Revelation 3:1
in Revelation 3“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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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.
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.
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This verse in Revelation 3
Commentary
17 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
This attribute implies His infinite power by the Spirit to convict of sin and of a hollow profession. and the seven stars-- (Re 1:16, 20). His having the seven stars, or presiding ministers, flows, as a consequence, from His having the seven Spirits, or the fulness of the Holy Spirit. The human ministry is the fruit of Christ's sending down the gifts of the Spirit.
This site's exposition
a reputation for being alive
Sardis hears from the One who holds the seven stars, and the charge follows: you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead. The letter opens with no word of praise, for the church's name had outrun its life.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Concerning the seven stars, which are now also called the spirits of God, it has been said in the preceding passages; but now you must listen to what he says about those in Sardis. He says, I know your works, that you have a name …
Therefore he has trifled both with his own "spirit," and with "the angel of the Church," and with "the power of the Lord," if he rescinded what by their counsel he had formally pronounced.
And we came to a certain plain, and he showed me a young man, a shepherd, clothed in a suit of garments of a yellow colour: and he was herding very many sheep, and these sheep were feeding luxuriously, as it were, and riotously, and merrily skipping hither and thither. The shepherd himself was merry, because of his flock; and the appearance of the shepherd was joyous, and he was running about amongst his flock. And he said to me, "Do you see this shepherd?" "I see him, sir," I said. "This," he answered, "is the angel of luxury and deceit: he wears out the souls of the servants of God, and perverts them from the truth, deceiving them with wicked desires, through which they will perish; for they forget the commandments of the living God, and walk in deceits and empty luxuries; and they are ruined by the angel, some being brought to death, others to corruption."
A commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
proposed
The fifth class, company, or association of saints, sets forth men who are careless, and who are carrying on in the world other transactions than those which they ought-Christians only in name. And therefore He exhorts them that by any means they should be turned away from negligence, and be saved; and to this effect He says:- "Be watchful, and strengthen the other things which were ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God." For it is not enough for a tree to live and to have no fruit, even as it is not enough to be called a Christian and to confess Christ, but not to have Himself in our work, that is, not to do His precepts.
The Medieval Church1 voice
We have said before that the "seven stars" are divine angels. The "seven spirits" are either the selfsame angels or they are the energies of the life-giving Spirit. Either way, both are in the hand of Christ, for he governs the former as Lord, and …
10 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
QUESTION: What is meant by what he says to the angel of the church of Sardis, I know thy works, that thou hast the name of being alive: and thou art dead? ANSWER: To yourself you do look alive, but if you are not watchful …
And to the angel of the church in Sardis write. He reproves this angel, that is, the priest, for being less diligent in correcting evils. However, he praises some who walk in white garments, to whom the name of the Sardis stone, indeed precious, is …
I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and you are dead. You appear to be alive, but if you do not watch in correcting the wicked, you will be counted among the dead.
And to the angel of the church of Sardis, write: These things saith he, that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast the name of being alive: but thou art dead. Be watchful and strengthen …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The seven spirits of God - The Holy Spirit, from whom alone all spiritual life and strength proceed. And the seven stars - which are subordinate to him.
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The seven Spirits, of God - See the note on Rev 1:4, Rev 1:16 (note), etc. Thou hast a name that thou livest - Ye have the reputation of Christians, and consequently of being alive to God, through the quickening influence of the Divine Spirit; but ye are dead - ye have not the life of God in your souls, ye have not walked consistently and steadily before God, and his Spirit has been grieved with you, and he has withdrawn much of his light and power.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The Epistle to the Church at Sardis The contents of the epistle to the church at Sardis Rev 3:1-6 are: (1) The usual salutation to the angel of the church, Rev 3:1. (2) The usual reference to the attributes of the Saviour - those referred to here being that he had the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, Rev 3:1. (3) The assurance that he knew their works, Rev 3:1. (4) The statement of the uniqueness of the church, or what he saw in it - that it had a name to live and was dead, Rev 3:
Modern Voices2 voices
"You may be dead," I replied. "You ought to know. But as for what they are doing, do not call it living."
"And you?" he cried terribly. "What do you think the road thinks of you? Does the road think you are alive? Are you alive? Day after day, year after year, you have gone to Oldgate Station...." Since then I have respected the things called inanimate.
The words behind it
33 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῷ | to | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγγέλῳ | angelo | angel | G32 → | 175 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Σάρδεσιν | sardesin | Sardis | G4554 → | 3 times |
| ἐκκλησίας | ekklesias | church | G1577 → | 113 times |
| γράψον· | grapson | do write: | G1125 → | 189 times |
| τάδε | tade | These things | G3592 → | 10 times |
| λέγει | legei | says | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [One] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔχων | echon | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑπτὰ | hepta | seven | G2033 → | 86 times |
| πνεύματα | pneumata | Spirits | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑπτὰ | hepta | seven | G2033 → | 86 times |
| ἀστέρας· | asteras | stars; | G792 → | 24 times |
| οἶδά | oida | I know | ||
| σου | sou | your | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| τὰ | ta | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔργα | erga | deeds | G2041 → | 168 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ὄνομα | onoma | characterization | G3686 → | 227 times |
| ἔχεις | echeis | you have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ζῇς | zeas | you are alive | G2198 → | 139 times |
| καὶ | kai | and yet | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| νεκρὸς | nekros | dead | G3498 → | 128 times |
| εἶ. | ei | you are. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
ΚαὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῷto the
toG3588 →19766 times
ἀγγέλῳangel
angeloG32 →175 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ΣάρδεσινSardis
sardesinG4554 →3 times
ἐκκλησίαςchurch
ekklesiasG1577 →113 times
γράψον·do write:
grapsonG1125 →189 times
τάδεThese things
tadeG3592 →10 times
λέγειsays
legeiG3004 →1325 times
ὁthe [One]
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἔχωνhaving
echonG2192 →707 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
ἑπτὰseven
heptaG2033 →86 times
πνεύματαSpirits
pneumataG4151 →378 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἑπτὰseven
heptaG2033 →86 times
ἀστέρας·stars;
asterasG792 →24 times
οἶδάI know
oida
σουyour
souG4771 →2973 times
τὰ<the>
taG3588 →19766 times
ἔργαdeeds
ergaG2041 →168 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ὄνομαcharacterization
onomaG3686 →227 times
ἔχειςyou have
echeisG2192 →707 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ζῇςyou are alive
zeasG2198 →139 times
καὶand yet
kaiG2532 →9120 times
νεκρὸςdead
nekrosG3498 →128 times
εἶ.you are.
eiG1510 →2333 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 1:4John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne,
it leads to
- Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
- John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- Psalms 90:2
Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
- Revelation 5:6
Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven…
- Isaiah 11:2
Through
Colossians 2:13When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
it leads to
- Ephesians 2:1
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 2:5–6
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
- Ephesians 2:1
Through
James 2:26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
it leads to
- James 2:20
O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?
- James 2:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
About Revelation
This page draws on 16 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MANUAL ON REVELATION; Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3:1; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; GK Chesterton, Tremendous Trifles, XXXVII. The Shop of Ghosts (1909); GK Chesterton, Tremendous Trifles, A Somewhat Improbable Story (1909); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Shepherd of Hermas, Shepherd of Hermas, Similitude 6; Tertullian, On Modesty and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.