Letter to Philadelphia: An Open Door and a Promise of Protection
Revelation 3:7-13
Rev.3.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αγγελω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- Φιλαδελφεια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εκκλησιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- γραψον·Ταδε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αγιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αληθινος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- κλειν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Δαυιδ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ανοιγων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- κλεισει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- κλειων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- ανοιγει·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 22:22 (quotation): Almost verbatim antecedent: 'I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; he shall shut, and none shall open.' Revelation 3:7 echoes this wording and the image of Davidic authority.
- Matthew 16:19 (thematic): Jesus promises Peter 'the keys of the kingdom of heaven' and authority to bind and loose—a related metaphor of delegated authority to open/close access to God's realm, paralleling the 'key of David' motif.
- Revelation 1:18 (verbal): The risen Christ declares he holds 'the keys of Death and Hades.' Both passages use key imagery to assert Christ's sovereign authority over access and destiny.
- Revelation 3:14 (verbal): Another Christological self-designation in the same corpus—'the Amen, the faithful and true witness'—parallels 'the holy, the true' in 3:7, linking the authority invoked (the key) with Christ's faithfulness and truth.
Alternative generated candidates
- To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: Thus says he who is holy and true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one will open.
- To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: Thus says the Holy One, the True One, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens:
Rev.3.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Οιδα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εργα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ιδου: PART
- δεδωκα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- ενωπιον: PREP
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- θυραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ηνεωγμενην: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,acc,sg,fem
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- κλεισαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- μικραν: ADJ,acc,sg,fem
- εχεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- δυναμιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ετηρησας: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ηρνησω: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Revelation 3:7 (structural): Immediate literary context: 3:7 speaks of the one with the 'key of David' who opens and no one can shut, directly framing 3:8's image of an open door that cannot be shut.
- Isaiah 22:22 (allusion): OT source for the 'key' and opening/shutting motif (key of the house of David); Revelation echoes this royal/authority imagery underlying the 'open door' claim.
- Matthew 7:7-8 (thematic): Uses door/knocking imagery ('ask... seek... knock... it will be opened')—parallel theme of divine access and doors opening in response to God’s initiative.
- Matthew 10:33 (thematic): The warning about denying Jesus ('whoever denies me before men...') parallels 3:8's commendation for not denying his name, contrasting faithfulness and repudiation.
- Revelation 3:20 (thematic): Related door imagery within Revelation ('I stand at the door and knock'); 3:20’s motif of fellowship at the door complements 3:8’s motif of a door already opened as reward for fidelity.
Alternative generated candidates
- I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door that no one can shut, for you have a little power, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.
- I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut, for you have a little power, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.
Rev.3.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ιδου: PART
- διδω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- συναγωγης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Σατανα: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- λεγοντων: PART,pres,act,gen,pl,m
- εαυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- Ιουδαιους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- αλλα: CONJ
- ψευδονται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,pl
- ιδου: PART
- ποιησω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- ηξουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- προσκυνησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- ενωπιον: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ποδων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- και: CONJ
- γνωσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- ηγαπησα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
Parallels
- Rev.2:9 (verbal): Nearly identical language about 'those who say they are Jews and are not' and 'a synagogue of Satan'—same rebuke repeated to another church.
- Isaiah 60:14 (verbal): Promises that those who once afflicted or despised Zion will come bending and bow at the soles of her feet—close verbal and thematic parallel to enemies coming to worship at the feet.
- Isaiah 49:23 (thematic): Kings and rulers will bow down before Zion and pay homage—similar theme of former opponents humbling themselves and acknowledging God's favor.
- Romans 2:28-29 (thematic): Distinguishes true Jews (an inward, spiritual identity) from mere ethnic claimants—parallels Revelation's charge against those who claim Jewish identity but are not.
- Philippians 2:10-11 (thematic): Eschatological image of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing—related motif of enemies/comprehensive homage and recognition of divine authority.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.
- Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie; behold, I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.
Rev.3.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- ετηρησας: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- υπομονης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- καγω: CONJ+PRON,nom,sg,1
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- τηρησω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ωρας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πειρασμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- μελλουσης: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,f
- ερχεσθαι: VERB,pres,mp,inf
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- οικουμενης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ολης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- πειρασαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- κατοικουντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 24:21-22 (thematic): Both speak of a coming period of great worldwide tribulation and the preservation/shortening for the sake of the elect—an eschatological 'hour' that affects the whole world.
- Luke 21:36 (thematic): Jesus urges watchfulness and prayer 'that you may be able to escape all these things and stand before the Son of Man,' echoing the promise of being kept from the coming hour of trial.
- John 17:15 (allusion): Jesus' petition to the Father 'I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one' parallels the theme of divine keeping/preservation from imminent evil or trial.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (thematic): Paul’s declaration that God has not destined believers for wrath but for salvation resonates with Rev 3:10’s assurance of being kept from the coming hour of testing/wrath.
- Revelation 7:14 (structural): Within Revelation, this verse describes those 'who have come out of the great tribulation,' connecting to 3:10’s concern with endurance and the fate of those who face (or are spared) the worldwide trial.
Alternative generated candidates
- Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.
- Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I also will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Rev.3.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ερχομαι: VERB,pres,mid/dep,ind,1,sg
- ταχυ·κρατει: ADV+VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- μηδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- λαβη: VERB,aor,act,sub,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- στεφανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
Parallels
- Revelation 2:25 (verbal): Same exhortation to 'hold fast what you have' until Christ's coming; closely parallels the wording and pastoral intent to persevere.
- Revelation 22:7 (verbal): Repeats the declaration 'Behold, I come quickly/soon,' echoing the imminent-return formula of 3:11.
- Revelation 22:12 (thematic): Links Christ's coming with reward ('my reward is with me'); parallels 3:11's concern that believers retain their crown (reward) at His coming.
- James 1:12 (thematic): Promises the 'crown of life' to those who persevere under trial—the same crown imagery used in 3:11 for faithful endurance.
- 2 Timothy 4:8 (thematic): Speaks of a 'crown of righteousness' reserved for those who long for Christ's appearing, connecting the motif of a crown with the Lord's coming and faithful hope.
Alternative generated candidates
- I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
- I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Rev.3.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- νικων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ποιησω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- στυλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ναω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- εξω: ADV
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- εξελθη: VERB,aor,mid,sub,3,sg
- ετι: ADV
- και: CONJ
- γραψω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- επ᾽αυτον: PREP+PRON,acc,sg,3,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πολεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- καινης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- Ιερουσαλημ: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- καταβαινουσα: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,f
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,masc
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- καινον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Rev.2.17 (verbal): Both promises are addressed to ‘the one who conquers’ and pledge that a new name will be given/written — a direct verbal parallel (new name written for the overcomer).
- Rev.3.5 (thematic): Shared theme of divine inscription and permanence: names preserved/written by God (not blotted out) echoes the promise to have God’s name written on the overcomer.
- Rev.21.2 (verbal): Rev.3:12’s phrase ‘the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from my God’ is taken almost verbatim from the vision of the new Jerusalem in Rev.21:2 — same image and source.
- Gal.2.9 (thematic): Paul’s depiction of James, Peter and John as ‘pillars’ in the church provides the same honorific pillar metaphor — Rev.3:12 promises the believer a permanent, honored status as a ‘pillar’ in God’s temple.
- Isa.56.5 (allusion): God’s pledge to give an ‘everlasting name’ that will not be cut off parallels Rev.3:12’s assurance of a permanent divine inscription and enduring identity before God.
Alternative generated candidates
- The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out; and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven—and my new name.
- The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God; he will go out no more, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
Rev.3.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ακουσατω: VERB,aor,act,imp,3,sg
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- εκκλησιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
Parallels
- Rev.2.7 (verbal): Identical closing formula to the letter to Ephesus—’He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ (same Greek wording/function).
- Rev.2.11 (verbal): Same refrain concluding the message to Smyrna, repeating the exact exhortation to listen to the Spirit addressed to the churches.
- Rev.2.17 (verbal): Parallel closing line at the end of the Pergamum message; identical wording and function as a call to hear the Spirit’s message.
- Rev.3.6 (structural): Part of the repeated structural pattern that closes each of the seven church letters (here closing Sardis), signaling a canonical injunction across the series of messages.
- Matt.11.15 (quotation): Jesus’ saying ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear’ provides a Synoptic verbal and conceptual precedent for the Johannine/Revelation exhortation to attend to divine utterance.
Alternative generated candidates
- He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
- He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: Thus says he who is holy, the one who is true, who has the key of David: what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut. For you have a little power, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.
Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I also will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.
Behold, I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he go out. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven—and my new name.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.