Revelation 3:11
 
Revelation 3:11
(KJV) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
(1611 KJV) Beholde, I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crowne.
(1587 Geneva Bible) Beholde, I come shortly: holde that which thou hast, that no man take thy crowne.
(1526 Tyndale) Beholde I come shortly. Holde that which thou haste that no man take awaye thy croune
 
Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.
(1901 ASV) I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.
(AMP) I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown.
(CEB) I’m coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown.
(CEV) I am coming soon. So hold firmly to what you have, and no one will take away the crown that you will be given as your reward.
(CSB) I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.
(ERV) “I am coming soon. Hold on to the faith you have, so that no one can take away your crown.
(ESV) I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
(GNB) I am coming soon. Keep safe what you have, so that no one will rob you of your victory prize.
(HCSB) I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.
(JB Phillips) I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have—let no one deprive you of your crown.
(THE MESSAGE) "I'm on my way; I'll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown.
(NASV) I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
(NCV) "I am coming soon. Continue strong in your faith so no one will take away your crown.
(2011 NIV) I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
(NKJV) Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. - Doubt is cast in the footnotes.
(NLV) I am coming very soon. Hold on to what you have so no one can take your crown.
(NLT) I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.
(RSV) I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) I am coming quickly. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) I am coming quickly. Keep on holding fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
 
Textus Receptus -Traditional Text
ιδου ερχομαι ταχυ κρατει ο εχεις ινα μηδεις λαβη τον στεφανον σου
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
ερχομαι ταχυ κρατει ο εχεις ινα μηδεις λαβη τον στεφανον σου
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
P 025 - Ninth century
1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Stephanus (1550 A.D.)
Elzivir 1624
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “behold” at beginning of verse
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902
Hodges and Farstad - Majority Text 1982 as corrected in 1985
 
Affected Teaching
The word “behold,” which is missing in the modern versions, is the word in the Greek for “see, perceive, or look.” In this usage of the word, it is in the Imperative mood which means the Lord Jesus Christ is giving a command to the church at Philadelphia. He is not merely giving some type of information which is not important but He is commanding them to look, that is, to attend to, direct, or fix their mind upon the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming quickly and they are to remain faithful until He does come back. They were to avoid false teachers and not to let their spiritual guard down. What the Lord is charging here is not an option but a command to remain faithful. The modern versions omit this fact that the Lord desires His church to remain faithful and is commanding them to be vigilant. They skip this fact and focus upon the return of Christ but what is the Christian to be during that time? They are to be faithful. This is why the Lord commands them in the rest of the verse to hold fast or hold on to what they have. The words “hold fast” is one word in the Greek and it is also in the Imperative Mood which is a command and not an option.

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