Letter to Sardis: Wakefulness and Repentance
Revelation 3:1-6
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Revelation
Rev.3.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αγγελω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- Σαρδεσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- εκκλησιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- γραψον·Ταδε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- πνευματα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- αστερας·Οιδα: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εργα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- οτι: CONJ
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εχεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- ζης: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- νεκρος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
Parallels
- Revelation 1:4 (verbal): Also mentions 'the seven Spirits of God' (τοῖς ἑπτὰ πνεύμασιν), the same seven‑Spirits formula that identifies the speaker's authority in 3:1.
- Revelation 1:20 (verbal): Explains the meaning of 'the seven stars' as the angels of the seven churches and links the star imagery in 3:1 to the book's interpretive key.
- Revelation 2:2 (structural): Uses the same addressing/assessment pattern ('I know your works…') to begin the church‑letters, showing the formulaic inspection of each congregation found in 3:1.
- Revelation 3:17 (thematic): Confronts a similar contrast between appearance and reality (they think they are alive/prosperous but are spiritually poor or dead), expanding the charge in 3:1 that Sardis 'has a name of being alive, and is dead.'
- Isaiah 11:2 (allusion): Depicts a sevenfold expression of the Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord) that lies behind the symbolic 'seven Spirits of God' language used in 3:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- To the angel of the church in Sardis write: Thus says the one who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:
- To the angel of the church in Sardis write: Thus says he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:
Rev.3.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- γινου: VERB,pres,mid,imp,2,sg
- γρηγορων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- στηρισον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- λοιπα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- εμελλον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- αποθανειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- ου: PART,neg
- γαρ: PART
- ευρηκα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εργα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- πεπληρωμενα: PART,perf,pass,acc,pl,n
- ενωπιον: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου·: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Revelation 3:1 (structural): Immediate context: the rebuke that Sardis ‘has a name of being alive, and is dead’ directly precedes the exhortation to ‘be watchful’ and ‘strengthen the remaining’ (verse 2).
- Revelation 2:5 (thematic): To Ephesus: 'Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent' — a similar appeal to recover/restore what remains and to reverse spiritual decline. Both passages call for corrective action to restore true works before God.
- Acts 14:22 (thematic): Paul and Barnabas 'strengthened the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith' — parallels the imperative to 'strengthen the things which remain' and to confirm believers in faithfulness.
- Mark 13:33 (verbal): Jesus' command 'Take ye heed, watch' echoes the imperative γίνου γρηγορῶν ('be watchful') in Rev 3:2, linking vigilance to preparedness for spiritual danger or judgment.
- Hebrews 3:12-13 (thematic): Warning believers to 'take heed' lest a 'heart of unbelief' arise and exhorting one another daily to avoid hardening—parallels the call in Rev 3:2 to prevent further decline by attentive exhortation and strengthening.
Alternative generated candidates
- I know your works. You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
- I know your works; you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found your works complete before my God.
Rev.3.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μνημονευε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- ουν: CONJ
- πως: ADV
- ειληφας: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- ηκουσας: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- τηρει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- μετανοησον·εαν: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ουν: CONJ
- μη: PART
- γρηγορησης: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,sg
- ηξω: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,sg
- ως: ADV
- κλεπτης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- γνως: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- ποιαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- ωραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ηξω: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,sg
- επι: PREP
- σε·: PRON,acc,2,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 24:42-44 (verbal): Jesus' command to 'watch' because the Son of Man will come at an unknown hour and the imagery of coming 'as a thief' closely parallels the warning in Rev 3:3.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (thematic): Uses the same 'comes as a thief in the night' motif and exhorts believers to stay awake and sober—echoing the call to vigilance and repentance in Revelation 3:3.
- Revelation 16:15 (quotation): Within Revelation itself the Lord declares 'Behold, I come like a thief' and pronounces blessing on those who watch, directly repeating the imagery and promise of Rev 3:3.
- Luke 12:35-40 (thematic): Parallels the call to readiness and watchfulness for the unexpected coming of the Lord, including the 'as a thief' simile and the command to be prepared.
- Revelation 2:5 (verbal): Another immediate context in the seven letters where the addressee is told to 'remember... and repent'—closely matching the opening imperatives of Rev 3:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die; for I have found your works incomplete before my God.
- Remember therefore how you received and heard; hold fast and repent. If you will not watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.
Rev.3.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλα: CONJ
- εχεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- ολιγα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- ονοματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- Σαρδεσιν: PROPN,dat,pl,f
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εμολυναν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ιματια: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- περιπατησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- μετ᾽εμου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,1
- εν: PREP
- λευκοις: ADJ,dat,pl,n
- οτι: CONJ
- αξιοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Revelation 3:5 (structural): Immediate context: promises that the faithful will be clothed in white and not have their name blotted out—direct continuation/expansion of the Sardis promise.
- Revelation 7:14 (verbal): Speaks of a great multitude who 'have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,' linking white garments with purity and salvation in Revelation.
- Revelation 19:8 (thematic): Uses the image of fine, clean linen as 'the righteous deeds of the saints,' connecting white clothing with righteous status and eschatological marriage imagery.
- Zechariah 3:3-5 (allusion): The high priest Joshua's filthy garments are removed and he is clothed in clean robes—an Old Testament precedent for cleansing and being clothed in purity.
- Isaiah 1:18 (thematic): 'Though your sins be as scarlet... they shall be white as snow'—uses whiteness as the metaphor of divine cleansing and forgiveness parallel to the unsoiled garments in Sardis.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yet you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
- Yet you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
Rev.3.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- νικων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ουτως: ADV
- περιβαλειται: VERB,pres,mp,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- ιματιοις: NOUN,dat,pl,neut
- λευκοις: ADJ,dat,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- εξαλειψω: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- βιβλου: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ζωης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ομολογησω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ενωπιον: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- ενωπιον: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αγγελων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Revelation 3:4 (verbal): Immediate context: contrasts those who have 'not soiled their garments' with the promise to clothe the overcomer in white—closely parallels the white garments imagery and the reward for the faithful.
- Revelation 7:14 (verbal): Speaks of believers who 'have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,' echoing the white garment motif and the purification/reward language of Rev 3:5.
- Revelation 20:12-15 (thematic): Describes the final judgment where names not found written in the book of life are condemned—directly relates to Rev 3:5's promise not to have the name blotted out from the book of life.
- Luke 10:20 (thematic): Jesus tells the disciples to rejoice that 'your names are written in heaven,' a parallel expression to having one's name preserved in the book of life.
- Hebrews 12:23 (thematic): Refers to 'the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven,' echoing the concept of heavenly enrollment/assurance found in Rev 3:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; I will never blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
- He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
Rev.3.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ακουσατω: VERB,aor,act,imp,3,sg
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- εκκλησιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
Parallels
- Rev.2.7 (verbal): Exact refrain concluding the letter to Ephesus: the same wording urging, 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
- Rev.2.11 (verbal): Identical closing formula at the end of the letter to Smyrna, a repeated injunction to heed the Spirit's message to the churches.
- Rev.2.17 (verbal): Same verbal refrain concluding the letter to Pergamum, part of the recurring admonition across the seven epistles.
- Rev.2.29 (verbal): The identical closing line at the end of the letter to Thyatira, showing a consistent, repeated exhortation to listen to the Spirit.
- Rev.3.22 (verbal): Final occurrence of the same phrase at the end of the Laodicea letter, completing the structural refrain that closes each of the seven church messages.
Alternative generated candidates
- He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
- He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the angel of the church in Sardis write: Thus says he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.
Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete before my God.
Remember therefore how you received and heard; hold fast to it, and repent. If you do not keep watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
Yet you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
The one who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; I will not blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.