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Text -- Revelation 2:2 (NET)

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Context
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.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Zeal | TIMOTHY | Sin | Righteousness | REVELATION OF JOHN | Patience | PERSECUTION | Minister | MINISTRY | LABOR | Jesus, The Christ | Hypocrisy | Heresy | Heart | HOW | Ephesus | Decision | Church | Associations | Apostles | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , PBC , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- I know ( oida ). Rather than ginōskō and so "emphasizes better the absolute clearness of mental vision which photographs all the facts of life ...

I know ( oida ).

Rather than ginōskō and so "emphasizes better the absolute clearness of mental vision which photographs all the facts of life as they pass"(Swete). So also in Rev 2:9, Rev 2:13, Rev 2:19; Rev 3:1, Rev 3:8, Rev 3:15. For the distinction see Joh 21:17, "where the universal knowledge passes into the field of special observation."

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- Works ( erga ). The whole life and conduct as in Joh 6:29.

Works ( erga ).

The whole life and conduct as in Joh 6:29.

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- And thy toil and patience ( kai ton kopon kai tēn hupomonēn sou ). "Both thy toil and patience,"in explanation of erga , and see 1Th 1:3, where a...

And thy toil and patience ( kai ton kopon kai tēn hupomonēn sou ).

"Both thy toil and patience,"in explanation of erga , and see 1Th 1:3, where all three words (ergon , kopos , hupomonē ) occur together as here. See Rev 14:13 for sharp distinction between erga (activities) and kopoi (toils, with weariness). Endurance (hupomonē ) in hard toil (kopos ).

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- And that ( kai hoti ). Further explanation of kopos (hard toil).

And that ( kai hoti ).

Further explanation of kopos (hard toil).

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- Not able ( ou dunēi ). This Koiné form for the Attic dunasai (second person singular indicative middle) occurs also in Mar 9:22; Luk 16:2.

Not able ( ou dunēi ).

This Koiné form for the Attic dunasai (second person singular indicative middle) occurs also in Mar 9:22; Luk 16:2.

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- Bear ( bastasai ). First aorist active infinitive of bastazō , for which verb see Joh 10:31; Joh 12:6; Gal 6:2. These evil men were indeed a heavy ...

Bear ( bastasai ).

First aorist active infinitive of bastazō , for which verb see Joh 10:31; Joh 12:6; Gal 6:2. These evil men were indeed a heavy burden.

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- And didst try ( kai epeirasas ). First aorist active indicative of peirazō , to test, a reference to a recent crisis when these Nicolaitans (Rev 2:...

And didst try ( kai epeirasas ).

First aorist active indicative of peirazō , to test, a reference to a recent crisis when these Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6) were condemned. The present tenses (dunēi , echeis ) indicate the continuance of this attitude. Cf. 1Jo 4:1.

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- Which call themselves apostles ( tous legontas heautous apostolous ). Perhaps itinerant missionaries of these Nicolaitans who posed as equal to or ev...

Which call themselves apostles ( tous legontas heautous apostolous ).

Perhaps itinerant missionaries of these Nicolaitans who posed as equal to or even superior to the original apostles, like the Judaizers so described by Paul (2Co 11:5, 2Co 11:13; 2Co 12:11). Paul had foretold such false teachers (Gnostics), grievous wolves, in Act 20:29; in sheep’ s clothing, Jesus had said (Mat 7:15).

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- And they are not ( kai ouk eisin ). A parenthesis in Johannine style (Joh 2:9; Joh 3:9; 1Jo 3:1) for kai ouk ontas to correspond to legontas .

And they are not ( kai ouk eisin ).

A parenthesis in Johannine style (Joh 2:9; Joh 3:9; 1Jo 3:1) for kai ouk ontas to correspond to legontas .

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- And didst find ( kai heures ). Second aorist active indicative of heuriskō . Dropping back to the regular structure parallel with epeirasas .

And didst find ( kai heures ).

Second aorist active indicative of heuriskō . Dropping back to the regular structure parallel with epeirasas .

Robertson: Rev 2:2 - -- False ( pseudeis ). Predicate accusative plural of pseudēs , self-deceived deceivers as in Rev 21:8.

False ( pseudeis ).

Predicate accusative plural of pseudēs , self-deceived deceivers as in Rev 21:8.

Vincent: Rev 2:2 - -- Thy works ( τὰ ἔργα σοῦ ) See on Joh 4:47.

Thy works ( τὰ ἔργα σοῦ )

See on Joh 4:47.

Vincent: Rev 2:2 - -- Labor ( κόπον ) Originally suffering , weariness ; hence exhausting labor. The kindred verb κοπιάω is often used of apostolic...

Labor ( κόπον )

Originally suffering , weariness ; hence exhausting labor. The kindred verb κοπιάω is often used of apostolic and ministerial labor (Rom 16:12; 1Co 15:10; Gal 4:11).

Vincent: Rev 2:2 - -- Patience ( ὑπομονήν ) See on 2Pe 1:6; see on Jam 5:1. Compare Paul's exhortation to Timothy in Ephesus, 2Ti 2:25, 2Ti 2:26.

Patience ( ὑπομονήν )

See on 2Pe 1:6; see on Jam 5:1. Compare Paul's exhortation to Timothy in Ephesus, 2Ti 2:25, 2Ti 2:26.

Vincent: Rev 2:2 - -- Bear ( βαστάσαι ) See on Joh 10:31; see on Joh 12:6. Compare Gal 6:2, where the word is used of Christians bearing each others' burde...

Bear ( βαστάσαι )

See on Joh 10:31; see on Joh 12:6. Compare Gal 6:2, where the word is used of Christians bearing each others' burdens.

Vincent: Rev 2:2 - -- Them which are evil ( κακοὺς ) Trench observes that " it is not a little remarkable that the grace or virtue here ascribed to the angel o...

Them which are evil ( κακοὺς )

Trench observes that " it is not a little remarkable that the grace or virtue here ascribed to the angel of the Ephesian Church (compare Rev 2:6) should have a name in classical Greek: μισοπονηρία hatred of evil ; the person of whom the grace is predicated being μισοπόνηρος hater of evil ; while neither of these words, nor yet any equivalent to them occurs in the New Testament. It is the stranger, as this hatred of evil, purely as evil, however little thought of or admired now, is eminently a Christian grace."

Vincent: Rev 2:2 - -- Hast tried ( ἐπειράσω ) Rev., didst try . See on tried , 1Pe 1:7; and compare 1Jo 4:1; 1Co 12:10.

Hast tried ( ἐπειράσω )

Rev., didst try . See on tried , 1Pe 1:7; and compare 1Jo 4:1; 1Co 12:10.

Wesley: Rev 2:2 - -- Jesus knows all the good and all the evil, which his servants and his enemies suffer and do. Weighty word, "I know," how dreadful will it one day soun...

Jesus knows all the good and all the evil, which his servants and his enemies suffer and do. Weighty word, "I know," how dreadful will it one day sound to the wicked, how sweet to the righteous! The churches and their angels must have been astonished, to find their several states so exactly described, even in the absence of the apostle, and could not but acknowledge the all - seeing eye of Christ and of his Spirit. With regard to us, to every one of us also he saith, "I know thy works." Happy is he that conceives less good of himself, than Christ knows concerning him.

Wesley: Rev 2:2 - -- After the general, three particulars are named, and then more largely described in an inverted order, Thy labour Thy patience: Thou canst not bear ev...

After the general, three particulars are named, and then more largely described in an inverted order, Thy labour Thy patience: Thou canst not bear evil men: Thou hast patience: Thou hast tried those who say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars. Thou hast borne for my name's sake and hast not fainted.

Wesley: Rev 2:2 - -- Notwithstanding which thou canst not bear that incorrigibly wicked men should remain in the flock of Christ. And thou hast tried those who say they ar...

Notwithstanding which thou canst not bear that incorrigibly wicked men should remain in the flock of Christ. And thou hast tried those who say they are apostles, and are not - For the Lord hath not sent them.

JFB: Rev 2:2 - -- Expressing His omniscience. Not merely "thy professions, desires, good resolutions" (Rev 14:13, end).

Expressing His omniscience. Not merely "thy professions, desires, good resolutions" (Rev 14:13, end).

JFB: Rev 2:2 - -- Two oldest manuscripts omit "thy"; one supports it. The Greek means "labor unto weariness."

Two oldest manuscripts omit "thy"; one supports it. The Greek means "labor unto weariness."

JFB: Rev 2:2 - -- Persevering endurance.

Persevering endurance.

JFB: Rev 2:2 - -- Evil men are a burden which the Ephesian Church regarded as intolerable. We are to "bear (the same Greek, Gal 6:2) one another's burdens" in the case ...

Evil men are a burden which the Ephesian Church regarded as intolerable. We are to "bear (the same Greek, Gal 6:2) one another's burdens" in the case of weak brethren; but not to bear false brethren.

JFB: Rev 2:2 - -- By experiment; not the Greek for "test," as 1Jo 4:1. The apostolical churches had the miraculous gift of discerning spirits. Compare Act 20:28-30, whe...

By experiment; not the Greek for "test," as 1Jo 4:1. The apostolical churches had the miraculous gift of discerning spirits. Compare Act 20:28-30, wherein Paul presciently warned the Ephesian elders of the coming false teachers, as also in writing to Timothy at Ephesus. TERTULLIAN [On Baptism, 17], and JEROME [On Illustrious Men, in Lucca 7], record of John, that when a writing, professing to be a canonical history of the acts of Paul, had been composed by a presbyter of Ephesus, John convicted the author and condemned the work. So on one occasion he would not remain under the same roof with Cerinthus the heretic.

JFB: Rev 2:2 - -- Probably Judaizers. IGNATIUS [Epistle to the Ephesians, 6], says subsequently, "Onesimus praises exceedingly your good discipline that no heresy dwell...

Probably Judaizers. IGNATIUS [Epistle to the Ephesians, 6], says subsequently, "Onesimus praises exceedingly your good discipline that no heresy dwells among you"; and [Epistle to the Ephesians, 9], "Ye did not permit those having evil doctrine to sow their seed among you, but closed your ears."

Clarke: Rev 2:2 - -- I know thy works - For the eyes of the Lord are throughout the earth, beholding the evil and the good; and, being omnipresent, all things are contin...

I know thy works - For the eyes of the Lord are throughout the earth, beholding the evil and the good; and, being omnipresent, all things are continually open and naked before him. It is worthy of remark, that whatsoever is praiseworthy in any of these Churches is first mentioned; thereby intimating that God is more intent on finding out the good than the evil in any person or Church; and that those who wish to reform such as have fallen or are not making sufficient advances in the Divine life, should take occasion, from the good which yet remains, to encourage them to set out afresh for the kingdom of heaven. The fallen or backsliding who have any tenderness of conscience left are easily discouraged, and are apt to think that there is no seed left from which any harvest can be reasonably expected. Let such be told that there is still a seed of godliness remaining, and that it requires only watching and strengthening the things which remain, by prompt application to God through Christ, in order to bring them back to the full enjoyment of all they have lost, and to renew them in the spirit of their mind. Ministers continually harping on Ye are dead, ye are dead; there is little or no Christianity among you, etc., etc., are a contagion in a Church, and spread desolation and death wheresoever they go. It is far better to say, in such cases, "Ye have lost ground, but ye have not lost all your ground; ye might have been much farther advanced, but through mercy ye are still in the way. The Spirit of God is grieved by you, but it is evident he has not forsaken you. Ye have not walked in the light as ye should, but your candlestick is not yet removed, and still the light shines. Ye have not much zeal, but ye have a little. In short, God still strives with you, still loves you, still waits to be gracious to you; take courage, set out afresh, come to God through Christ; believe, love, obey, and you will soon find days more blessed than you have ever yet experienced."Exhortations and encouragements of this kind are sure to produce the most blessed effects; and under such the work of God infallibly revives

Clarke: Rev 2:2 - -- And thy labor - He knew their works in general. Though they had left their first love, yet still they had so much love as excited them to labor, and...

And thy labor - He knew their works in general. Though they had left their first love, yet still they had so much love as excited them to labor, and enabled them to bear persecution patiently, and to keep the faith; for they could not tolerate evil men, and they had put fictitious apostles to the test, and had found them to be liars, pretending a Divine commission while they had none, and teaching false doctrines as if they were the truths of God.

Defender: Rev 2:2 - -- These false apostles were also of great concern to Paul (2Co 11:13-15). John had no doubt warned the Ephesians to "try the spirits whether they are of...

These false apostles were also of great concern to Paul (2Co 11:13-15). John had no doubt warned the Ephesians to "try the spirits whether they are of God," for they might well be "false prophets" (1Jo 4:1). They had done just that, and Christ commended them for it."

TSK: Rev 2:2 - -- know : Rev 2:9, Rev 2:13, Rev 2:19, Rev 3:1, Rev 3:8, Rev 3:15; Psa 1:6; Mat 7:23; 1Th 1:3; 2Ti 2:19; Heb 6:10 how : Rev 2:6, Rev 2:14, Rev 2:15, Rev ...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Rev 2:2 - -- I know thy works - The common formula with which all the epistles to the seven churches are introduced. It is designed to impress upon them dee...

I know thy works - The common formula with which all the epistles to the seven churches are introduced. It is designed to impress upon them deeply the conviction that he was intimately acquainted with all that they did, good and bad, and that therefore he was abundantly qualified to dispense rewards or administer punishments according to truth and justice. It may be observed that, as many of the things referred to in these epistles were things pertaining to the heart - the feelings, the state of the mind - it is implied that he who speaks here has an intimate acquaintance with the heart of man, a prerogative which is always attributed to the Saviour. See Joh 2:25. But no one can do this who is not divine; and this declaration, therefore, furnishes a strong proof of the divinity of Christ. See Psa 7:9; Jer 11:20; Jer 17:10; 1Sa 16:7; 1Ki 8:39.

And they labor - The word used here ( κόπος kopos ) means properly "a beating,"hence wailing, grief, with beating the breast; and then it means excessive labor or toil adapted to produce grief or sadness, and is commonly employed in the New Testament in the latter sense. It is used in the sense of trouble in Mat 26:10, "Why trouble ye (literally, why give ye trouble to) the woman?"(compare also Mar 14:6; Luk 11:7; Luk 18:5; Gal 6:17); and in the sense of labor, or wearisome toil, in Joh 4:38; 1Co 3:8; 1Co 15:58; 2Co 6:5; 2Co 10:15; 2Co 11:23, 2Co 11:27, et al. The connection here would admit of either sense. It is commonly understood, as in our translation, in the sense of labor, though it would seem that the other signification, that of trouble, would not be inappropriate. If it means labor, it refers to their faithful service in his cause, and especially in opposing error. It seems to me, however, that the word "trouble"would better suit the connection.

And thy patience - Under these trials; to wit, in relation to the efforts which had been made by the advocates of error to corrupt them, and to turn them away from the truth. They had patiently borne the opposition made to the truth, they had manifested a spirit of firm endurance amidst many arts of those opposed to them to draw them off from simple faith in Christ.

And how thou canst not bear them which are evil - Canst not "endure"or "tolerate"them. Compare the notes on 2Jo 1:10-11. That is, they had no sympathy with their doctrines or their practices, they were utterly opposed to them. They had lent them no countenance, but had in every way shown that they had no fellowship with them. The evil persons here referred to were, doubtless, those mentioned in this verse as claiming that "they were apostles,"and those mentioned in Rev 2:6 as the Nicolaitanes.

And thou hast tried them which say they are apostles - Thou hast thoroughly examined their claims. It is not said in what way they had done this, but it was probably by considering attentively and candidly the evidence on which they relied, whatever that may have been. Nor is it certainly known who these persons were, or on what grounds they advanced their pretensions to the apostolic office. It cannot be supposed that they claimed to have been of the number of apostles selected by the Saviour, for that would have been too absurd; and the only solution would seem to be that they claimed either:

(1)\caps1     t\caps0 hat they had been called to that office after the Saviour ascended, as Paul was; or,

(2)\caps1     t\caps0 hat they claimed the honor due to this name or office, in virtue of some election to it; or,

(3)\caps1     t\caps0 hat they claimed to be the successors of the apostles, and to possess and transmit their authority.

If the first of these, it would seem that the only ground of claim would be that they had been called in some miraculous way to the rank of apostles, and, of course, an examination of their claims would be an examination of the alleged miraculous call, and of the evidence on which they would rely that they had such a call. If the second, then the claim must have been founded on some such plea as that the apostolic office was designed to be elective, as in the case of Matthias Act 1:23-26, and that they maintained that this arrangement was to be continued in the church; and then an examination of their claims would involve an investigation of the question, whether it was contemplated that the apostolic office was designed to be perpetuated in that manner, or whether the election of Matthias was only a temporary arrangement, designed to answer a particular purpose. If the third, then the claim must have been founded on the plea that the apostolic office was designed to be perpetuated by a regular succession, and that they, by ordination, were in a line of that succession; and then the examination and refutation of the claim must have consisted in showing, from the nature of the office, and the necessary qualifications for the office of apostle, that it was designed to be temporary, and that there could be properly no successors of the apostles, as such. On either of these suppositions, such a line of argument would be fatal to all claims to any succession in the apostolic office now. If each of these points should fail, of course their claims to the rank of apostles would cease; just as all claims to the dignity and rank of the apostles must fail now. The passage becomes thus a strong argument against the claims of any persons to be "apostles,"or to be the "successors"of the apostles, in the uniqueness of their office.

And are not - There were never any apostles of Jesus Christ but the original twelve whom he chose, Matthias, who was chosen in the place of Judas Act 1:26, and Paul, who was specially called to the office by the Saviour after his resurrection. On this point, see my work on the Apostolic Church (pp. 49-57, London ed.).

And hast found them liars - Hast discovered their pretensions to be unfounded and false. In 2Co 11:13, "false apostles"are mentioned; and, in an office of so much honor as this, it is probable that there would be not a few claimants to it in the world. To set up a claim to what they knew they were not entitled to would be a falsehood, and as this seems to have been the character of these people, the Saviour, in the passage before us, does not hesitate to designate them by an appropriate term, and to call them liars. The point here commended in the Ephesian church is, that they had sought to have a "pure ministry,"a ministry whose claims were well founded. They had felt the importance of this, had carefully examined the claims of pretenders, and had refused to recognize those who could not show, in a proper manner, that they had been designated to their work by the Lord Jesus. The same zeal, in the same cause, would be commended by the Saviour now.

Poole: Rev 2:2 - -- I know thy works: these words being in the front of all the seven epistles, cannot be interpreted as signifying a knowledge of approbation, as Psa 1:...

I know thy works: these words being in the front of all the seven epistles, cannot be interpreted as signifying a knowledge of approbation, as Psa 1:6 , but of a comprehension in the understanding, and as signifying Christ’ s omnisciency; though it be true, that the Lord both understood and approved of some of the works of this church particularly.

And thy labour, and thy patience their labour in propagating the knowledge of Christ and doctrine of the gospel, and their patient taking up and bearing the cross.

And how thou canst not bear them which are evil and their zeal and warmth, that they would not endure either persons erroneous in judgment, or lewd in their lives, in their communion.

And thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not: in the primitive church there were some that falsely pretended an immediate call or mission from Christ, to preach what they did, but this church would not endure them. It appears from Paul’ s Second Epistle to Timothy, that there were then false teachers very busy in that church; possibly Ebion and Cerinthus, (who both lived in this time, and Cerinthus preached in Asia), or their disciples, might be some of them. They tried them, possibly, by the word of God, according to the rules given in it to try the spirits.

And hast found them liars and found that they had no such immediate mission, no authority from Christ.

PBC: Rev 2:2 - -- Our Lord remembers the works, labour, and patience of those who contend for the truth as it is in Christ Jesus our Lord and Redeemer. He is aware of t...

Our Lord remembers the works, labour, and patience of those who contend for the truth as it is in Christ Jesus our Lord and Redeemer. He is aware of those who toil in great pain to keep the paths of the righteous. He is aware of their patience (constant endurance) and their continuance in those things upon which they were founded. Our Lord is aware of how His people grievously hate the evil which drives their lives to the brink of despair. He is aware of the searching of doctrines by those who hate evil, and how they use the " Sword of the Spirit, which is the word[1] of God, " and the only Rod of judgment.— Eld. Charles Taylor

[1] Heb 4:12; " For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Haydock: Rev 2:1-7 - -- To the Angel of the church of Ephesus. The great St. Timothy, who was bishop of Ephesus, died a glorious martyr about this time. But as for the adm...

To the Angel of the church of Ephesus. The great St. Timothy, who was bishop of Ephesus, died a glorious martyr about this time. But as for the admonitions and reprehensions given in these letters, we must take notice, that they are given to the faithful of each church, and not only to the bishops, as it appears by the words so often repeated. (Witham) ---

Angel. This could have been no other than St. Timothy, who was then bishop of Ephesus. We must not suppose the faults, which are reproved by St. John, to belong individually to St. Timothy, but to some members of the Church. (Bossuet, and others) ---

These things, with he who holdeth, &c. That is, Christ, or the Angel, who represented Christ, as appeareth by his titles repeated out of the last chapter. ---

And hast not failed, or fainted, in opposing the teachers of false doctrine. ---

Thou has left thy first charity, or first fervour, a common, yet a very dangerous disposition, and especially in a bishop, charged with the care of those under him. ---

Do penance ....practise the first works, return to thy first fervour, or I will remove thy candlestick out of its place. The church of Ephesus is threatened, as in danger to lose its faith, which faith should be transplanted and received in other places. It is said what God has divers times permitted, that churches flourishing in the profession of the true Christian faith should be perverted by infidelity and heresy, while the faith hath been planted in other kingdoms of the world. I need not bring instances, where candlesticks have been removed out of their places. (Witham) ---

The Nicolaites were an infamous sect, who disturbed the rising Church by the superstitions and all the impurities of paganism. See St. Augustine, de hæresib. ---

To him, to every one that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree of life, (that is, eternal happiness, differently expressed in these letters) which is in the paradise of my God. It is spoke in the person of Christ, as man. (Witham)

Gill: Rev 2:2 - -- I know thy works,.... The good works, both of ministers and churches; no evil works are mentioned, nor anything complained of in this church but an ab...

I know thy works,.... The good works, both of ministers and churches; no evil works are mentioned, nor anything complained of in this church but an abatement of the fervour of her first love. Christ, as the omniscient God, knows all the works of his people, and the springs, and principles, and ends, and views of them, whether they are done in obedience to him, and spring from love to him, and are performed in his strength, and by his grace, and are directed to his glory; and such he takes notice of, approves of, and is well pleased with, not as the ground of his delight in their persons, but as the fruits of his own grace; and during the apostolic age, churches and ministers were very diligent in working; yea, they were laborious, as follows:

and thy labour: particularly the labour of ministers of the Gospel, in these times, in the frequent preaching of it, in season and out of season; and in the constant administration of the ordinances; and in the diligent exercise of church discipline. The work of the ministry is a laborious work to the mind in studying, and to the body in the outward discharge of it; and it becomes more so, through the malice and opposition of enemies, and the weakness of friends; and such as are diligent and laborious deserve respect, even double honour; and though they may not have it from men, yet Christ takes notice of them and their labours, and commends them for them, and will reward them,

And thy patience; as this may refer to the ministers of the word, it may denote their patience in suffering reproaches and persecutions for the sake of the Gospel, which they bore patiently, cheerfully, and constantly; and in bearing the infirmities of weak saints, in their several communities; and in reclaiming and restoring persons out of the way; and in waiting for the success of their ministry, and their continuance and perseverance in it. And as this may respect members of churches, it may point at their patience under afflictions from the hand of God, and under reproach and persecution from men, for their embracing and professing the Gospel; and their patient waiting for the heavenly glory, and their firm expectation of it, and their perseverance unto it,

And how thou canst not bear them that are evil; that were so either in their principles or in their practices, or both; men that lived immoral lives, and held erroneous doctrines, these the primitive ministers and churches could not bear; they had an inward abhorrence and detestation of them in their minds; they could not bear them in communion with them; they admonished them according to the nature of their offence, and cast out such as were obstinate and incorrigible; they withdrew from such as were disorderly, and rejected heretics after the first and second admonition; their zeal for church discipline is here taken notice of to their commendation,

And thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not,

and hast found them liars; this doubtless was done in the church at Ephesus, where, after the Apostle Paul's departure, grievous wolves, in sheep's clothing, entered, and men arose from among themselves, speaking perverse things, Act 20:29; yet it was not peculiar to that church, though it was to the apostolic age; for in no other could men with any face pretend to be the apostles of Christ; and such there were, who sprung up in the several churches at Jerusalem, Corinth, Galatia, and elsewhere, who called themselves the apostles of Christ, but were false apostles, deceitful workers; they pretended to have their doctrine, call, mission, and commission, immediately from Christ, as the true apostles had, and a power to work miracles, and talked of inspirations and revelations by the Spirit of God. Now the apostles, ministers, and churches of those times, tried their pretensions and doctrines by the word of God, and by the fruits which they produced in themselves and others; and through that discerning of spirits which they had, they found them to be liars; that they were not, nor had they what they pretended to be, and have, and exposed them as such.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

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...

Geneva Bible: Rev 2:2 ( 3 ) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Rev 2:1-29 - --1 What is commanded to be written to the angels, that is, the ministers of the churches of Ephesus,8 Smyrna,12 Pergamos,18 Thyatira, and what is comme...

MHCC: Rev 2:1-7 - --These churches were in such different states as to purity of doctrine and the power of godliness, that the words of Christ to them will always suit th...

Matthew Henry: Rev 2:1-7 - -- We have here, I. The inscription, where observe, 1. To whom the first of these epistles is directed: To the church of Ephesus, a famous church pla...

Barclay: Rev 2:1-7

Barclay: Rev 2:1-7 - --When we know something of the history of Ephesus and learn something of its conditions at this time, it is easy to see why it comes first in the list...

Barclay: Rev 2:1-7 - --John begins the letter to Ephesus with two descriptions of the Risen Christ. (i) He holds the seven stars in his right hand. That is to say, Christ ...

Barclay: Rev 2:1-7 - --The Risen Christ goes on to praise the Christians of Ephesus because they have tested evil men and proved them liars. Many an evil man came into the l...

Barclay: Rev 2:1-7 - --In Ephesus something had gone wrong. The earnest toil was there; the gallant endurance was there; the unimpeachable orthodoxy was there; but the l...

Barclay: Rev 2:1-7 - --We meet here a heresy which the Risen Christ says that he hates and which he praises Ephesus for also hating. It may seem strange to attribute hatred...

Barclay: Rev 2:1-7 - --Finally, the Risen Christ makes his great promise to those who overcome. In this picture there are two very beautiful conceptions. (i) There is the ...

Constable: Rev 2:1--3:22 - --II THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES chs. 2--3 Before analyzing each of the seven letters that follows we should...

Constable: Rev 2:1-7 - --A. The letter to the church in Ephesus 2:1-7 Jesus Christ told John to write the letter to the church in...

Constable: Rev 2:2-3 - --2. Commendation 2:2-3 (cf. v. 6) This church had remained faithful to Jesus Christ for over 40 y...

College: Rev 2:1-29 - --REVELATION 2-3 II. THE REVELATION OF "WHAT IS NOW" (2:1-3:22) In Revelation 1:19 Christ offers John a vision of both the present ("what is now") and...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Revelation (Book Introduction) THE REVELATION OF JOHN ABOUT a.d. 95 By Way of Introduction Difficulty in the Problem Perhaps no single book in the New Testament presents so ...

JFB: Revelation (Book Introduction) AUTHENTICITY.--The author calls himself John (Rev 1:1, Rev 1:4, Rev 1:9; Rev 2:8). JUSTIN MARTYR [Dialogue with Trypho, p. 308] (A.D. 139-161) quotes ...

JFB: Revelation (Outline) TITLE: SOURCE AND OBJECT OF THIS REVELATION: BLESSING ON THE READER AND KEEPER OF IT, AS THE TIME IS NEAR: INSCRIPTION TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES: APOSTOL...

TSK: Revelation (Book Introduction) The obscurity of this prophecy, which has been urged against its genuineness, necessarily results from the highly figurative and symbolical language i...

TSK: Revelation 2 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Rev 2:1, What is commanded to be written to the angels, that is, the ministers of the churches of Ephesus, Rev 2:8, Smyrna, Rev 2:12. Per...

Poole: Revelation 2 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 2

MHCC: Revelation (Book Introduction) The Book of the Revelation of St. John consists of two principal divisions. 1. Relates to " the things which are," that is, the then present state of...

MHCC: Revelation 2 (Chapter Introduction) (Rev 2:1-7) Epistles to the churches in Asia, with warnings and encouragements, To the church at Ephesus. (Rev 2:8-11) At Smyrna. (Rev 2:12-17) At P...

Matthew Henry: Revelation (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Revelation of St. John the Divine It ought to be no prejudice to the credit and authority of this b...

Matthew Henry: Revelation 2 (Chapter Introduction) The apostle John, having in the foregoing chapter written the things which he had seen, now proceeds to write the things that are, according to the...

Barclay: Revelation (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO THE REVELATION OF JOHN The Strange Book When a student of the New Testament embarks upon the study of the Revelation he feels him...

Barclay: Revelation 2 (Chapter Introduction) The Letter To Ephesus (Rev_2:1-7) Ephesus, First And Greatest (Rev_2:1-7 Continued) Ephesus, Christ And His Church (Rev_2:1-7 Continued) Ephes...

Constable: Revelation (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical background The opening verses of the book state that "John" wr...

Constable: Revelation (Outline) Outline I. The preparation of the prophet ch. 1 A. The prologue of the book 1:1-8 ...

Constable: Revelation Revelation Bibliography Abbott-Smith, George. A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T. & ...

Haydock: Revelation (Book Introduction) THE APOCALYPSE OF ST. JOHN, THE APOSTLE. INTRODUCTION. Though some in the first ages [centuries] doubted whether this book was canonical, and ...

Gill: Revelation (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION That this book was written by the Apostle and Evangelist John, is clear not only from the express mention of his name, a...

Gill: Revelation 2 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 2 This chapter contains the epistles to the churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira. It begins with that to ...

College: Revelation (Book Introduction) PREFACE This commentary on the Revelation of John has been prepared for general readers of the Bible who desire to deepen their understanding of God'...

College: Revelation (Outline) OUTLINE I. PROLOGUE - 1:1-20 A. Introduction to the Prophecy - 1:1-3 B. Sender - 1:4a C. Recipients - 1:4b D. Prescript - 1:4c-5a E. ...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


TIP #15: Use the Strong Number links to learn about the original Hebrew and Greek text. [ALL]
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