SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:5
El que venciere, ser así vestido de vestiduras blancas; y no borrar su nombre del libro de la vida, y confesar su nombre delante de mi Padre, y delante de sus ngeles.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 3:5
Verse 5. I will not blot out his name] This may be an allusion to the custom of registering the names of those who were admitted into the Church in a book kept for that purpose, from which custom our baptismal registers in Churches are derived. These are properly books of life, as there those who were born unto God were registered; as in the latter those who were born in that parish were enrolled. Or there may be allusions to the white raiment worn by the priests, and the erasing of the name of any priest out of the sacerdotal list who had either sinned, or was found not to be of the seed of Aaron. In Middoth, fol. 37, 2: "The great council of Israel sat and judged the priests. If in a priest any vice was found they stripped of his white garments and clothed him in black, in which he wrapped himself, went out, and departed. Him in whom no vice was found they clothed in white, and he went and took his part in the ministry among his brother priests." I will confess his name] I will acknowledge that this person is my true disciple, and a member of my mystical body. In all this there may also be an allusion to the custom of registering citizens. Their names were entered into books, according to their condition, tribes, family, &c.; and when they were dead, or had by unconstitutional acts forfeited their right of citizenship, the name was blotted out, or erased from the registers. See the note on Exod. xxxii. 32.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. He that overcometh , etc.] The deadness, formality, and imperfection of this church state; gets over these things, and is among the few names in it: the same shall be clothed in white raiment ; the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, read, thus shall he be clothed in white raiment; he shall have abundance of spiritual peace and joy, great success and prosperity, both inward and outward, in himself, and in the church; and triumph over all his enemies, sin, Satan, the world, death, and every other enemy; and not only be clothed with change of raiment, the pure and spotless righteousness of Christ, but shall enjoy eternal glory and happiness! the allusion seems to be to the custom of the Jewish sanhedrim in judging of priests fit for service f107 ; they examined the priests concerning their genealogies and blemishes; every priest in whom was found anything faulty in his genealogy, he was clothed in black and veiled in black, and went out of the court; but everyone that was found perfect and right, ynbl bwl , he was clothed in white, and went in and ministered with his brethren the priests. And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life ; by which is meant the choice of persons to everlasting life and salvation; and this being signified by a book, and by writing names in it, shows the exact knowledge God has of his elect, the value he has for them, his remembrance of them, his love to them, and care for them; and that this election is of particular persons by name, and is sure and certain; for those whose names are written in it shall never be blotted out, they will always remain in the number of God's elect, and can never become reprobates, or shall ever perish; because of the unchangeableness of the nature and love of God, the firmness of his purposes, the omnipotence of his arm, the death and intercession of Christ for them, their union to him, and being in him, the impossibility of their seduction by false teachers, and the security of their persons, grace, and glory in Christ, and in whose keeping this book of life is; which respects not this temporal life, that belongs to the book of providence, but a spiritual and eternal life, from whence it has its name. But I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels ; which shows that Christ has an exact and perfect knowledge of all the chosen ones, he knows them by name; and that he has a strong and affectionate love for them, and is not ashamed of them, of their cause, of their persons, and of their relation to him; and that he does and will own, acknowledge, and approve of them, both here and hereafter: and the confession he will make of them will be in their praise; in praise of their persons and the comeliness of them, which he has put upon them; and of their graces, though they are his own; and of their good works as the fruits of grace: and this will be made before his Father, who chose these persons, and gave them to him to preserve and save; and before the angels, who rejoice at their salvation and happiness; and this will be at the last day; (see Gill on Matthew 10:32).
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
ο 3588 νικων 3528 5723 ουτος 3778 περιβαλειται 4016 5698 εν 1722 ιματιοις 2440 λευκοις 3022 και 2532 ου 3756 μη 3361 εξαλειψω 1813 5692 το 3588 ονομα 3686 αυτου 846 εκ 1537 της 3588 βιβλου 976 της 3588 ζωης 2222 και 2532 εξομολογησομαι 1843 5698 το 3588 ονομα 3686 αυτου 846 ενωπιον 1799 του 3588 πατρος 3962 μου 3450 και 2532 ενωπιον 1799 των 3588 αγγελων 32 αυτου 846
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Book of life. Lit., the book of the life. For the figure, see Exod. xxxii. 32; Ps. lxix. 28; Dan. xii. 1; Philip. iv. 3. Compare Luke x. 20; Heb. xii. 23.
I will confess (exomloghsomai). Openly confess (ex). See on Matthew xi. 25; Acts xix. 18; Jas. v. 16.
