Revelation 3:1-6

Context

To the Church in Sardis

3:1 “To¹ the angel of the church in Sardis write the following:²

“This is the solemn pronouncement of³ the one who holds⁴ the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation⁵ that you are alive, but⁶ in reality⁷ you are dead. 3:2 Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about⁸ to die, because I have not found your deeds complete⁹ in the sight¹⁰ of my God. 3:3 Therefore, remember what you received and heard,¹¹ and obey it,¹² and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never¹³ know at what hour I will come against¹⁴ you. 3:4 But you have a few individuals¹⁵ in Sardis who have not stained¹⁶ their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed¹⁷ in white, because they are worthy. 3:5 The one who conquers¹⁸ will be dressed like them¹⁹ in white clothing,²⁰ and I will never²¹ erase²² his name from the book of life, but²³ will declare²⁴ his name before my Father and before his angels. 3:6 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

[3:1] ¹tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

[3:1] ²tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

[3:1] ³tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

[3:1] ⁴tn Grk “who has” (cf. 1:16).

[3:1] ⁵tn Grk “a name.”

[3:1] ⁶tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[3:1] ⁷tn The prepositional phrase “in reality” is supplied in the translation to make explicit the idea that their being alive was only an illusion.

[3:2] ⁸tn The verb ἔμελλον (emellon) is in the imperfect tense.

[3:2] ⁹tn The perfect passive participle has been translated as an intensive (resultative) perfect here.

[3:2] ¹⁰tn 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.”

[3:3] ¹¹tn The expression πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας (pw" eilhfa" kai hkousa") probably refers to the initial instruction in the Christian life they had received and been taught; this included doctrine and ethical teaching.

[3:3] ¹²tn Grk “keep it,” in the sense of obeying what they had initially been taught.

[3:3] ¹³tn The negation here is with οὐ μή (ou mh, the strongest possible form of negation in Koine Greek).

[3:3] ¹⁴tn Or “come on.”

[3:4] ¹⁵tn 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.”

[3:4] ¹⁶tn Or “soiled” (so NAB, NRSV, NIV); NCV “have kept their clothes unstained”; CEV “have not dirtied your clothes with sin.”

[3:4] ¹⁷tn The word “dressed” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

[3:5] ¹⁸tn Or “who overcomes.”

[3:5] ¹⁹tn Grk “thus.”

[3:5] ²⁰tn Or “white robes.”

[3:5] ²¹tn The negation here is with οὐ μή (ou mh), the strongest possible form of negation in Koine Greek.

[3:5] ²²tn Or “will never wipe out.”

[3:5] ²³tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[3:5] ²⁴tn Grk “will confess.”