(~) The Seven Deadly Sins of Bible Study (Part 3 of 7) Jack Kuhatschek for New Man magazine

3. Ignoring the Bibles Background

Most Bible readers are familiar with Christs famous words to the church in Laodicea: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth (Rev. 3:15,16). Yet because many Christians ignore the historical and cultural background of this passage, they misunderstand Christs meaning.

We usually assume that hot means we are spiritually alive or on fire for the Lord, while cold means we are spiritually dead or hostile toward Him. In other words Jesus would prefer that we be either for Him or against Him rather than being neutral. But this interpretation of cold and hot completely ignores the historical and cultural background of this passage and is therefore misleading.

The city of Colosse, which was fewer than 10 miles from Laodicea, was known for its cold, refreshing waters. The city of Hierapolis to the north was famous for its beneficial hot springs. Laodicea had a six-mile-long aqueduct that brought both hot and cold water to the city, but by the time the waters arrived they were both lukewarm.

Do you see how this background radically changes the way we interpret this passage?

Jesus would never want anyone to be spiritually dead or hostile toward Him, and He would certainly not prefer this condition to lukewarm Christianity — even though He detests the latter. In this passage both cold and hot are excellent and beneficial, like a refreshing glass of ice water or a good hot bath. So if you are either hot or cold, Jesus is pleased. Just dont be lukewarm!