To the Church in Sardis

3 “To the angel^[a] of the church in Sardis^(A) write:

⁶ But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.^(A)

²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.^(A)

Greetings and Doxology

⁴ John,

To the seven churches^(A) in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you^(B) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,^(C) and from the seven spirits^[a](D) before his throne,

¹³ When you were dead in your sins^(A) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you^[a] alive^(B) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,^(C)

¹² These people are blemishes at your love feasts,^(A) eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.^(B) They are clouds without rain,^(C) blown along by the wind;^(D) autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted^(E)—twice dead.

²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;^(A) he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.^(B)

¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars,^(A) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.^(B) His face was like the sun^(C) shining in all its brilliance.