translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: REV

label: NET study note

text: See the note on synagogue in 2:9 .


text: Your crown refers to a wreath consisting either of foliage or of precious metals formed to resemble foliage and worn as a symbol of honor, victory, or as a badge of high office – ‘wreath, crown’ (L&N 6.192).


text: This description of the city of my God is parenthetical, explaining further the previous phrase and interrupting the list of “new names” given here.


text: Laodicea was near two other towns, each of which had a unique water source. To the north was Hierapolis which had a natural hot spring, often used for medicinal purposes. To the east was Colossae which had cold, pure waters. In contrast to these towns, Laodicea had no permanent supply of good water. Efforts to pipe water to the city from nearby springs were successful, but it would arrive lukewarm. The metaphor in the text is not meant to relate spiritual fervor to temperature. This would mean that Laodicea would be commended for being spiritually cold, but it is unlikely that Jesus would commend this. Instead, the metaphor condemns Laodicea for not providing spiritual healing (being hot) or spiritual refreshment (being cold) to those around them. It is a condemnation of their lack of works and lack of witness.


text: The city of Laodicea had a famous medical school and exported a powder (called a “Phrygian powder”) that was widely used as an eye salve . It was applied to the eyes in the form of a paste the consistency of dough (the Greek term for the salve here, κολλούριον , kollourion [Latin collyrium ], is a diminutive form of the word for a long roll of bread).