The Letter to Ephesus
1
“Write to the angel
2:1
Or messenger, also in vv. 8,12,18
of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:2:1 Ac 21:11; Rv 1:16,20
2I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,2:2 Rv 2:19; 3:1,8,15 and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not,2:2 2Co 11:13 and you have found them to be liars.2:2 1Jn 4:1
3I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name,2:3 Mt 24:9 and you have not grown weary.
5Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.2:5 Heb 10:32 Otherwise, I will come to you2:5 Other mss add quickly and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
6Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
The Letter to Smyrna
8
“Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last,
2:8
Rv 1:17
the one who was dead and came to life:
9I know your2:9 Other mss add works and affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.2:9 Rv 3:9–10
10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil2:10 Mt 4:1; Eph 4:27; 6:11; 1Tm 3:6; Jms 4:7; 1Pt 5:8; Rv 12:9,12; 20:2 is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days.2:10 Dn 1:12,14 Be faithful to the point of death,2:10 Mt 10:22; 24:13; Rv 12:11 and I will give you the crown2:10 Or wreath of life.2:10 1Co 9:25; Jms 1:12; Rv 3:11
The Letter to Pergamum
12
“Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:
2:12
Is 49:2; Heb 4:12; Rv 1:16; 2:16; 19:15
13I know2:13 Other mss add your works and where you live — where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me,2:13 Or deny my faith2:13 1Tm 5:8 even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness2:13 Ac 22:20 who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.
14But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam,2:14 2Pt 2:15 who taught Balak to place a stumbling block2:14 Or to place a trap in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols2:14 Ac 15:29; 1Co 8:10; 10:19 and to commit sexual immorality.2:14 Nm 25:1; 31:16; 1Co 10:8
15In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.2:15 Other mss add which I hate
17
“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna.
2:17
Other mss add to eat
2:17
Ex 16:32–34
I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name2:17 Is 55:13; 56:5; 62:2 is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.
The Letter to Thyatira
18
“Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: Thus says the Son of God,
2:18
Ps 2:7–9
the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze:2:18 Rv 1:14–15
19I know your works — your love, faithfulness,2:19 Or faith service, and endurance.2:19 1Th 1:3; Rv 2:2 I know that your last works are greater than the first.
20But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel,2:20 1Kg 16:30–33; 21:25; 2Kg 9:7,30–37 who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols.2:20 2Kg 9:22; Ac 15:29; 1Co 10:20
21I gave her time to repent,2:21 Rm 2:4; 2Pt 3:9 but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.2:21 Rv 9:20–21; 16:9,11
22Look, I will throw her into a sickbed2:22 2Kg 9:22 and those who commit adultery with her2:22 Rv 17:2; 18:9 into great affliction.2:22 Mt 24:21; Ac 7:11 Unless they repent of her2:22 Other mss read their works,
23I will strike her children dead.2:23 Or with a plague2:23 Ezk 33:27 Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts,2:23 Ps 7:9; 26:2; 139:1; Jr 11:20; 17:10; Mt 16:27; Lk 16:15; Ac 1:24; Rm 8:27 and I will give to each of you according to your works.2:23 Rm 2:6; 2Co 11:15; 2Tm 4:14; Rv 18:6; 20:12–13
24I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known “the so-called secrets2:24 Or the secret things2:24 2Co 2:10 of Satan”2:24 Rv 2:9 — as they say — I am not putting any other burden on you.2:24 Mt 11:30; Ac 15:28; 24:4; 1Jn 5:3
26The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations —
29
“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
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