Lukewarm

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

The word occurs only in  Revelation 3:16 -‘because thou art lukewarm (χλιαρός), and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.’ As tepid water causes nausea, so lifeless religious profession leads to Divine disgust and rejection (cf. Ecce Homo 11, 1873, ch. 13.). There is greater promise in men who are outside the pale of the Church than in those whose nominal allegiance to religion has created a false confidence, dulled all sense of need, and checked all spiritual growth ( Revelation 3:15). The following verses ( Revelation 3:17-18, for the local references of which see article‘Laodicea’ in Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) ) suggest that this condition of tepid religion in Laodicea had been fostered by an excess of material prosperity. The Laodiceans had become so comfortable as not to need God, nor ought God to expect much more than patronage from go consequential a community. He must, in human fashion, be on good terms with a church with so satisfactory a worldly status, not inquiring too closely about their spiritual zeal. For an analysis of this lukewarmness see also F. W. Faber, Growth in Holiness , 1854, ch. 25.

H. Bulcock.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Χλιαρός (Strong'S #5513 — Adjective — chliaros — khlee-ar-os' )

"tepid, warm" (akin to chlio, "to become warm," not found in the NT or Sept.), is used metaphorically in  Revelation 3:16 , of the state of the Laodicean church, which afforded no refreshment to the Lord, such as is ministered naturally by either cold or hot water.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Revelation 3:16 (a) Here GOD gives us a type which describes the unhappy state of one who is indifferent to the claims of GOD, indifferent to the needs of the church, indifferent to the needs of his own soul, and who travels along life's pathway with no definite decision in regard to eternity.

King James Dictionary

LU'KEWARM, a.

1. Moderately warm tepid as lukewarm water lukewarm heat. 2. Not ardent not zealous cool indifferent as lukewarm obedience lukewarm patriots.  Revelation 3 .

Webster's Dictionary

(a.) Moderately warm; neither cold nor hot; tepid; not ardent; not zealous; cool; indifferent.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Revelation 3:16

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( Χλιαρός , tepid), moderately warm; spoken figuratively of Christians in a half-backslidden state ( Revelation 3:16), who are threatened with the divine excision, as we instinctively reject from the mouth water in this insipid state.