The early church
The Letter to the Church in Sardis
Jesus' warning to the church in Sardis that they have a reputation for being alive but are dead, with an exhortation to wake up and a promise of white garments for those who overcome.
Revelation 3,1-6
1To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works: you have a name for being alive, but you are dead.
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.
2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
γίνου γρηγορῶν, καὶ στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰ ἃ ⸂ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν⸃, οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σου ⸀τὰ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ μου·
3So remember how you received and heard it; hold on to it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you.
μνημόνευε οὖν πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας καὶ τήρει, καὶ μετανόησον· ἐὰν οὖν μὴ γρηγορήσῃς, ⸀ἥξω ὡς κλέπτης, καὶ οὐ μὴ ⸀γνῷς ποίαν ὥραν ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ·
4Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
ἀλλὰ ⸂ἔχεις ὀλίγα⸃ ὀνόματα ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἃ οὐκ ἐμόλυναν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν, καὶ περιπατήσουσιν μετʼ ἐμοῦ ἐν λευκοῖς, ὅτι ἄξιοί εἰσιν.
5The one who conquers will be clothed like them in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
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.
6Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.