SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:4
Mas tienes unas pocas personas tambin en Sardis que no han ensuciado sus vestiduras , y andarn conmigo en vestiduras blancas, porque son dignas.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 3:4
Verse 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis] A few persons, names being put for those who bore them. And as the members of the Church were all enrolled, or their names entered in a book, when admitted into the Church or when baptized, names are here put for the people themselves. See ver. 5. Have not defiled their garments] Their souls. The Hebrews considered holiness as the garb of the soul, and evil actions as stains or spots on this garb. So in Shabbath, fol. 152, 2: "A certain king gave royal garments to his servants: those who were prudent folded them up, and laid them by in a chest; those who were foolish put them on, and performed their daily labour in them. After some time the king asked for those royal robes; the wise brought theirs white and clean, the foolish brought theirs spotted with dirt.
With the former the king was well pleased; with the latter he was angry.
Concerning the former he said: Let those garments be laid up in my wardrobe, and let the persons go home in peace. Of the latter he said: Let the garments be put into the hands of the fuller, and cast those who wore them into prison." This parable is spoken on these words of Ecclesiastes, Eccles. xii. 7: The spirit shall return to God who gave it.
They shall walk with me in white] They shall be raised to a state of eternal glory, and shall be for ever with their Lord.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis , etc.] The Alexandrian copy and others, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, read, but thou hast a few names, etc. or a few men, as the Ethiopic version renders it; who were called by name, and were men of renown, excellent men, men famous for holding the truth of doctrine, and for powerful and practical godliness; men of great light and grace, and who were known by name to God and Christ: these are said to be but few, not in comparison of the world, in which sense all the elect of God are but few, though a large number, considered in themselves; but in comparison of formal lifeless professors of religion, with which this church state abounds; and which, if we were not as dead as we are, might easily be observed; there may not only be hypocrites in churches, but a majority of them: yea, these few may be understood in comparison of the greater number of true believers; for in this period of the church there are but few, even of them, that are lively, zealous, and careful, and are heartily concerned for the purity of doctrine, discipline, worship, and conversation; and a few there are, blessed be God, even in this our Sardian church state.
God will have a few in whom he will be glorified in the most declining times; and the Lord knows and takes notice of these few; and for their sake the church state is kept up, the Gospel and its ordinances are continued; nor is a church to be judged of by the number of its members, nor is a multitude to be followed to do evil. Which have not defiled their garments ; the Ethiopic version adds, with a woman, the woman Jezebel. They were not guilty either of corporeal or spiritual fornication, which is idolatry; they kept their outward conversation garments pure, and maintained a profession of Christ and his truths incorrupt; they did not defile it by an unbecoming walk, or by a denial of Christ and a departure from him, and by embracing false doctrines; they were neither erroneous in their principles, nor immoral in their practices; few there, are indeed of this sort. Defiled garments, in either sense, very ill become members of the reformed churches. Among the Jews f105 , if a priest's garments were spotted or defiled, he might not minister; if he did, his service was rejected. And they shall walk with me in white ; there is a walking in Christ by faith; and a walking before him as in his sight; and a walking worthy of him, in all well pleasing in his ways and ordinances; and here a walking with him, in a way of special and comfortable communion, both here and hereafter: and this is in white; in white raiment, meaning either in the robe of his own righteousness, compared to fine linen and white; or in the shining robes of immortality and glory; and may be expressive of that spiritual joy which such shall be partakers of, as well as of their spotless purity and innocence in the other world. White raiment was used among the Romans as a token of joy at festivals, and on birthdays, and at weddings, and such like times. For they are worthy ; not of themselves, or through any works of righteousness done by them, which are neither meritorious of grace here, nor of glory hereafter; but through the grace of God, and worthiness of Christ. The Jews have a saying somewhat like this f106 ; they that walk with God in their lifetime, ykwz , are worthy to walk with him after their death; In the Apocrypha we read: Take thy number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord. (2 Esdras 2:40) This clause is left out in the Ethiopic version.
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
εχεις 2192 5719 ολιγα 3641 ονοματα 3686 και 2532 εν 1722 σαρδεσιν 4554 α 3739 ουκ 3756 εμολυναν 3435 5656 τα 3588 ιματια 2440 αυτων 846 και 2532 περιπατησουσιν 4043 5692 μετ 3326 εμου 1700 εν 1722 λευκοις 3022 οτι 3754 αξιοι 514 εισιν 1526 5748
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Thou hast a few names. The best texts insert ajlla but between these words and the close of the preceding verse. So Rev. But, notwithstanding the general apathy of the Church, thou hast a few, etc. Compare verse 1, thou hast a name, and see on chapter xi. 13. Names is equivalent to persons, a few who may be rightly named as exceptions to the general conception.
Even in Sardis. Omit kai even.
Defiled (emolunan). See on 1 Pet. i. 4.
Garments. See the same figure, Jude 23. The meaning is, have not sullied the purity of their Christian life.
In white (en leukoiv). With iJmatioiv garments understood. See on chapter ii. 17, and compare Zechariah. iii. 3, 5. "White colors are suitable to the gods" (Plato, "Laws," xii., 956). So Virgil, of the tenants of Elysium:
"Lo, priests of holy life and chaste while they in life had part; Lo, God-loved poets, men who spake things worthy Phoebus' heart: And they who bettered life on earth by new-found mastery; And they whose good deeds left a tale for men to name them by: And all they had their brows about with snowy fillets bound." "Aeneid," vi., 661-665
The same shall be clothed (outov peribaleitai). For ou=tov this, or the same, read outwv thus: "shall thus be arrayed." so Rev. The verb denotes a solemn investiture, and means literally to throw or put around.
