Revelation 3:1

“And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

“And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

BSB

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.

KJV

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

ASV

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.

BBE

And to the angel of the church in Sardis say: These things says he who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I have knowledge of your works, that you seem to be living but are dead.

Original Greek

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Καὶ Kai And G2532 τῷ tō to the G3588 ἀγγέλῳ angelō angel G32 τῆς tēs of the G3588 ἐν en in G1722 Σάρδεσιν Sardesin Sardis G4554 ἐκκλησίας ekklēsias church G1577 γράψον grapson do write G1125 τάδε tade These things G3592 λέγει legei says G3004 ὁ ho the [One] G3588 ἔχων echōn having G2192 τὰ ta the G3588 ἑπτὰ hepta seven G2033 πνεύματα pneumata Spirits G4151 τοῦ tou (the) G3588 θεοῦ theou of God G2316 καὶ kai and G2532 τοὺς tous the G3588 ἑπτὰ hepta seven G2033 ἀστέρας asteras stars G792 οἶδά oida I know G6063 σου sou your G4771 τὰ ta (the) G3588 ἔργα erga deeds G2041 ὅτι hoti that G3754 τὸ to (the) G3588 ὄνομα onoma characterization G3686 ἔχεις echeis you have G2192 ὅτι hoti that G3754 ζῇς zēas you are alive G2198 καὶ kai and yet G2532 νεκρὸς nekros dead G3498 εἶ ei you are G1510

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–6

The Lord Jesus is He that hath the Holy Spirit with all his powers, graces, and operations. Hypocrisy, and lamentable decay in religion, are sins charged upon Sardis, by One who knew that church well, and all her works. Outward things appeared well to men, but there was only the form of godliness, not the power; a name to live, not a principle of life. There was great deadness in their souls, and in their services; numbers were wholly hypocrites, others were in a disordered and lifeless state. Our Lord called upon them to be watchful against their enemies, and to be active and earnest in their duties; and to endeavour, in dependence on the grace of the Holy Spirit, to revive and strengthen the faith and spiritual affections of those yet alive to God, though in a declining state. Whenever we are off our watch, we lose ground. Thy works are hollow and empty; prayers are not filled up with holy desires, alms-deeds not filled up with true charity, sabbaths not filled up with suitable devotion of soul to God. There are not inward affections suitable to outward acts and expressions; when the spirit is wanting, the form cannot long remain. In seeking a revival in our own souls, or the souls of others, it is needful to compare what we profess with the manner in which we go on, that we may be humbled and quickened to hold fast that which remains. Christ enforces his counsel with a dreadful threatening if it should be despised. Yet our blessed Lord does not leave this sinful people without some encouragement. He makes honourable mention of the faithful remnant in Sardis, he makes a gracious promise to them. He that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment; the purity of grace shall be rewarded with the perfect purity of glory. Christ has his book of life, a register of all who shall inherit eternal life; the book of remembrance of all who live to God, and keep up the life and power of godliness in evil times. Christ will bring forward this book of life, and show the names of the faithful, before God, and all the angels, at the great day.

Read Matthew Henry on Revelation 3 →

Parallel passages

12

The same words or events elsewhere.

Revelation 2:1Revelation 2:2Revelation 2:8Revelation 2:9Revelation 2:12Revelation 2:13Revelation 2:18Revelation 2:19Revelation 3:7Revelation 3:8Revelation 3:14Revelation 3:15

Cross-references

25

People & places

Sardis

Topics

ChurchWicked (People)HypocrisySevenLukewarmnessAngel Of The ChurchesSardis

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.