Lukewarm Living: χλιαρός (Strong’s G5513: chliaros) Warns Against Spiritual Complacency

Strong’s G5513: From χλίω (chlio, to warm); meaning tepid or lukewarm. Used metaphorically to describe spiritual indifference, particularly in the message to the Laodicean church. Represents a dangerous middle state between hot and cold spirituality.

U- Unveiling the Word

χλιαρός captures a profound spiritual warning about the peril of mediocrity in faith. In ancient times, Laodicea received lukewarm water via aqueducts from hot springs, making it unpalatable compared to either hot medicinal waters or refreshing cold springs. This physical reality became a powerful metaphor for spiritual temperature. The word points to the danger of being neither passionate for God nor openly opposed to Him – a comfortable middle ground that the Lord finds particularly distasteful. This metaphor remains strikingly relevant today, challenging believers to examine their spiritual fervor and commitment to the Messiah.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: χλιαρός, chliaros, /khlee-ar-os/
• Detailed pronunciation: kh-lee-ah-ROSS (where ‘kh’ is guttural)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• Root: χλίω (chlio) – to warm
• Suffix: -αρός (-aros) – forms adjectives indicating a state or quality
• Combined meaning: being in a warmed state

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary meanings:

1. Lukewarm, tepid (physical temperature)
2. Neither hot nor cold (metaphorical)
3. Lacking zeal or passion (spiritual context)

For compound words:
Not a compound word, but derives from χλίω with the adjectival suffix -αρός

Translation Options:

1. Lukewarm – Best captures both physical and spiritual connotations
2. Tepid – Emphasizes the undesirable nature of the temperature
3. Half-hearted – Captures the metaphorical spiritual meaning

E – Exploring Similar Words

• θερμός (thermos, /ther-mos/) – hot, fervent – See G2200
• ψυχρός (psychros, /psoo-khros/) – cold – See G5593
• ζεστός (zestos, /dzes-tos/) – boiling hot – See G2200

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Adjective features:

• Case: Nominative/Accusative/Vocative
• Number: Singular/Plural
• Gender: Masculine/Feminine/Neuter
• Declension: First/Second

Examples:

• Masculine: χλιαρός (nom. sing.)
• Feminine: χλιαρά
• Neuter: χλιαρόν

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The lexicons universally emphasize χλιαρός’s metaphorical significance beyond its literal meaning. BDAG highlights its unique usage in Revelation as a powerful spiritual metaphor. Thayer’s emphasizes its connection to the historical context of Laodicea’s water supply. LSJ provides classical usage examples showing its consistent meaning across Greek literature. Vine’s expands on its spiritual implications, while Moulton and Milligan note its rarity in papyri, suggesting its specialized use. This convergence of lexical evidence underscores the word’s powerful metaphorical impact in Revelation’s message.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Revelation 3:16: “So, because you are [χλιαρός] lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.”

Additional References:
Only appears in Revelation 3:16

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

χλιαρός serves as a powerful spiritual wake-up call in Scripture. Its singular use in Revelation delivers one of the most memorable warnings about spiritual complacency. The metaphor draws from the real-world experience of unpalatable lukewarm water to illustrate how spiritual mediocrity is offensive to the Lord. This word proclaims the good news by urging believers toward genuine, passionate faith in the Messiah, reminding us that half-hearted devotion is incompatible with the transformative power of the gospel.

D – Did You Know?

1. Laodicea’s lukewarm water came from hot springs in Hierapolis, cooling during its 6-mile journey.
2. The word appears only once in the New Testament but became a lasting metaphor for spiritual indifference.
3. Ancient medical texts used χλιαρός to describe ideal bath temperatures for healing.

Strong’s G5513: A term expressing tepidity or lukewarmness, used metaphorically in Revelation to describe spiritual indifference. Derived from χλίω (to warm), it powerfully illustrates the unpalatable nature of half-hearted faith, drawing from Laodicea’s historical context of neither-hot-nor-cold water supply.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: temperature, lukewarm, Laodicea, spiritual-condition, warning, revelation, metaphor, water, commitment, zeal​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​