religion is, self-conceit an self-delusion; "Because thou sayest." What a difference between their thoughts of themselves, and the thoughts Christ had of them! Ho careful should we be not to cheat our owns souls! There are many in hell, who once thought themselves far in the way to heaven. Let us be of God that we may not be left to flatter and deceive ourselves Professors grow proud, as they become carnal and formal. Their stat was wretched in itself. They were poor; really poor, when they said an thought they were rich. They could not see their state, nor their way nor their danger, yet they thought they saw it. They had not the garment of justification, nor sanctification: they were exposed to sin and shame; their rags that would defile them. They were naked, withou house or harbour, for they were without God, in whom alone the soul of man can find rest and safety. Good counsel was given by Christ to thi sinful people. Happy those who take his counsel, for all others mus perish in their sins. Christ lets them know where they might have tru riches, and how they might have them. Some things must be parted with but nothing valuable; and it is only to make room for receiving tru riches. Part with sin and self-confidence, that you may be filled with his hidden treasure. They must receive from Christ the white raiment he purchased and provided for them; his own imputed righteousness for justification, and the garments of holiness and sanctification. Le them give themselves up to his word and Spirit, and their eyes shall be opened to see their way and their end. Let us examine ourselves by the rule of his word, and pray earnestly for the teaching of his Holy Spirit, to take away our pride, prejudices, and worldly lusts. Sinner ought to take the rebukes of God's word and rod, as tokens of his love to their souls. Christ stood without; knocking, by the dealings of his providence, the warnings and teaching of his word, and the influence of his Spirit. Christ still graciously, by his word and Spirit, come to the door of the hearts of sinners. Those who open to him shall enjo his presence. If what he finds would make but a poor feast, what he brings will supply a rich one. He will give fresh supplies of grace and comforts. In the conclusion is a promise to the overcomin believer. Christ himself had temptations and conflicts; he overcam them all, and was more than a conqueror. Those made like to Christ in his trials, shall be made like to him in glory. All is closed with the general demand of attention. And these counsels, while suited to the churches to which they were addressed, are deeply interesting to all men __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 τω 3588 αγγελω 32 της 3588 εκκλησιας 1577 λαοδικεων 2994 γραψον 1125 5657 ταδε 3592 λεγει 3004 5719 ο 3588 αμην 281 ο 3588 μαρτυς 3144 ο 3588 πιστος 4103 και 2532 αληθινος 228 η 3588 αρχη 746 της 3588 κτισεως 2937 του 3588 θεου 2316
Vincent's NT Word Studies
14. Of the Laodiceans (Aaodikewn). Read ejn Aaodikeia in Laodicea. Laodicea means justice of the people. As Laodice was a common name among the ladies of the royal house of the Seleucidae, the name was given to several cities in Syria and Asia Minor. The one here addressed was on the confines of Phrygia and Lydia, about forty miles east of Ephesus, and was known as Laodicea on the Lycus. It had born successively the names of Diospolis and Rhoas, and was named Laodicea when refounded by Antiochus Theos, B.C. 261-246. It was situated on a group of hills between two tributaries of the Lycus - the Asopus and the Caprus. Towards the end of the Roman Republic, and under the first emperors, it became one of the most important and flourishing cities of Asia Minor. One of its citizens, Hiero, bequeathed all his enormous property to the people, and adorned the city with costly gifts. It was the seat of large money transactions and of an extensive trade in wood. The citizens developed a taste for Greek art, and were distinguished in science and literature. Laodicea was the seat of a great medical school. During the Roman period it was the chief city of a Roman conventus or political district, in which courts were held by the proconsul of the province, and where the taxes from the subordinate towns were collected. Cicero held his court there, and many of his letters were written thence. The conventus represented by Laodicea comprised not less than twenty-five towns, and inscriptions refer to the city as "the metropolis." The Greek word dioikhdiv, corresponding to the Latin conventus was subsequently applied to an ecclesiastical district, and appears in diocese. The tutelary deity of the city was Zeus (Jupiter). Hence its earlier name, Diospolis, or City of Zeus. Many of its inhabitants were Jews. It was subject to frequent earthquakes, which eventually resulted in its abandonment. It is now a deserted place, but its ruins indicate by their magnitude its former importance. Among these are a racecourse, and three theatres, one of which is four hundred and fifty feet in diameter. An important church council was held there in the fourth century.
The Amen. Used only here as a proper name. See Isa. lxv. 16, where the correct rendering is the God of the Amen, instead of A.V. God of truth. The term applied to the Lord signifies that He Himself is the fulfilment of all that God has spoken to the churches.
Faithful (pistov). The word occurs in the New Testament in two senses: trusty, faithful Matt. xxiv. 45; xxv. 21, 23; Luke xii. 42); and believing, confiding (John xx. 27; Gal. iii. 9; Acts xvi. 1). Of God, necessarily only in the former sense.
True (alhqinov). See on verse 7. The veracity of Christ is thus asserted in the word faithful, true being not true as distinguished from false, but true to the normal idea of a witness.
The beginning (h arch). The beginner, or author; not as Colossians i. 15, the first and most excellent creature of God's hands.
"The stress laid in the Epistle to the Colossians on the inferiority of those to whom the self-same name of ajrcai, beginnings principalities was given... to the One who was the true beginning, or, if we might venture on an unfamiliar use of a familiar word, the true Principality of God's creation, may account for the prominence which the name had gained, and therefore for its use here in a message addressed to a church exposed, like that of Colossae, to the risks of angelolatry, of the substitution of lower principalities and created mediators for Him who was the Head over all things to His Church" (Plumptre). Compare Heb. xii. 2, ajrchgon leader.
