Revelation 2:1

To the Church in Ephesus

2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus, ¹  write the following: ² 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ³  the one who has a firm grasp on ⁴  the seven stars in his right hand ⁵  – the one who walks among the seven golden ⁶  lampstands:

Revelation 2:7

2:7 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, ⁷  I will permit ⁸  him to eat from the tree of life that is ⁹  in the paradise of God.’ ¹⁰ 

Revelation 2:18

To the Church in Thyatira

2:18 “To ¹¹  the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following: ¹² 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ¹³  the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame ¹⁴  and whose feet are like polished bronze: ¹⁵ 

Revelation 3:7

To the Church in Philadelphia

3:7 “To ¹⁶  the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: ¹⁷ 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ¹⁸  the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors ¹⁹  no one can shut, and shuts doors ²⁰  no one can open:

Revelation 3:14

To the Church in Laodicea

3:14 “To ²¹  the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: ²² 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ²³  the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator ²⁴  of God’s creation:

Revelation 5:5

5:5 Then ²⁵  one of the elders said ²⁶  to me, “Stop weeping! ²⁷  Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; ²⁸  thus he can open ²⁹  the scroll and its seven seals.”

Revelation 18:7

18:7 As much as ³⁰  she exalted herself and lived in sensual luxury, ³¹  to this extent give her torment and grief because she said to herself, ³²  ‘I rule as queen and am no widow; I will never experience grief!’

Revelation 21:5

21:5 And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!” Then ³³  he said to me, “Write it down, ³⁴  because these words are reliable ³⁵  and true.”

Revelation 22:9

22:9 But ³⁶  he said to me, “Do not do this! ³⁷  I am a fellow servant ³⁸  with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who obey ³⁹  the words of this book. Worship God!”

[2:1]  ¹ map For location see JP1 D2; JP2 D2; JP3 D2; JP4 D2.

[2:1]  ² tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

[2:1]  ³ tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” The expression τάδε λέγει (tade legei) occurs eight times in the NT, seven of which are in Rev 2-3. “The pronoun is used to add solemnity to the prophetic utterance that follows. …In classical drama, it was used to introduce a new actor to the scene (Smyth, Greek Grammar, 307 [§1241]). But the τάδε λέγει formula in the NT derives from the OT, where it was used to introduce a prophetic utterance (BAGD, s.v. ὅδε, 1)” (ExSyn 328). Thus, the translation “this is the solemn pronouncement of” for τάδε λέγει is very much in keeping with the OT connotations of this expression.

[2:1]  ⁴ tn Grk “holds,” but the term (i.e., κρατῶν, kratwn) with an accusative object, along with the context, argues for a sense of firmness. (Cf. ExSyn 132.)

[2:1]  ⁵ sn On seven stars in his right hand see 1:16.

[2:1]  ⁶ tn Grk “lampstands of gold” with the genitive τῶν χρυσῶν (twn cruswn) translated as an attributive genitive.

[2:7]  ⁷ tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.” The pendent dative is allowed to stand in the English translation because it is characteristic of the author’s style in Revelation.

[2:7]  ⁸ tn Or “grant.”

[2:7]  ⁹ tn Or “stands.”

[2:7]  ¹⁰ tc The omission of “my” (μου, mou) after “God” (θεοῦ, qeou) is well attested, supported by א A C and the Andreas of Caesarea group of Byzantine mss (Ï^A). Its addition in 1611, the Ï^K group, latt, and others, seems to be evidence of a purposeful conforming of the text to 3:2 and the four occurrences of “my God” (θεοῦ μου) in 3:12.

[2:18]  ¹³ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

[2:18]  ¹⁴ tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

[2:18]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

[2:18]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “a flame of fire.” The Greek term πυρός (puros) has been translated as an attributive genitive.

[2:18]  ¹⁷ tn The precise meaning of the term translated “polished bronze” (χαλκολιβάνῳ, calkolibanw), which appears no where else in Greek literature outside of the book of Revelation (see 1:15), is uncertain. Without question it is some sort of metal. BDAG 1076 s.v. χαλκολίβανον suggests “fine brass/bronze.” L&N 2.57 takes the word to refer to particularly valuable or fine bronze, but notes that the emphasis here and in Rev 1:15 is more on the lustrous quality of the metal.

[3:7]  ¹⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

[3:7]  ²⁰ tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

[3:7]  ²¹ tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

[3:7]  ²² tn The word “door” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied in the translation. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context. Since the following verse does contain the word “door” (θύραν, quran), that word has been supplied as the direct object here.

[3:7]  ²³ tn See the note on the word “door” earlier in this verse.

[3:14]  ²⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

[3:14]  ²⁶ tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

[3:14]  ²⁷ tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

[3:14]  ²⁸ tn Or “the beginning of God’s creation”; or “the ruler of God’s creation.” From a linguistic standpoint all three meanings for ἀρχή (arch) are possible. The term is well attested in both LXX (Gen 40:13, 21; 41:13) and intertestamental Jewish literature (2 Macc 4:10, 50) as meaning “ruler, authority” (BDAG 138 s.v. 6). Some have connected this passage to Paul’s statements in Col 1:15, 18 which describe Christ as ἀρχή and πρωτότοκος (prwtotoko"; e.g., see R. H. Mounce, Revelation [NICNT], 124) but the term ἀρχή has been understood as either “beginning” or “ruler” in that passage as well. The most compelling connection is to be found in the prologue to John’s Gospel (1:2-4) where the λόγος (logos) is said to be “in the beginning (ἀρχή) with God,” a temporal reference connected with creation, and then v. 3 states that “all things were made through him.” The connection with the original creation suggests the meaning “originator” for ἀρχή here. BDAG 138 s.v. 3 gives the meaning “the first cause” for the word in Rev 3:14, a term that is too philosophical for the general reader, so the translation “originator” was used instead. BDAG also notes, “but the mng. beginning = ‘first created’ is linguistically probable (s. above 1b and Job 40:19; also CBurney, Christ as the ᾿Αρχή of Creation: JTS 27, 1926, 160-77).” Such a meaning is unlikely here, however, since the connections described above are much more probable.

[5:5]  ³¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

[5:5]  ³² tn Grk “says” (a historical present).

[5:5]  ³³ tn The present imperative with μή (mh) is used here to command cessation of an action in progress (ExSyn 724 lists this verse as an example).

[5:5]  ³⁴ tn Or “has been victorious”; traditionally, “has overcome.”

[5:5]  ³⁵ tn The infinitive has been translated as an infinitive of result here.

[18:7]  ³⁷ tn “As much as” is the translation of ὅσα (Josa).

[18:7]  ³⁸ tn On the term ἐστρηνίασεν (estrhniasen) BDAG 949 s.v. στρηνιάω states, “live in luxury, live sensually Rv 18:7. W. πορνεύειν vs. 9.”

[18:7]  ³⁹ tn Grk “said in her heart,” an idiom for saying something to oneself.

[21:5]  ⁴³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

[21:5]  ⁴⁴ tn The words “it down” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[21:5]  ⁴⁵ tn Grk “faithful.”

[22:9]  ⁴⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present here.

[22:9]  ⁵⁰ tn On the elliptical expression ὅρα μή ({ora mh) BDAG 720 s.v. ὁράω B.2 states: “Elliptically…ὅρα μή (sc. ποιήσῃς) watch out! don’t do that! Rv 19:10; 22:9.”

[22:9]  ⁵¹ tn Grk “fellow slave.” Though σύνδουλος (sundoulos) is here translated “fellow servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.

[22:9]  ⁵² tn Grk “keep” (an idiom for obedience).