independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
Sardis — a name alive, a church dead 3:1–6
v. 1 — the address; the verdict: the name and the corpse
1
Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἐκκλησίας γράψον·independent — the command to John — the fifth letter
Τάδε λέγειcontent — the messenger formula — the prophetic 'thus says' (LXX τάδε λέγει κύριος)
ὁ ἔχων τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας·participial — the titles — from 1:4, 16, 20: the fullness of the Spirit and the churches' angels in his hand
Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα,independent — the fixed opening — the letter body set flush left as Christ's direct discourse
ὅτι ὄνομα ἔχειςcontent — the first thing known — a reputation
ὅτι ζῇς,content — the name's content — 'alive'
καὶ νεκρὸς εἶ.content — the paradox — the second thing known, flat against the name: dead
vv. 2–3 — wake up: five imperatives and the thief
2
γίνου γρηγορῶν,independent — first command — periphrastic imperative: a state to enter and hold
καὶ στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰindependent — second command — paratactic καί; prop up what is left
ἃ ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν,relative — on τὰ λοιπά — at the point of death already (imperfect ἔμελλον)
οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σου τὰ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ μου·cause — the ground of the commands — works found unfilled before my God
3
μνημόνευε οὖνindependent — third command — present: keep remembering
πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας,content — indirect question — the gift held (perfect εἴληφας), the hearing past (aorist ἤκουσας)
καὶ τήρει,independent — fourth command — present τήρει: ongoing
καὶ μετανόησον.independent — fifth command — aorist μετανόησον: decisive
ἐὰν οὖν μὴ γρηγορήσῃς,conditional — protasis — leans on the threat below; no anchor
ἥξω ὡς κλέπτης,independent — apodosis — the thief-saying (Matt 24:43; 1 Thess 5:2) turned on a church
καὶ οὐ μὴ γνῷςindependent — the continuation — emphatic denial (οὐ μὴ γνῷς)
ποίαν ὥραν ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ.content — indirect question — the hour unknowable; Sardis's citadel twice fell to stealth
vv. 4–6 — the few in white; the promise and the refrain
4
ἀλλὰ ἔχεις ὀλίγα ὀνόματα ἐν Σάρδεσινindependent — the concession — ἀλλά: a few names even in Sardis
ἃ οὐκ ἐμόλυναν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν,relative — on ὀνόματα — garments unsoiled: the city's names redeemed
καὶ περιπατήσουσιν μετ’ ἐμοῦ ἐν λευκοῖς,independent — coordinate promise — Semitic parataxis: the relative flows into a finite future
ὅτι ἄξιοί εἰσιν.cause — the ground — ἄξιοι, the Apocalypse's verdict-word (cf. 16:6 in the other direction)
5
ὁ νικῶν οὕτως περιβαλεῖται ἐν ἱματίοις λευκοῖς,independent — the νικῶν-promise — here the conqueror is grammatical subject (contrast vv. 12, 21)
καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξαλείψω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῆς βίβλου τῆς ζωῆς,independent — the second promise — the name never blotted out (Exod 32:32; Ps 69:28)
καὶ ὁμολογήσω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ.independent — the third — the confession-saying (Matt 10:32; Luke 12:8) spoken by the risen Christ
6
ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτωindependent — the refrain — the hearing formula, closing each of the seven letters
τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.content — indirect question — one Spirit's word to all the churches
Philadelphia — the key of David and the open door 3:7–13
v. 7 — the address: the holder of David's key
7
Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Φιλαδελφείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον·independent — the command to John — the sixth letter
Τάδε λέγειcontent — the messenger formula
ὁ ἅγιος, ὁ ἀληθινός,phrase modifier — the titles — God's own predicates (Isa 40:25; 65:16) borne by Christ
ὁ ἔχων τὴν κλεῖν Δαυίδ,participial — Isa 22:22 — Eliakim's key over the house of David, now his
ὁ ἀνοίγων καὶ οὐδεὶς κλείσει,participial — Isa 22:22 continued — the participle broken by a finite future (κλείσει): Apocalypse syntax, flagged
καὶ κλείων καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀνοίγει·participial — the mirror half — shuts, and no one opens (present ἀνοίγει this time)
vv. 8–9 — the open door; the synagogue of Satan at your feet
8
Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα —independent — the fixed opening — broken off by the gift; the dash marks the anacoluthon
ἰδοὺ δέδωκα ἐνώπιόν σου θύραν ἠνεῳγμένην,independent — the interruption become the point — both perfects: given, and standing open
ἣν οὐδεὶς δύναται κλεῖσαι αὐτήν —relative — on θύραν — with pleonastic αὐτήν after ἣν: Semitic resumptive pronoun, a flagged solecism
ὅτι μικρὰν ἔχεις δύναμιν,cause — the ground of the gift — read with δέδωκα, not as delayed content of Οἶδα: little strength
καὶ ἐτήρησάς μου τὸν λόγον,cause — the ground doubled — the καί adversative in force
καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσω τὸ ὄνομά μου.cause — the ground tripled — the name unrenounced under pressure
9
ἰδοὺ διδῶ ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς τοῦ Σατανᾶ,independent — suspended — διδῶ never receives its object; resumed by ποιήσω below (anacoluthon)
τῶν λεγόντων ἑαυτοὺς Ἰουδαίους εἶναι,participial — on συναγωγῆς — the claimants named (cf. 2:9, Smyrna's twin trouble)
καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀλλὰ ψεύδονται·independent — the participle broken by finite verbs (εἰσίν, ψεύδονται) — Apocalypse syntax, flagged
ἰδοὺ ποιήσω αὐτοὺςindependent — the resumption — the second ἰδού takes up the first; ποιήσω governs the ἵνα
ἵνα ἥξουσιν καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν ἐνώπιον τῶν ποδῶν σου,purpose — ἵνα with future indicatives (ἥξουσιν, προσκυνήσουσιν) — a flagged solecism; Isa 60:14; 49:23 inverted: the homage paid to the church
καὶ γνῶσινpurpose — the ἵνα continued — now with the subjunctive (γνῶσιν)
ὅτι ἐγὼ ἠγάπησά σε.content — the recognition — Isa 43:4: 'I have loved you'
vv. 10–11 — kept because you kept; hold fast
10
ὅτι ἐτήρησας τὸν λόγον τῆς ὑπομονῆς μου,cause — fronted ground — leans on the promise below; no anchor
κἀγώ σε τηρήσω ἐκ τῆς ὥρας τοῦ πειρασμοῦindependent — the reciprocity — ἐτήρησας/τηρήσω; ἐκ τῆς ὥρας: exemption from or preservation through, the layout leaves the crux open
τῆς μελλούσης ἔρχεσθαι ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκουμένης ὅλης,participial — on τῆς ὥρας — the hour already under way (μελλούσης)
πειράσαι τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.purpose — purpose infinitive — what the hour comes to do; οἱ κατοικοῦντες, the Apocalypse's term for the hostile world
11
ἔρχομαι ταχύ·independent — the announcement — ἔρχομαι ταχύ (cf. 22:7, 12, 20)
κράτει ὃ ἔχεις,independent — the one command — Philadelphia alone is never told to repent
ἵνα μηδεὶς λάβῃ τὸν στέφανόν σου.purpose — the aim — the crown (2:10) kept from every taker
vv. 12–13 — the pillar and the threefold name; the refrain
12
ὁ νικῶν,phrase modifier — pendent nominative — resumed by αὐτόν below; a flagged solecism, leaning forward without anchor
ποιήσω αὐτὸν στῦλον ἐν τῷ ναῷ τοῦ θεοῦ μου,independent — the promise — a pillar fixed in the temple (fourfold 'my God' in this verse)
καὶ ἔξω οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃ ἔτι,independent — the security — οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃ: never expelled, never shaken out (earthquake-scarred Philadelphia)
καὶ γράψω ἐπ’ αὐτὸν τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ μουindependent — the inscription — the first name: God's
καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς πόλεως τοῦ θεοῦ μου, τῆς καινῆς Ἰερουσαλήμ,phrase modifier — the second name — the city's (21:2); coordinate object of γράψω
ἡ καταβαίνουσα ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ μου,participial — nominative ἡ καταβαίνουσα modifying a genitive — the Apocalypse's most famous case-slip, flagged not corrected (cf. 21:2, 10)
καὶ τὸ ὄνομά μου τὸ καινόν.phrase modifier — the third name — Christ's new name (cf. 2:17; 19:12)
13
ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτωindependent — the refrain
τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.content — indirect question — the Spirit's word to all
Laodicea — lukewarm, and the knock at the door 3:14–22
v. 14 — the address: the Amen
14
Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον·independent — the command to John — the seventh letter
Τάδε λέγειcontent — the messenger formula
ὁ Ἀμήν, ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστὸς καὶ ἀληθινός,phrase modifier — the titles — ὁ Ἀμήν (Isa 65:16, the God of amen); the witness of 1:5
ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς κτίσεως τοῦ θεοῦ·phrase modifier — the third title — ἀρχή: source and ruler of creation (cf. Prov 8:22; Col 1:15–18, to the neighboring church)
vv. 15–17 — neither cold nor hot; the self-speech and the truth
15
Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα,independent — the fixed opening
ὅτι οὔτε ψυχρὸς εἶ οὔτε ζεστός.content — the content — either would serve; tepidity serves nothing (Laodicea's lukewarm piped water against Hierapolis's hot and Colossae's cold)
ὄφελον ψυχρὸς ἦς ἢ ζεστός.independent — the wish — ὄφελον with imperfect: contrary to fact
16
οὕτως, ὅτι χλιαρὸς εἶ καὶ οὔτε ζεστὸς οὔτε ψυχρός,cause — fronted ground — οὕτως anticipates the verdict; leans below, no anchor
μέλλω σε ἐμέσαι ἐκ τοῦ στόματός μου.independent — the verdict — ἐμέσαι: to vomit; the tepid mouthful expelled
17
ὅτι λέγειςcause — fronted charge — the double ground leaning across v. 17 onto συμβουλεύω (v. 18); no anchor
ὅτι Πλούσιός εἰμι καὶ πεπλούτηκα καὶ οὐδὲν χρείαν ἔχω,content — the self-speech quoted — recitative ὅτι; rich, self-made, self-sufficient (contrast Smyrna, 2:9)
καὶ οὐκ οἶδαςcause — the charge's second limb — coordinate with ὅτι λέγεις; still leaning forward
ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ταλαίπωρος καὶ ἐλεεινὸς καὶ πτωχὸς καὶ τυφλὸς καὶ γυμνός,content — the counter-truth — one article, five predicates: THE wretched one, pitiable, poor, blind, naked
vv. 18–20 — the counsel to buy; the discipline; the knock
18
συμβουλεύω σοι ἀγοράσαι παρ’ ἐμοῦindependent — the main verb at last — counsel, not command: the merchant city advised to trade
χρυσίον πεπυρωμένον ἐκ πυρὸςphrase modifier — the first purchase — fired gold, for banking Laodicea
ἵνα πλουτήσῃς,purpose — its aim — wealth that is real
καὶ ἱμάτια λευκὰphrase modifier — the second — white robes against the city's black-wool trade
ἵνα περιβάλῃpurpose — its aim — covered
καὶ μὴ φανερωθῇ ἡ αἰσχύνη τῆς γυμνότητός σου,purpose — the aim's negative half — γυμνότης answering γυμνός (v. 17)
καὶ κολλούριον ἐγχρῖσαι τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σουphrase modifier — the third — κολλούριον with its epexegetic infinitive, against the famed Phrygian eye-powder
ἵνα βλέπῃς.purpose — its aim — sight for the blind (v. 17)
19
ἐγὼ ὅσους ἐὰν φιλῶrelative — conditional relative (ὅσους ἐάν) fronted with emphatic ἐγώ — leans on the verbs below; Prov 3:12
ἐλέγχω καὶ παιδεύω·independent — the discipline — the severity of vv. 15–18 is love's
ζήλευε οὖν καὶ μετανόησον.independent — the response — ζήλευε: the one heat asked of the lukewarm; and repent
20
ἰδοὺ ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν καὶ κρούω·independent — the tableau — perfect ἕστηκα, present κρούω: standing, still knocking (Song 5:2 behind it)
ἐάν τις ἀκούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς μουconditional — protasis — τις: any single hearer in the church; leans below, no anchor
καὶ ἀνοίξῃ τὴν θύραν,conditional — the protasis's second limb — the door his to open
εἰσελεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτὸνindependent — apodosis — entry
καὶ δειπνήσω μετ’ αὐτοῦindependent — the supper — table-fellowship, with 19:9 on the horizon
καὶ αὐτὸς μετ’ ἐμοῦ.independent — the mutuality — verbless: and he with me
vv. 21–22 — the throne shared; the refrain
21
ὁ νικῶν,phrase modifier — pendent nominative again — resumed by αὐτῷ; the seven promises' climax
δώσω αὐτῷ καθίσαι μετ’ ἐμοῦ ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ μου,independent — the promise — the throne itself shared (cf. 20:4; 22:1)
ὡς κἀγὼ ἐνίκησα καὶ ἐκάθισα μετὰ τοῦ πατρός μου ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ αὐτοῦ.comparative — the pattern — Ps 110:1: his own victory and session the shape of theirs
22
ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτωindependent — the refrain — sealing the seven
τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.content — indirect question — the last word of the seven letters
Analysis. Revelation 3 is three letters cut to one skeleton, and the layout repeats it three times: a purple imperative to write, the Τάδε-λέγει speech-frame indented once beneath it with the christological titles hanging under the formula, and then the letter body returned flush left — the risen Christ's words set at the main discourse level (the Romans 12 Prov-25 precedent: quoted speech at the speaker's own level), not buried under λέγει. Inside the bodies the syntax is Semitic parataxis: καί-chain follows καί-chain at depth 0, and nothing in the chapter exceeds depth 2 — the drama is horizontal, not hypotactic. Fronted grounds and protases lean forward, anchorless, on the clause below (ἐὰν οὖν μὴ γρηγορήσῃς; ὅτι ἐτήρησας; οὕτως, ὅτι χλιαρὸς εἶ; the double ὅτι λέγεις … καὶ οὐκ οἶδας; ἐγὼ ὅσους ἐὰν φιλῶ; and the pendent ὁ νικῶν of vv. 12 and 21). The Apocalypse's solecisms are flagged, never corrected: the pleonastic αὐτήν after ἣν (v. 8), participles broken by finite verbs (vv. 7, 9), ἵνα with the future indicative (v. 9), the nominative ἡ καταβαίνουσα modifying a genitive (v. 12), the pendent nominatives resumed by αὐτόν/αὐτῷ (vv. 12, 21). Interpretive choices: in v. 8 the ὅτι-triple is read as the ground of the opened door (why it was given: little power, kept word, unrenounced name) rather than as delayed content of Οἶδα; in v. 9 καὶ γνῶσιν stays inside the ἵνα clause; Laodicea's self-speech (v. 17) is content under λέγεις — quoted against the speaker, as in Rom 3:8 — and in v. 10 ἐκ τῆς ὥρας is left open between exemption and preservation.