3:1 “To 6 the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: 7
“This is the solemn pronouncement of 8 the one who holds 9 the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation 10 that you are alive, but 11 in reality 12 you are dead.
1 map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.
2 tn Grk “and to Smyrna.” For stylistic reasons the conjunction καί (kai) and the preposition εἰς (eis) have not been translated before the remaining elements of the list. In lists with more than two elements contemporary English generally does not repeat the conjunction except between the next to last and last elements.
3 tn Grk “a few names”; here ὄνομα (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.”
4 tn Or “soiled” (so NAB, NRSV, NIV); NCV “have kept their clothes unstained”; CEV “have not dirtied your clothes with sin.”
5 tn The word “dressed” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
6 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
7 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
8 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.
sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
9 tn Grk “who has” (cf. 1:16).
10 tn Grk “a name.”
11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
12 tn The prepositional phrase “in reality” is supplied in the translation to make explicit the idea that their being alive was only an illusion.