Revelation · Bible in Basic English
Revelation 3 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis say: These things says he who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I have knowledge of your works, that you seem to be living but are dead.
1 Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἐκκλησίας γράψον· τάδε λέγει ὁ ἔχων τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας· οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι ὄνομα ἔχεις ὅτι ζῇς, καὶ νεκρὸς εἶ.
2 Be on the watch, and make strong the rest of the things which are near to death; because as judged by me your works have not come up to God's measure.
2 γίνου γρηγορῶν, καὶ στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰ ἃ ἔμελλον ἀποθνήσκειν· οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σου τὰ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ μου.
3 Keep in mind, then, the teaching which was given to you, and be ruled by it and have a change of heart. If then you do not keep watch, I will come like a thief, and you will have no knowledge of the hour when I will come on you.
3 μνημόνευε οὖν πῶς εἴληφας [καὶ ἤκουσας, καὶ τήρει] καὶ μετανόησον. ἐὰν οὖν μὴ γρηγορήσῃς, ἥξω [ἐπὶ σὲ] ὡς κλέπτης, καὶ οὐ μὴ γνώσῃ ποίαν ὥραν ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ.
4 But you have some names in Sardis who have kept clean their robes; and as a reward they will go in white with me.
4 ἀλλὰ ἔχεις ὀλίγα ὀνόματα ἐν Σάρδεσιν, ἃ οὐκ ἐμόλυναν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν, καὶ περιπατήσουσι μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐν λευκοῖς, ὅτι ἄξιοί εἰσιν.
5 He who overcomes will be dressed in white, and I will not take his name from the book of life, and I will give witness to his name before my Father, and before his angels.
5 Ὁ νικῶν οὕτως περιβαλεῖται ἐν ἱματίοις λευκοῖς, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξαλείψω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῆς βίβλου τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ ὁμολογήσω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ.
6 He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches.
6 Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ Πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia say: These things says he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, opening the door so that it may be shut by no one, and shutting it so that it may be open to no one.
7 Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Φιλαδελφείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· τάδε λέγει ὁ ἅγιος, ὁ ἀληθινός, ὁ ἔχων τὴν κλεῖν τοῦ Δαυΐδ, ὁ ἀνοίγων καὶ οὐδεὶς κλείσει, καὶ κλείων καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀνοίξει·
8 I have knowledge of your works (see, I have put before you an open door which may be shut by no one), and that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have been true to my name.
8 οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα· — ἰδοὺ δέδωκα ἐνώπιόν σου θύραν ἀνεῳγμένην, ἣν οὐδεὶς δύναται κλεῖσαι αὐτήν· — ὅτι μικρὰν ἔχεις δύναμιν, καὶ ἐτήρησάς μου τὸν λόγον καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσω τὸ ὄνομά μου.
9 See, I will make those of the Synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews, and are not, but say what is false; I will make them come and give worship before your feet, and see my love for you.
9 ἰδοὺ δίδωμι ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς τοῦ σατανᾶ τῶν λεγόντων ἑαυτοὺς Ἰουδαίους εἶναι, καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ ψεύδονται· ἰδοὺ ποιήσω αὐτοὺς ἵνα ἥξουσι καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν ἐνώπιον τῶν ποδῶν σου, καὶ γνῶσιν ὅτι [ἐγὼ] ἠγάπησά σε.
10 Because you have kept my word in quiet strength, I will keep you from the hour of testing which is coming on all the world, to put to the test those who are on earth.
10 ὅτι ἐτήρησας τὸν λόγον τῆς ὑπομονῆς μου, κἀγώ σε τηρήσω ἐκ τῆς ὥρας τοῦ πειρασμοῦ τῆς μελλούσης ἔρχεσθαι ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκουμένης ὅλης, πειράσαι τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
11 I come quickly: keep that which you have, so that no one may take your crown.
11 ἔρχομαι ταχύ· κράτει ὃ ἔχεις, ἵνα μηδεὶς λάβῃ τὸν στέφανόν σου.
12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the house of my God, and he will go out no more: and I will put on him the name of my God, and the name of the town of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my new name.
12 Ὁ νικῶν, ποιήσω αὐτὸν στῦλον ἐν τῷ ναῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ μου, καὶ ἔξω οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃ ἔτι, καὶ γράψω ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ μου καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς πόλεως τοῦ Θεοῦ μου, τῆς καινῆς Ἱερουσαλήμ, ἣ καταβαίνει ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ μου, καὶ τὸ ὄνομά μου τὸ καινόν.
13 He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches.
13 Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ Πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.
14 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea say: These things says the true and certain witness, the head of God's new order:
14 Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· τάδε λέγει ὁ ἀμήν, ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστὸς καὶ ἀληθινός, ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς κτίσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ·
15 I have knowledge of your works, that you are not cold or warm: it would be better if you were cold or warm.
15 οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι οὔτε ψυχρὸς εἶ οὔτε ζεστός· ὄφελον ψυχρὸς ἦς ἢ ζεστός·
16 So because you are not one thing or the other, I will have no more to do with you.
16 οὕτως ὅτι χλιαρὸς εἶ, καὶ οὔτε ζεστὸς οὔτε ψυχρός, μέλλω σε ἐμέσαι ἐκ τοῦ στόματός μου.
17 For you say, I have wealth, and have got together goods and land, and have need of nothing; and you are not conscious of your sad and unhappy condition, that you are poor and blind and without clothing.
17 ὅτι λέγεις ὅτι πλούσιός εἰμι καὶ πεπλούτηκα καὶ οὐδενὸς χρείαν ἔχω, — καὶ οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ταλαίπωρος καὶ [ὁ] ἐλεεινὸς καὶ πτωχὸς καὶ τυφλὸς καὶ γυμνός, —
18 If you are wise you will get from me gold tested by fire, so that you may have true wealth; and white robes to put on, so that your shame may not be seen; and oil for your eyes, so that you may see.
18 συμβουλεύω σοι ἀγοράσαι παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ χρυσίον πεπυρωμένον ἐκ πυρὸς ἵνα πλουτήσῃς, καὶ ἱμάτια λευκὰ ἵνα περιβάλῃ καὶ μὴ φανερωθῇ ἡ αἰσχύνη τῆς γυμνότητός σου, καὶ κολλύριον ἵνα ἐγχρίσῃ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου ἵνα βλέπῃς.
19 To all those who are dear to me, I give sharp words and punishment: then with all your heart have sorrow for your evil ways.
19 ἐγὼ ὅσους ἐὰν φιλῶ, ἐλέγχω καὶ παιδεύω· ζήλευε οὖν καὶ μετανόησον.
20 See, I am waiting at the door and giving the sign; if my voice comes to any man's ears and he makes the door open, I will come in to him, and will take food with him and he with me.
20 ἰδοὺ ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν καὶ κρούω· ἐάν τις ἀκούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς μου καὶ ἀνοίξῃ τὴν θύραν, καὶ εἰσελεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ δειπνήσω μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ.
21 To him who overcomes I will give a place with me on my high seat, even as I overcame, and am seated with my Father on his high seat.
21 Ὁ νικῶν, δώσω αὐτῷ καθίσαι μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ μου, ὡς κἀγὼ ἐνίκησα καὶ ἐκάθισα μετὰ τοῦ πατρός μου ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ αὐτοῦ.
22 He who has ears, let him give ear to what the Spirit says to the churches.
22 Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ Πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.
Cross references (22)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Timothy 5:6; James 2:26; Revelation 1:4; Colossians 2:13; Jude 12
- 2 Revelation 16:15; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:1–4; Isaiah 35:3
- 3 Revelation 2:5; 2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Matthew 24:42–43; Revelation 16:15
- 4 Revelation 3:5; Revelation 7:9; Ecclesiastes 9:8; Revelation 6:11; Revelation 7:13–14
- 5 Matthew 10:32; Revelation 21:27; Luke 12:8; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 20:12
- 6 Revelation 2:7
- 7 Isaiah 22:22; Matthew 16:19; Revelation 1:18; Job 12:14; John 14:6
- 8 1 Corinthians 16:9; Colossians 4:3; Revelation 3:7; Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 2:12
- 9 Isaiah 60:14; Revelation 2:9; Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 43:4
- 10 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 14:12; Zechariah 13:9; Daniel 12:10; Revelation 2:10
- 11 James 1:12; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 2:25; 2 Timothy 4:8
- 12 Revelation 22:4; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 14:1; Jeremiah 1:18; Galatians 2:9
- 13 Revelation 2:7
- 14 Colossians 1:15; Revelation 1:5; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 3:7
- 15 Romans 12:11; Matthew 6:24; 1 Kings 18:21; James 1:8; Revelation 2:4
- 16 Revelation 2:5; Zechariah 11:8–9; Jeremiah 14:19; Jeremiah 15:1–4
- 17 Proverbs 13:7; Romans 7:24; Hosea 12:8; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 16:15
- 18 Revelation 16:15; 1 Peter 1:7; Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 19:8; Malachi 3:3
- 19 Proverbs 3:11–12; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:5–11; Job 5:17; Revelation 2:5
- 20 Luke 12:36–37; Revelation 19:9; John 14:21–23; Matthew 24:33; Song of Songs 5:2–4
- 21 2 Timothy 2:12; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 2:26–27; John 16:33; Revelation 2:7
- 22 Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:11; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:13; Revelation 3:6
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… that not only what is equal and consubstantial with God is said to proceed out of His mouth, let them hear or read what God says: "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." There is no ground, then, for our objecting, when the apostle so expressly distinguishes the …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." And taste may be included, in accordance with which God hateth the bitter in temper, and spueth out of His mouth those who are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot: and Christ our God saith, "My meat is to do the will of Him that …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
When I spare, thou singest and praisest: when I chasten, thou murmurest: as though, when I spare, I am thy God: and, when I chasten, I am not thy God. "I rebuke and chasten those whom I love." "But thou hatest instruction: and hast thrown My sayings behind thee." The words that are said through thee, thou throwest behind thee.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)