SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:2
S vigilante, y confirma las otras cosas que estn para morir; porque no he hallado tus obras perfectas delante de Dios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 3:2
Verse 2. Be watchful] Ye have lost ground by carelessness and inattention. Awake, and keep awake! Strengthen the things which remain] The convictions and good desires, with any measure of the fear of God and of a tender conscience, which, although still subsisting, are about to perish, because the Holy Spirit, who is the author of them, being repeatedly grieved, is about finally to depart. Thy works perfect] peplhrwmena? Filled up. They performed duties of all kinds, but no duty completely. They were constantly beginning, but never brought any thing to a proper end. Their resolutions were languid, their strength feeble, and their light dim. They probably maintained their reputation before men, but their works were not perfect before God.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. Be watchful , etc.] Which may respect both ministers and members: the ministers of the Gospel, whose business is to watch over themselves, their conversation and doctrine, and watch every opportunity to preach it, and the success of their ministry; and that they do not grow careless, or be drawn aside through frowns or flatteries; and over others, as shepherds do, to know the state of their flock; as watchmen of cities to give the time of night, and notice of approaching danger; and to see that the laws of Christ's house are put in execution: and this may also respect the members of these churches, who ought to be watchful, and constant attenders on the word and ordinances, and in the duty of prayer; and should watch over themselves, their hearts, thoughts, affections, words, and actions, and against sin, Satan, the world, and false teachers: or be awake; which shows that both ministers and churches are asleep, or much inclined to it; which is the present case of both in this period of time: and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die ; not good works; though these may be said to be ready to die when men grow weary of them, are lifeless in the performance of them, and want zeal for them; and may be said to be strengthened when men do their first works: nor the graces of the Spirit; for the whole work of grace remains, and though it is imperfect, yet no part is, or can be taken away from it; yea, there is an increase of it, though it may not be discerned; the work of grace cannot die, or be ready to die; there may be a decline as to the exercise of it, and a want of liveliness in it; and things may be ready to die in appearance, and in the apprehension of believers, but not in reality; and besides it is God's work, and not man's, to strengthen this: therefore they may intend the truths of the Gospel, which at the beginning of the Reformation were revived, and were preached with great life and liveliness; but towards the close of this state, as now, would be just ready to expire, to be almost lost, and dead, and buried, as they are; and which it becomes both ministers and members of churches to hold, and hold up, establish, and confirm: or else the rest of the members of this church may be meant, those of them that remained, that were not wholly sunk and apostatized; and yet were in a very faint and sickly state, scarce any life in them, ready to give up their religion and profession; which should be strengthened, by preaching the pure Gospel, by faithfully administering the ordinances of it, and by speaking comfortable and encouraging words to them. The Complutensian edition and some copies read, which thou art about lose; which seems a good reading; and the Arabic version, and some other copies, which thou art going to reject: for I have not found thy works perfect before God ; meaning that the reformers, and reformed churches, stuck where they first began; and did not carry their works neither with respect to doctrine, and especially with respect to discipline and worship, to a greater perfection, as they ought to have done: and however perfect they might appear before men, they were not so in the sight of the omniscient God, nor found so by Christ, before whom all things are naked and open: the Arabic version reads, before me; and the Alexandrian copy, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read, before my God. This church, though she has departed from the corrupt church of Rome, and from her evil doctrines and practices; yet did not go on to that perfection which might have been expected and desired, and which would have rendered her praiseworthy, whereas she is now discommended. It is an observation of a Jewish writer f104 , that if one departs from an evil way, and does not do that which is good, he does not wh[m ylh , make his work perfect, and he is not pronounced blessed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - The Lord Jesus is He that hath the Holy Spirit with all his powers graces, and operations. Hypocrisy, and lamentable decay in religion are sins charged upon Sardis, by One who knew that church well, and all her works. Outward things appeared well to men, but there was only the form of godliness, not the power; a name to live, not a principle of life. There was great deadness in their souls, and in their services numbers were wholly hypocrites, others were in a disordered an lifeless state. Our Lord called upon them to be watchful against their enemies, and to be active and earnest in their duties; and to endeavour, in dependence on the grace of the Holy Spirit, to revive an strengthen the faith and spiritual affections of those yet alive to God, though in a declining state. Whenever we are off our watch, we lose ground. Thy works are hollow and empty; prayers are not filled u with holy desires, alms-deeds not filled up with true charity, sabbath not filled up with suitable devotion of soul to God. There are no inward affections suitable to outward acts and expressions; when the spirit is wanting, the form cannot long remain. In seeking a revival in our own souls, or the souls of others, it is needful to compare what we profess with the manner in which we go on, that we may be humbled an quickened to hold fast that which remains. Christ enforces his counse with a dreadful threatening if it should be despised. Yet our blesse Lord does not leave this sinful people without some encouragement. He makes honourable mention of the faithful remnant in Sardis, he makes gracious promise to them. He that overcometh shall be clothed in whit raiment; the purity of grace shall be rewarded with the perfect purit of glory. Christ has his book of life, a register of all who shal inherit eternal life; the book of remembrance of all who live to God and keep up the life and power of godliness in evil times. Christ wil bring forward this book of life, and show the names of the faithful before God, and all the angels, at the great day.
Greek Textus Receptus
γινου 1096 5737 γρηγορων 1127 5723 και 2532 στηριξον 4741 5657 τα 3588 λοιπα 3062 α 3739 μελλει 3195 5719 αποθανειν 599 5629 ου 3756 γαρ 1063 ευρηκα 2147 5758 σου 4675 τα 3588 εργα 2041 πεπληρωμενα 4137 5772 ενωπιον 1799 του 3588 θεου 2316
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Be watchful (ginou grhgorwn). Lit., become awake and on the watch. See on Mark xiii. 35; 1 Pet. v. 8. Become what thou art not.
Strengthen (sthrixon). See on 1 Pet. v. 10, and compare Luke xxii. 32; Rom. i. 11; 2 Thess. iii. 3.
That are ready to die (a mellei apoqanein). Read emellon were ready or about (to die).
I have not found thy works (ou eurhka sou ta erga). Some texts omit the article before works, in which case we should render, I have found no works of thine. So Rev.
Perfect (peplhrwmena). Lit., fulfilled. So Rev.
God. The best texts insert mou, "my God."
