Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire: the introductory Therefore introduces Christ’s reaction to the beginning of verse 17, “Because you say….” One may also say “For this reason….” The verb translated counsel means to advise, recommend, instruct. It does not carry the idea of force, so that “I command” or its equivalent would be wrong (see the related noun “counselor” in Rom 11.34).

The figurative language that follows the advice that Christ gives to the people of Laodicea is intended to show them how they can gain spiritual wealth, holiness, and insight. The three things they are advised to buy will meet their pitiable condition of poverty, blindness, and nakedness. The phrase gold refined by fire means “the finest gold,” “the purest gold” (for comments on refined see 1.15).

That you may be rich: this is a figure for spiritual wealth, but the translator is to express the literal meaning of material riches, unless strict adherence to the literal symbol will cause people in certain cultures to think that Christians will become materially rich. In such cases it will be helpful to translate that you may be rich as “in order that you may become spiritually rich” or “that you may become rich in God’s sight.”

And white garments to clothe you: the color white here probably symbolizes purity, as indicated by the following phrase, to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen. To be seen naked was considered a shameful thing; the shame of your nakedness means “your shameful nakedness.” Of course the abstract quality nakedness can feel neither shame nor pride, so that the phrase may need to be expanded somewhat: “so that you will avoid the shame (or, disgrace) of being seen naked” or “so that you will not lose face (or, have shame) by having people see you naked.”

And salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see: the salve was some sort of remedy for the eyes, in the form of a paste or powder. Commentators refer to the Phrygian eye powder, used by physicians in the temple of Asclepius. The generic “eye medicine” may be used, if the equivalent of the specific salve, or “ointment,” or “paste” is not available. The compound verb translated to anoint is formed of the preposition en with the simple verb chriō, “to anoint,” the verb that is the origin of the title christos, “the anointed one” (see Luke 4.18; Acts 4.27). (Another compound verb, epichriō, is used in John 9.6, 11.) See in this context will be rendered in many languages by the equivalent of “look and see” or “see and recognize.”

This verse is one rather long sentence, with the verb to buy followed by three direct objects, each of which includes a purpose clause. It may be better to follow the example of Good News Translation and have a complete sentence for each of the three objects that are to be bought, with the repetition of the verb to buy.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• For this reason, I advise you to buy from me gold that has been refined (or, melted down to get rid of impurities) in order that you may become rich. You must also buy white clothes to put on yourself so that you may avoid the shame of people seeing you naked. You must also buy some salve (or, eye medicine) to put on (or, in) your eyes, so that you may be able to see.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .