3:1 “To 11 the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: 12
“This is the solemn pronouncement of 13 the one who holds 14 the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation 15 that you are alive, but 16 in reality 17 you are dead.
1 tn Although the first possessive pronoun σου (sou) is connected to τὰ ἔργα (ta erga) and the second σου is connected to ὑπομονήν (Jupomonhn), semantically κόπον (kopon) is also to be understood as belonging to the Ephesian church. The translation reflects this.
2 tn The translation “tolerate” seems to capture the sense of βαστάσαι (bastasai) here. BDAG 171 s.v. βαστάζω 2.b.β says, “bear, endure…κακούς Rv 2:2.…bear patiently, put up with: weaknesses of the weak Ro 15:1; cf. IPol 1:2; evil Rv 2:3.”
3 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle was broken off from the previous sentence and translated as an indicative verb beginning a new sentence here in the translation.
4 tc The shorter reading adopted here has superior ms support (א A C P 2053 al latt co), while the inclusion of “your works and” (τὰ ἔργα σου καί, ta erga sou kai) before “where you reside” is supported by the Byzantine witnesses and is evidently a secondary attempt to harmonize the passage with 2:2, 19; 3:1, 8, 15.
5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Yet” to indicate the contrast between their location and their faithful behavior.
6 tn The present indicative verb κρατεῖς (kratei") has been translated as a progressive present.
7 tn Grk “the faith”; here the Greek article is used as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
8 tn Grk “the faith of me” (τὴν πίστιν μου, thn pistin mou) with the genitive “of me” (μου) functioning objectively.
9 tn Or “martyr.” The Greek word μάρτυς can mean either “witness” or “martyr.”
10 tn Grk “killed among you.” The term “city” does not occur in the Greek text of course, but the expression παρ᾿ ὑμῖν, ὅπου ὁ σατανᾶς κατοικεῖ (par’ Jumin, {opou Jo satana" katoikei) seems to indicate that this is what is meant. See G. B. Caird, Revelation (HNTC), 36-38.
11 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
12 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
13 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.
14 tn Grk “who has” (cf. 1:16).
15 tn Grk “a name.”
16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
17 tn The prepositional phrase “in reality” is supplied in the translation to make explicit the idea that their being alive was only an illusion.
18 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the previous question.
19 tn Though the expression “the answer” is not in the Greek text, it is clearly implied. Direct objects in Greek were frequently omitted when clear from the context.
20 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
21 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.