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To the Church in Sardis

“To[a] the angel of the church in Sardis write the following:[b]

“This is the solemn pronouncement of[c] the one who holds[d] the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation[e] that you are alive, but[f] in reality[g] you are dead. Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about[h] to die, because I have not found your deeds complete[i] in the sight[j] of my God. Therefore, remember what you received and heard,[k] and obey it,[l] and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never[m] know at what hour I will come against[n] you. But you have a few individuals[o] in Sardis who have not stained[p] their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed[q] in white, because they are worthy. The one who conquers[r] will be dressed like them[s] in white clothing,[t] and I will never[u] erase[v] his name from the book of life, but[w] will declare[x] his name before my Father and before his angels. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:1 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
  2. Revelation 3:1 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
  3. Revelation 3:1 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
  4. Revelation 3:1 tn Grk “who has” (cf. 1:16).
  5. Revelation 3:1 tn Grk “a name.”
  6. Revelation 3:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  7. Revelation 3:1 tn The prepositional phrase “in reality” is supplied in the translation to make explicit the idea that their being alive was only an illusion.
  8. Revelation 3:2 tn The verb ἔμελλον (emellon) is in the imperfect tense.
  9. Revelation 3:2 tn The perfect passive participle has been translated as an intensive (resultative) perfect here.
  10. Revelation 3:2 tn Or “in the judgment.” BDAG 342 s.v. ἐνώπιον 3 states, “in the opinion/judgment of…As a rule…of θεός or κύριος; so after…πεπληρωμένος Rv 3:2.”
  11. Revelation 3:3 tn The expression πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας (pōs eilēphas kai ēkousas) probably refers to the initial instruction in the Christian life they had received and been taught; this included doctrine and ethical teaching.
  12. Revelation 3:3 tn Grk “keep it,” in the sense of obeying what they had initially been taught.
  13. Revelation 3:3 tn The negation here is with οὐ μή (ou mē, the strongest possible form of negation in Koine Greek).
  14. Revelation 3:3 tn Or “come on.”
  15. Revelation 3:4 tn Grk “a few names”; here ὄνομα (onoma) is used by figurative extension to mean “person” or “people”; according to L&N 9.19 there is “the possible implication of existence or relevance as individuals.”
  16. Revelation 3:4 tn Or “soiled” (so NAB, NRSV, NIV); NCV “have kept their clothes unstained”; CEV “have not dirtied your clothes with sin.”
  17. Revelation 3:4 tn The word “dressed” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
  18. Revelation 3:5 tn Or “who overcomes.”
  19. Revelation 3:5 tn Grk “thus.”
  20. Revelation 3:5 tn Or “white robes.”
  21. Revelation 3:5 tn The negation here is with οὐ μή (ou mē), the strongest possible form of negation in Koine Greek.
  22. Revelation 3:5 tn Or “will never wipe out.”
  23. Revelation 3:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  24. Revelation 3:5 tn Grk “will confess.”

The Message to Sardis

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:

“I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead.(A) Wake up and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard; obey it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.(B) Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.(C) If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not erase your name from the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels.(D) Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

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