Revelation 2:4-5

2:4 But I have this against you: You have departed ¹  from your first love! 2:5 Therefore, remember from what high state ²  you have fallen and repent! Do ³  the deeds you did at the first; ⁴  if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent. ⁵ 

[2:4]  ¹ tn The Greek word translated “departed from” (ἀφίημι, afihmi; L&N 15.48) can actually be used of divorce (L&N 34.78), so the imagery here is very strong.

[2:5]  ² tn Grk “from where,” but status is in view rather than physical position. On this term BDAG 838 s.v. πόθεν 1 states, “from what place? from where?…In imagery μνημόνευε πόθεν πέπτωκες remember from what (state) you have fallen Rv 2:5.”

[2:5]  ³ tn Grk “and do” (a continuation of the previous sentence in the Greek text). For stylistic reasons in English a new sentence was started here in the translation. The repeated mention of repenting at the end of the verse suggests that the intervening material (“do the deeds you did at first”) specifies how the repentance is to be demonstrated.

[2:5]  ⁴ tn Or “you did formerly.”

[2:5]  ⁵ tn Although the final clause is somewhat awkward, it is typical of the style of Revelation.