‘These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name’ (Revelation 3.7–8).

The image of an ‘open door’ in Scripture often denotes a God-given opportunity to proclaim and promote Divine truth. The Apostle Paul used similar language in describing Gospel work at Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16.9) and Troas (2 Corinthians 2.12), acknowledging both the privilege and the challenge inherent in such work. Similarly, today we see the Lord making a way for the Scriptures to be rendered into the languages of peoples who have long waited for them, or whose existing versions fall short of faithfully and accurately rendering the Word of God in its fulness.

Who provided the open door?

The Lord Jesus Christ is described here in Revelation 3 as He that is holy and true, and holds the key of David. As John Gill comments, ‘He is truth itself and purposes that His truth will prevail. He has the key of authority and of knowledge in the Scriptures, and gives it to His people’. In His sovereignty He has the supreme role in all translation eff orts. He opens doors ‘and none can shut them, either men or devils, or hinder the spread of light and knowledge by them’.¹ This is our hope as a Society: that by His sovereign Hand, new opportunities for faithful Bible translation will continue to arise and flourish.

Of course, translation without distribution is fruitless, just as distribution without translation is impossible. Where doors have been opened for translation, we look to the Lord to provide similarly for distribution. Christ alone determines where it must go, plainly declaring: ‘it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it’ (Isaiah 55.11). Thus, the Lord is able to make that Word effectual to salvation; He ‘opens the Scriptures, which are shut to a natural man’.²

How should we respond?

The Lord opens these doors in His holy providence, but He also calls us to enter them with humility and faith. As the message to the church in Philadelphia notes, ‘thou hast a little strength’ (Revelation 3.8). This is not a rebuke, but instead a reminder that our sufficiency is of God.

Our resources as a Society, human and material, may seem small, and indeed the challenge before us seems scarcely sustainable with what we have. Yet when joined to prayer, dependence on God,  and unwavering commitment to His Word, the resources entrusted to us may become mighty tools for the advancement of His Kingdom.

It has been a matter of great thankfulness in the past year to see translation projects go from a pilot project to a New Testament project as funds become available to support them. However, at the time of writing we have still have four Nepali language translation projects that cannot progress beyond the Gospel according to John because we do not at present have the funding necessary to support the available translators. These challenges stir us up to pray that the door which has been opened will remain open.

It is humbling as well as encouraging to read ‘I know thy works’ (Revelation 3.8), and to think that our weak endeavours are within the Saviour’s notice. The Lord also observes ‘thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name’. The original Greek verbs used in Revelation 3.8 suggest not just onetime actions but completed actions that have a lasting effect. There are ongoing responsibilities and certain attitudes that must characterise our work as we press forward into the open doors the Lord has provided. These include:

• Humility: Recognising our own limitations, we depend entirely on the Lord for strength and blessing.
• Faith: We must trust that if He has opened a door effectually it will not be shut despite our limitations, unless He wills.
• Faithfulness: We must ‘keep His Word’ uncorrupted and without compromise in the work of translation. We dare not ‘deny’ Christ’s name, we must maintain the doctrine regarding His Person and work, and be faithful to His Gospel.
• Zeal: We must give Christ all the glory, confessing Him in the spirit and purpose of our translation work.
• Wisdom: An open door may also be a call to devote ourselves and what we have more single-mindedly to this work, and therefore to discern whether there are other things that we should not do.
• Watchfulness: Adversaries and challenges abound—doctrinally, spiritually, and practically. We must not be surprised at opposition.
• Diligence: Open doors may not remain open indefinitely. No man can shut the doors that the Lord opens, but in His mysterious providence He may not keep the door open forever. We must labour while it is day.

What will the future hold? Without any hyperbole, the Trinitarian Bible Society stands at a crucial moment. The work of the past year bears witness to the Lord’s continued favour and assistance. Inevitably we ask what the future may hold, not simply in fresh opportunities, but in faithfully stewarding those we have already been given. As projects develop and progress, they require more of the wider TBS in terms of staff time and financial resources, particularly as we come to publish and grant. What may be a small beginning inevitably increases, so we must consider how to keep in step with this increase over the next five years and beyond. Much wisdom is also needed as we seek to plan how we meet the challenge that such opportunities present for our limited resources. And with opportunity comes obligation: to press on faithfully in fulfilling our main object as a Society:

to promote the Glory of God and the salvation of men, by circulating, both at home and abroad, in dependence on the Divine blessing, the HOLY SCRIPTURES, which are given by inspiration of God, and are able to make men wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

We are reminded that the open door is not merely about increased productivity or global expansion. It is about assisting in the church’s great mission to bring the knowledge of Christ to every tribe, tongue, and nation, so that He may have the preeminence. May we, though having but ‘a little strength’, continue to walk faithfully through the open doors set before us.

First published in Quarterly Record 652 as part of the Editorial Report. Published online 6 October 2025.