Revelation 3:1 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.

Revelation 3:1 nkjv

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

Revelation 3:1 niv

"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.

Revelation 3:1 esv

"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.

Revelation 3:1 nlt

"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.

Revelation 3 verses

Revelation 3 1 Meaning

This verse introduces the letter from Christ to the church in Sardis, a church distinguished by its outward appearance of vitality that belied a profound inner spiritual lifelessness. The message comes from Jesus, identified as the One who possesses the seven Spirits of God, representing the fullness and perfection of the Holy Spirit's power and discernment, and the seven stars, symbolizing His absolute authority over the leaders and, by extension, all the churches. Despite their public reputation for being spiritually active or "alive," Christ's divine insight reveals their true condition: they are spiritually "dead." This direct accusation serves as a stark warning, exposing their hypocrisy and the danger of mere outward religiosity without genuine, internal spiritual life.

Revelation 3 1 Context

Revelation 3:1 begins the letter to the church in Sardis, one of the seven churches of Asia Minor. This city, once the magnificent capital of the Lydian kingdom, had a rich but often tragic history of surprise capture due to its inhabitants' overconfidence and lack of vigilance. Historically, it fell to Cyrus in 549 BC and later to Antiochus III in 214 BC, both times by stealth when its guards became complacent. This historical pattern sets a critical backdrop for Christ's urgent call to "wake up" and be watchful to the Sardian church. Spiritually, Sardis represents a church that, while outwardly appearing prosperous and maintaining its rituals or traditions, had become internally dead, devoid of true spiritual life, passion, and genuine works pleasing to God. The chapter immediately preceding (Rev 2) and following (Rev 3) elaborate on the conditions of other churches, each revealing a unique spiritual struggle, yet all highlighting Christ's comprehensive awareness of their state.

Revelation 3 1 Word analysis

• And to the angel:

  • And (Καί - Kai): Connects this letter to the previous ones, part of a continuing series of divine communications.
  • to the angel (τῷ ἀγγέλῳ - tō angelō): Refers to the "messenger" of the church. In Revelation, this is widely understood to mean the spiritual leader or bishop of the congregation, responsible for guiding the flock. It signifies direct communication with leadership.

• of the church in Sardis:

  • of the church (τῆς ἐκκλησίας - tēs ekklēsias): Denotes the assembly of believers. It highlights that the message is directed to the entire gathered body in that specific city.
  • in Sardis (ἐν Σάρδεσιν - en Sardesin): The specific city, providing immediate historical and cultural context. Sardis was renowned for its wealth and luxury, but also for its vulnerability to surprise attacks due to its people's complacency, which spiritually parallels the church's condition.

• write:

  • write (γράψον - grapson): A strong imperative, a command from Christ. This emphasizes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the message, intended for record and solemn consideration.

• ‘The words of him who has:

  • The words of him (τάδε λέγει - tade legei): A prophetic formula common in both the Old and New Testaments ("Thus says the Lord"). It powerfully asserts the divine authority and identity of the speaker, Jesus Christ, making His subsequent statements irrefutable truth and judgment.
  • who has (ὁ ἔχων - ho echōn): Signifies possession, control, and inherent authority. This attribute highlights Christ's divine power and prerogative to address the churches.

• the seven spirits of God:

  • the seven spirits (τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα - ta hepta pneumata): Symbolizes the Holy Spirit in His perfection, completeness, and all-sufficiency. "Seven" denotes divine perfection and totality.
  • of God (τοῦ Θεοῦ - tou Theou): Confirms their divine origin and connection to God, further linking Christ to the comprehensive operation of the Spirit of God (compare Isa 11:2 and Zech 4:2, 6). This signifies Christ's full access to and deployment of the Spirit's power, knowledge, and life-giving presence, contrasting sharply with Sardis's spiritual deadness.

• and the seven stars:

  • and the seven stars (καὶ τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας - kai tous hepta asteras): As explicitly defined in Rev 1:20, these are the "angels" (messengers/leaders) of the seven churches. Christ "having" them implies His complete authority, control, and ownership over the church leadership and, by extension, the churches themselves. It underscores His oversight and responsibility for His church.

• ‘I know your works.

  • I know (Οἶδα - Oida): An emphatic declaration of omniscient knowledge. Christ sees beyond outward appearance or reputation. This direct statement initiates the core of His assessment, demonstrating His absolute awareness of their activities and their true spiritual state.
  • your works (σου τὰ ἔργα - sou ta erga): Refers to actions, deeds, efforts, and the overall course of their conduct as a church. It encompasses all their religious activities, ministries, and expressions of faith.

• You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.’

  • You have the reputation (ὄνομα ἔχεις - onoma echeis): Literally, "you have a name" or "a reputation." This points to outward perception, what others think, or what the church publicly portrays. They might engage in religious activities, have numbers, or a respected past.
  • of being alive (ὅτι ζῇς - hoti zēs): The outward appearance of spiritual vitality, energy, or spiritual health.
  • but (καὶ - kai, used here as an adversative "but"): Introduces the sharp, devastating contrast to the previous statement.
  • you are dead (νεκρὸς εἶ - nekros ei): The crushing verdict. This signifies a state of spiritual lifelessness, spiritual separation from God, inactivity concerning genuine faith, and a lack of true divine regeneration. It implies formal adherence without internal reality, resembling a corpse: the form is there, but life is absent.

Revelation 3 1 Bonus section

The specific choice of "Sardis" as a recipient of this letter is highly symbolic. Beyond its historical vulnerability to attack, Sardis was also a center of the goddess Cybele worship, known for its loud, elaborate, but often superficial religious rites. This cultural context would have heightened the irony of Christ's message: a city accustomed to outward religious show was home to a church excelling only in reputation. The "dead" state can also be linked to the concept of spiritual sleep or apathy. In Jewish thought, "death" could also imply the opposite of holiness – defilement, often associated with uncleanness, contrasting with the holy Spirit. The presence of the "seven spirits of God" explicitly held by Christ, emphasizes His capacity not only to discern their death but also to bring them true life, if they repent and "wake up." The phrase "I know your works" applies not just to individual members but to the corporate life of the church; its programs, ministries, and general conduct were all under divine scrutiny, found wanting despite their outward appearance.

Revelation 3 1 Commentary

Revelation 3:1 immediately establishes Christ's supreme authority and discerning power as the divine Judge of the churches. He is depicted as the one holding both the fullness of the Holy Spirit ("seven spirits of God") and control over church leadership ("seven stars"). This comprehensive oversight sets the stage for His assessment of the Sardian church. The profound spiritual tragedy of Sardis is succinctly captured: a church that outwardly projects vitality and has a strong reputation ("you have the reputation of being alive"), but in reality, possesses no true spiritual life ("but you are dead").

This is more insidious than outright apostasy or severe doctrinal error; it is spiritual complacency, where the form of godliness is maintained but the power is denied. Their "works" are known to Christ, yet they lack genuine fruit, fervor, or transformative power, rendering them spiritually bankrupt. The problem wasn't what they were doing wrong, but what they weren't doing in a Spirit-empowered way—living genuinely for Christ. This church suffered from a severe disconnect between its public image and its inner spiritual reality, illustrating the peril of formal religion without living faith. Christ's declaration serves as a severe warning against superficiality, outward performance, and complacency, emphasizing that only authentic spiritual vitality, sourced from Christ Himself and empowered by the Holy Spirit, is truly recognized and valued in God's eyes. It underscores the critical need for constant vigilance and internal renewal, lest one appear alive to others but be dead to God.