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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Revelation 3:1

ὁ ἔχων τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα τοῦ θεοῦ. See the last note but one on Revelation 1:4. Though “the Seven Spirits” were mentioned there, we have not yet heard of them as specially belonging to Christ: but this we find in Revelation 5:6.

καὶ τοὺς ἑπτὰ�. Cf. Revelation 2:1. We find the “Spirits” and the “stars,” i.e. Angels, mentioned coordinately—a further argument against identifying the Spirits with Angels, even angels other than these. These attributes of Christ are mentioned, because He speaks as Judge of the Churches: cf. 1 Corinthians 2:15 for the conception of judgement as the Spirit’s work.

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See also Revelation 3:1 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER III. _The epistle to the Church of Sardis_, 1-6. _The epistle to the Church of Philadelphia_, 7-13. _The epistle to the Church of Laodicea_, 14-22. NOTES ON CHAP. III. _Epistle to the Chu...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS The contents of the epistle to the church at Sardis Revelation 3:1 are: * The usual salutation to the angel of the church, Revelation 3:1. (2)Th

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 3 Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea _ 1. Sardis: The reformation period (Revelation 3:1)_ 2. Philadelphia: The faithful remnant (Revelation 3:7) 3. Laodicea: The indifferent and apostate Churc...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    REVELATION 2:1 TO REVELATION 3:22. THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. These letters are addressed to individual churches, but their messages are intended for the Church as a whole. In every letter the...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. Sardis was a little more than 30 miles SE. of Thyatira: formerly a city of great importance, at this time it had become a town of the second rank. It had been destr...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    _Sardis_ was the capital of the great ancient kingdom of Lydia, which was overthrown by the Persian Cyrus. It was the residence of the rich King Croesus, whose name has passed into. proverb. Of the hi...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    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; I know that you have a reputation for life, but that you...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE LETTER TO SARDIS (Revelation 3:1-6)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    UNTO. to. ANGEL... CHURCH. See Revelation 1:20. SARDIS. The ancient capital of Lydia. Its commercial activity attracted merchants from all parts of Asia. The remains of. vast temple to Cybele (the ...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Church in Sardis. Chap. Revelation 3:1-6 1. _that hath the seven Spirits of God_ See the last note on Revelation 1:4. Though "the Seven Spirits" were mentioned there, we have not yet heard of them...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS REVELATION 3:1-6:_ Sardis was a wealthy city that had started to decline in the days of John. It was situated at the junction of several trade routes. It was a place of...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΣΆΡΔΕΙΣ (G4554) Сардис. Один из важнейших городов в древней истории, греки же долгое время считали его величайшим из городов. Сардис расположен на расстоянии 72 км к востоку от Смирны, в долине реки Г...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2494 EPISTLE TO SARDIS Revelation 3:1. _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, t...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Strauss-' Comments SECTION 8 Text Revelation 3:1-6 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, tha...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    __ The Prophetic Section THYATIRA 18 Tertullian and Epiphanius say that there was no ecclesia in Thyatira when John wrote these letters. On this ground many rejected this prophecy in early times. T...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE EPISTLES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (CONCLUDED) 1-6. To the Church in Sardis Christ speaks as He who gives the spirit and looks for spiritual life. There is no praise for this Church. Its life is witho...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SARDIS] about 35 m. S. of Thyatira. When there was a kingdom of Lydia, before 549 b.c., Sardis was its capital. It was still an important city at the time of the Apocalypse, but is now only a ruin. SP...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    FROM NOW TO THE END OF TIME REVELATION _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 3 TO THE *CHURCH IN SARDIS - REVELATION 3:1-6 V1 ‘Write to the *angel of the *church in Sardis. I hold the 7 spirits of God and the...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    III. (1) SARDIS. — The modern _Sart_ — now a mere village of paltry huts — once the capital of the old Lydian monarchy, and associated with the names of Crœsus, Cyrus, and Alexander. It was the great...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The message to Sardis. The title of the speaker (drawn from Revelation 1:4; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 1:20), as general as in the similar letter to Ephesus, has no special bearing on the subsequent...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “ESTABLISH THE THINGS THAT REMAIN” Revelation 3:1 In other addresses to the churches our Lord began with commendation, but no such word is here. He is described in the fullness of His glorious nature...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The letter to the Church in Sardis covers the period of the Reformation. The Church was addressed as "dead." Yet there were things remaining which were not dead, but "ready to die." The address is lar...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    TO THE DEAD CHURCH On a plateau at the foot of Mount Timolous, in a fertile valley, at the intersection of several roads, stood the city of Sardis. It was 35 miles southeast of Thyatira. Three sides o...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And unto the angel of the church in (a) Sardis (1) write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a (b) name that thou livest, a...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    To the Angel of the church of Sardis. He begins with a severe reprehension, thou hast the name of being alive, and thou art dead, which we may understand of the greatest part of them, and of being dea...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) 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 d...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS This Chapter contains the remaining Messages of Christ to the Churches, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Jesus manifests his Grace in the sweet Promise of coming and supping with his Peop...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    That God should have chosen John to be the instrument of communicating the closing volume of the New Testament is worthy of our consideration. It is not a new thing for God thus to set out the stronge...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _A FALSE REPUTATION_ ‘I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.’ Revelation 3:1 In God’s sight the Church of Sardis was like the corpse of the ancient Scythian—men rev...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE CHURCH IN SARDIS_ ‘And unto the angel of the Church in Sardis write.’ Revelation 3:1 The epistle is one of almost unqualified condemnation. The reputation of the Church in Sardis stood high, b...

  • John Brown Commentaries Selected Books of the Bible

    The Church in Sardis The doldrums is a part of the ocean near the equator, with abounding calms, and light, timid winds. The weather is hot and extreemely dispiriting. The old sailing vessels, when c...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    There is no threat of removing the candlestick: that was settled. Judgment, setting aside the assembly, was fixed. But this body would be treated as the world, not ecclesiastically as a corrupt assemb...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND UNTO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN SARDIS WRITE,.... Of the city of Sardis Revelation 1:11 when, and by whom this church was founded, and who was the present angel or pastor of it, is not now to be c...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _To the angel of the church in Sardis write_ This city, “once the renowned capital of Crœsus and the rich Lydian kings, is now no longer worthy of the name of a city. It lies about thirty-three miles...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    A NAME; the merely outward profession and form of religion. Persons may be regular in the outward form of religion, and yet destitute of its spirit. Without an effectual change, such cannot escape the...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PASTORAL LETTERS TO THE CONGREGATIONS AT SARDIS, AT PHILADELPHIA, AND AT LAODICEA. The letter to the congregation at Sardis:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE ASSEMBLY AT SARDIS (vv. 1-6) The message to the assembly at Sardis has a very different character, for instead of being a development from Thyatira, it is rather a revulsion from it. Sardis mean...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    SARDIS (VERSES 1-6) The City Sardis was one of the richest cities of the ancient world. It had a 2,000 year history. Sardis was built on Mount Timolus. 600 years before Christ, Sardis was the capita...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    REVELATION CHAPTER 3 REVELATION 2:1 What John was commanded to write in commendation or reproof to the angels of the churches of Sardis, REVELATION 2:7 Philadelphia, REVELATION 2:14 and Laodicea. Th

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Shepherd of Hermas Similitude Sixth And he said to me, "Do you see this shepherd? "I see him, sir," I said. "This," he answered, "is the angel[3] Shepherd of Hermas Similitude Sixth These have been...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Revelation 3:1 And G2532 angel G32 church G1577 in G1722 Sardis G4554 write G1125 (G5657) things G3592 says...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN SARDIS (REVELATION 3:1). ‘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.' Sardis is a dying chu...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    The fifth church addressed is that of Sardis, one of the most famous of the seven cities to which these Epistles are sent, the capital in former days of the great kingdom of Lydia, Croesus' kingdom, l...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Revelation 3:1. First, as in each previous case, we have a description of Him from whom the message comes, HE THAT HATH THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD AND THE SEVEN STARS (cp. Revelation 1:4; Revelation 1:1...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    IN SARDIS (εν Σαρδεσιν). Some thirty miles south-east of Thyatira, old capital of Lydia, wealthy and the home of Croesus, conquered by Cyrus and then by Alexander the Great, in B.C. 214 by Antiochus...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    ANGEL (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Message to Sardis concerning their hypocrisy. Message to Philadelphia on hollow profession. Message to Laodicea on apostasy. Christ's attitude to the Church in its final stage in the world....

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Epistle the fifth._ Revelation 3:1. _Sardis,_ once a flourishing city, the residence of ancient kings, now a miserable village, having but few christians. This is not the Sardis, capital of Lydia, wh...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN SARDIS. To the evangelist. See note on Revelation 1:20. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Sardis was sinking into the death of spiritual apathy. Christ has the "seven [_life-giv...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 3:1 The church in _Sardis_ has a few who remain faithful, but their faith does not result in good works. Most of the impressive Roman-era remains now visible at Sardis we...

  • The Message from Patmos by David Scott Clark

    5. SARDIS. Vs. 1-6. Sardis, the capital of Lydia, the citadel of the world famed Croesus, has fulfilled the prophecy that "the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish," Sardis and rui...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ Revelation 3:1. SARDIS.—Modern, _Sart_; once the capital of the old Lydian monarchy, now a village of paltry huts. SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD.—Most writers see in this the en...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION REVELATION 3:1 _The epistle to the Church at Sardis. _This Church is one of the two which receives unmixed reproof. Smyrna and Philadelphia receive no blame; Sardis and Laodicea receive no...

  • The Revelation of Jesus Christ Through the Ages by Donald A. Koenig

    CHAPTER 3 - LAST 3 LETTERS TO SEVEN CHURCHES 5. Sardis: The spiritually dead carnal church Background: Sardis was also one of the oldest cities in Asia Minor. Sardis was a city of commerce that was n...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And unto the angel of the church in Sardis (Protestant Reformation) write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God (Revelation 3:1), And so the fullness of the Spirit as it dwelt in...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Peter 1:11; 1 Timothy 5:6; Acts 2:33; Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:1

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Sardis. The capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia. It was situated in a plain watered by the river Pactolus. The city was of very ancient origin. Herodotus (i., 84) gives the account of its siege an...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE CHURCHES AT SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA, AND LAODICEA Revelation 3:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We present some of the outstanding things written to the Church at Sardis. This is the fifth Church in the seven...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    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. Thou hast a name that thou livest — A fair repu...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    This chapter began the fifth epistle which Christ wrote and directed to the church at Sardis. In which observe, 1. The glorious description given of our Lord Jesus Christ, namely, that he HAS THE SEVE...

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Old Testament