“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. ^3:2Wake 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. ^3:3Therefore, 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. ^3:4But 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. ^3:5The 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. ^3:6The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Read in Logos

Revelation 3:5: The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Footnotes

1 Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
2 The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
3 Grk “These things says [the One] …” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in . The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in .
4 Grk “who has” (cf. 1:16).
5 Grk “a name.”
6 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
7 The prepositional phrase “in reality” is supplied in the translation to make explicit the idea that their being alive was only an illusion.
8 The verb ἔμελλον (emellon) is in the imperfect tense.
9 The perfect passive participle has been translated as an intensive (resultative) perfect here.
10 Or “in the judgment.” 342 ἐνώπιον 3 states, “in the opinion/judgment of … As a rule … of θεός or κύριος; so after … πεπληρωμένος Rv 3:2.”
11 The expression πῶς εἵληφας καὶ ἥκουσας (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 Grk “keep it,” in the sense of obeying what they had initially been taught.
13 The negation here is with οὐ μή (ou mē, the strongest possible form of negation in Koine Greek).
14 Or “come on.”
15 Grk “a few names”; here ὅνομα (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 Or “soiled” (so , , ); “have kept their clothes unstained”; “have not dirtied your clothes with sin.”
17 The word “dressed” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
18 Or “who overcomes.”
19 Grk “thus.”
20 Or “white robes.”
21 The negation here is with οὐ μή (ou mē), the strongest possible form of negation in Koine Greek.
22 Or “will never wipe out.”
23 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
24 Grk “will confess.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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

“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. 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.’

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God. Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.

“In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:

“This is what the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead. Be on the alert and strengthen the remaining things that are about to die, for I have not found your works completed before my God. Therefore remember how you have received and heard, and observe it, and repent. If therefore you are not on the alert, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothing, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. The one who conquers in this way will be dressed in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, and I will declare his name before my Father and before his angels. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

KJV 1900King James Version

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. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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