thy first love It is to be remembered that these words have not in ecclesiastical (or indeed in any) Greek the same sentimental associations as in English; nevertheless it is not unlikely that conjugal love is meant: cf. Jeremiah 2:2. Some understand the word of love to the brethren, because we have "the first works" in the next verse: but the argument is a bad one. Of course those good words (whether of "charity" in the narrower sense or not) proceeded from love to Christ.

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