Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 3:9
9. I will make—Greek present, "I make," literally, "I give" (see on :-). The promise to Philadelphia is larger than that to Smyrna. To Smyrna the promise was that "the synagogue of Satan" should not prevail against the faithful in her: to Philadelphia, that she should even win over some of "the synagogue of Satan" to fall on their faces and confess God is in her of a truth. Translate, "(some) of the synagogue." For until Christ shall come, and all Israel then be saved, there is but "a remnant"... read more
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 3:8
8. I have set—Greek, "given": it is My gracious gift to thee. open door—for evangelization; a door of spiritual usefulness. The opening of a door by Him to the Philadelphian Church accords with the previous assignation to Him of "the key of David." and—The three oldest manuscripts, A, B, C, and ORIGEN read, "which no man can shut." for—"because." a little—This gives the idea that Christ says, He sets before Philadelphia an open door because she has some little strength; whereas the sense rather... read more