Structure in Sardis

The message to the church at Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) is framed by several word repetitions. The word “name” appears in v 1, and three times in verses 4-5 (trans. once as “people” in the NASB). Jesus says at the outset that the people of Sardis have a “name” for being alive ( zes ), but are in fact dead, and the message ends with a promise to the faithful that Jesus will not erase them from the “book of life” ( ek tes biblou tes zoes , v. 5).

Within this frame, there are two small chiasms.

First, a chiasm covers verses 1b-3:

A. I know your deeds, 1b

B. Wake up , 2

C. Remember, 3a

B’. If you do not wake up , 3b

A’. You do not know the hour, 3c

The second chiasm covers verses 4-5:

A. A few names have not soiled garments, 4a

B. Walk in white , 4b

C. They are worthy, 4c

B’. Clothed in white garments, 5a

A’. Not erase name ; confess name , 5b

Though the sections bleed into one another, there is a rough simple chiasm in the message as a whole:

A. To the angel of Sardis, 1a

B. Deeds and name, 1b

C. Wake up and remember, 1-3

C’. A few unsoiled, alert names, 4-5

B’. Names in book of life, 5

A’. He who has an ear, 6