ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Revelation 3.1

type: passage created: 2026-05-06 updated: 2026-05-06 book: Revelation chapter: 3 verses: "1" translation_default: ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT tags: [scripture] citation_count: 2 enriched: false

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Revelation 3.1

Book: Revelation · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. 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, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead."

"2. Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God. 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." (Revelation 3:1-3, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. “And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead."

"2. Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. 3. Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you." (Revelation 3:1-3, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"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 dead."

"2. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." (Revelation 3:1-3, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. And to the messenger of the assembly in Sardis write: These things saith he who is having the Seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I have known thy works, and that thou hast the name that thou dost live, and thou art dead;"

"2. become watching, and strengthen the rest of the things that are about to die, for I have not found thy works fulfilled before God. 3. 'Remember, then, how thou hast received, and heard, and be keeping, and reform: if, then, thou mayest not watch, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou mayest not know what hour I will come upon thee." (Revelation 3:1-3, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: John the Apostle (traditionally) / John of Patmos + Jesus's direct discourse (in the visions)
  • Audience: seven churches of Asia Minor + future Christian believers
  • Location: Patmos (composition); visions span heaven + earth + new creation
  • Time period: composed c. AD 95 (Domitianic dating, most common) or c. AD 65-68 (Neronic dating, minority)

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.