Commentary
Old Testament : Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
The Song of Songs
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
![](images/minus.gif)
Text -- Revelation 2:1-20 (NET)
![](images/arrow_open.gif)
Strongs On/Off
Context
To the Church in Ephesus
2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus , write the following : “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has a firm grasp on the seven stars in his right hand – the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands :
2:2 ‘I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance , and that you cannot cannot tolerate evil . You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not ), and have discovered that they are false .
2:3 I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly , endured much for the sake of my name , and have not grown weary .
2:4 But I have this against you : You have departed from your first love !
2:5 Therefore , remember from what high state you have fallen and repent ! Do the deeds you did at the first ; if not , I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent .
2:6 But you do have this going for you: You hate what the Nicolaitans practice – practices I also hate .
2:7 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches . To the one who conquers , I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God .’
To the Church in Smyrna
2:8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following : “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last , the one who was dead , but came to life :
2:9 ‘I know the distress you are suffering and your poverty (but you are rich ). I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not , but are a synagogue of Satan .
2:10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer . The devil is about to have some of you thrown into prison so you may be tested , and you will experience suffering for ten days . Remain faithful even to the point of death , and I will give you the crown that is life itself.
2:11 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches . The one who conquers will in no way be harmed by the second death .’
To the Church in Pergamum
2:12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following : “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has the sharp double-edged sword :
2:13 ‘I know where you live – where Satan’s throne is. Yet you continue to cling to my name and you have not denied your faith in me , even in the days of Antipas , my faithful witness , who was killed in your city where Satan lives .
2:14 But I have a few things against you : You have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam , who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality .
2:15 In the same way , there are also some among you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans .
2:16 Therefore , repent ! If not , I will come against you quickly and make war against those people with the sword of my mouth .
2:17 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches . To the one who conquers , I will give him some of the hidden manna , and I will give him a white stone , and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand except the one who receives it.’
To the Church in Thyatira
2:18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Son of God , the one who has eyes like a fiery flame and whose feet are like polished bronze :
2:19 ‘I know your deeds : your love , faith , service , and steadfast endurance . In fact, your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones .
2:20 But I have this against you : You tolerate that woman Jezebel , who calls herself a prophetess , and by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols .
![](images/advanced.gif)
![](images/advanced.gif)
![](images/advanced.gif)
Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
![](images/arrow_open.gif)
Names, People and Places:
Dictionary Themes and Topics:
Jesus, The Christ |
REVELATION OF JOHN |
Church |
Nicolaitans |
Persecution |
Smyrna |
Thyatira |
Ephesus |
TIMOTHY |
PERGAMOS |
Minister |
Decision |
Lukewarmness |
Backsliders |
Angel of the Churches |
Perseverance |
GNOSTICISM |
Righteous |
Paradise |
Antipas |
more
![](images/cmt_minus_head.gif)
expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Rev 2:1; Rev 2:1; Rev 2:1; Rev 2:1; Rev 2:1; Rev 2:1; Rev 2:1; Rev 2:2; Rev 2:2; Rev 2:2; Rev 2:3; Rev 2:3; Rev 2:4; Rev 2:5; Rev 2:5; Rev 2:5; Rev 2:5; Rev 2:6; Rev 2:6; Rev 2:6; Rev 2:7; Rev 2:7; Rev 2:7; Rev 2:7; Rev 2:8; Rev 2:8; Rev 2:8; Rev 2:8; Rev 2:8; Rev 2:9; Rev 2:9; Rev 2:9; Rev 2:9; Rev 2:10; Rev 2:10; Rev 2:10; Rev 2:10; Rev 2:11; Rev 2:12; Rev 2:12; Rev 2:12; Rev 2:12; Rev 2:12; Rev 2:13; Rev 2:13; Rev 2:13; Rev 2:13; Rev 2:13; Rev 2:13; Rev 2:13; Rev 2:14; Rev 2:14; Rev 2:14; Rev 2:14; Rev 2:15; Rev 2:15; Rev 2:16; Rev 2:16; Rev 2:17; Rev 2:17; Rev 2:17; Rev 2:17; Rev 2:18; Rev 2:18; Rev 2:18; Rev 2:18; Rev 2:18; Rev 2:18; Rev 2:19; Rev 2:19; Rev 2:19; Rev 2:20; Rev 2:20; Rev 2:20; Rev 2:20; Rev 2:20; Rev 2:20
NET Notes: Rev 2:1 Grk “lampstands of gold” with the genitive τῶν χρυσῶν (twn cruswn) translated as an attribu...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:2 Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle was broken off from the previous sentence and translated as an indicative v...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:3 The Greek word translated “persisted steadfastly” (ὑπομονή, Jupomonh) is the same one translated R...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:4 The Greek word translated “departed from” (ἀφίημι, afihmi; L&N 15.48) can actually be used of divorce (...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:5 Although the final clause is somewhat awkward, it is typical of the style of Revelation.
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:7 The omission of “my” (μου, mou) after “God” (θεοῦ, qeou) is well attested, supported by ...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:8 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present between these two phrases.
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:9 A synagogue was a place for Jewish prayer and worship, with recognized leadership (e.g., Mt 4:23, Mk 1:21, Lk 4:15, Jn 6:59).
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:10 Grk “crown of life,” with the genitive “of life” (τῆς ζωῆς, th" zwh") functioni...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:13 Grk “killed among you.” The term “city” does not occur in the Greek text of course, but the expression παρ̬...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:14 Due to the actual events in the OT (Num 22-24; 31:16), πορνεῦσαι (porneusai) is taken to mean “sex...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:16 Grk “with them”; the referent (those people who follow the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans) has been specified in the translation f...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:18 The precise meaning of the term translated “polished bronze” (χαλκολιβάνῳ, calkoli...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Rev 2:19 The phrase “In fact” is supplied in the translation to bring out the ascensive quality of the clause. It would also be possible to supply ...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)