IN EPHESUS (εν Εφεσω). Near the sea on the river Cayster, the foremost city of Asia Minor, the temple-keeper of Artemis and her wonderful temple (Acts 19:35), the home of the magic arts (Ephesian letters, Acts 19:19) and of the mystery-cults, place of Paul's three years' stay (Acts 19:1-10; Acts 2... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW (οιδα). Rather than γινωσκω and so "emphasizes better the absolute clearness of mental vision which photographs all the facts of life as they pass" (Swete). So also in Revelation 2:9; Revelation 2:13; Revelation 2:19; Revelation 3:1; Revelation 3:8; Revelation 3:15. For the distinction see... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST (εχεις). Continued possession of patience.DIDST BEAR (εβαστασας). First aorist indicative of βασταζω, repeated reference to the crisis in verse Revelation 2:2.AND HAST NOT GROWN WEARY (κα ου κεκοπιακες). Perfect active indicative of κοπιαω, old verb, to grow weary (Matthew 6:28), pl... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS AGAINST THEE, THAT (κατα σου οτ). For the phrase "have against" see Matthew 5:23. The οτ clause is the object of εχω.THOU DIDST LEAVE (αφηκες). First aorist active (kappa aorist, but with -ες instead of -ας) of αφιημ, a definite and sad departure.THY FIRST LOVE (την αγαπην σου την πρωτην... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER (μνημονευε). Present active imperative of μνημονευω, "continue mindful" (from μνημων).THOU ART FALLEN (πεπτωκες). Perfect active indicative of πιπτω, state of completion. Down in the valley, look up to the cliff where pure love is and whence thou hast fallen down.AND REPENT (κα μεταν... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU HATEST (οτ μισεις). Accusative object clause in apposition with τουτο (this). Trench tells of the words used in ancient Greek for hatred of evil (μισοπονηρια) and μισοπονηρος (hater of evil), neither of which occurs in the N.T., but which accurately describe the angel of the church in E... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATH AN EAR (ο εχων ους). An individualizing note calling on each of the hearers (Revelation 1:3) to listen (Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:11; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 2:28; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 3:6; Revelation 3:13;... [ Continue Reading ]
IN SMYRNA (εν Σμυρνη). North of Ephesus, on a gulf of the Aegean, one of the great cities of Asia (province), a seat of emperor-worship with temple to Tiberius, with many Jews hostile to Christianity who later join in the martyrdom of Polycarp, poor church (rich in grace) which receives only prai... [ Continue Reading ]
THY TRIBULATION AND THY POVERTY (σου την θλιψιν κα πτωχειαν). Separate articles of same gender, emphasizing each item. The tribulation was probably persecution, which helped to intensify the poverty of the Christians (James 2:5; 1 Corinthians 1:26; 2 Corinthians 6:10; 2 Corinthians 8:2). In contr... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR NOT (μη φοβου). As in Revelation 1:17. Worse things are about to come than poverty and blasphemy, perhaps prison and death, for the devil "is about to cast" (μελλε βαλλειν), "is going to cast."SOME OF YOU (εξ υμων). Without τινας (some) before εξ υμων, a common idiom as in Revelation 3:9;... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL NOT BE HURT (ου μη αδικηθη). Strong double negative with first aorist passive subjunctive of αδικεω, old verb, to act unjustly (from αδικος), here to do harm or wrong to one, old usage as in Revelation 6:6; Revelation 7:2; Revelation 9:4; Revelation 9:10; Revelation 11:5.OF THE SECOND DEATH... [ Continue Reading ]
IN PERGAMUM (εν Περγαμω). In a north-easterly direction from Smyrna in the Caicus Valley, some fifty-five miles away, in Mysia, on a lofty hill, a great political and religious centre. Ramsay (_Op. cit._, p. 281) calls it "the royal city, the city of authority." Eumenes II (B.C. 197-159) extended... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE (που--οπου). Που is interrogative adverb used here in an indirect question as in John 1:39. Hοπου is relative adverb referring to που. Satan's throne (ο θρονος του Σατανα). Satan not simply resided in Pergamum, but his "throne" or seat of power of king or judge (Matthew 19:28; Luke 1:32; Luk... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE (εκε). That is παρ' υμιν (among you). A party in the church that resisted emperor-worship, to the death in the case of Antipas, yet were caught in the insidious wiles of the Nicolaitans which the church in Ephesus withstood.SOME THAT HOLD (κρατουντας). "Men holding" (present active partic... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THOU ALSO (ουτως κα συ). Thou and the church at Pergamum as Israel had the wiles of Balaam.THE TEACHING OF THE NICOLAITANS LIKEWISE (την διδαχην των Νικολαιτων ομοιως). See on Revelation 1:6 for the Nicolaitans. The use of ομοιως (likewise) here shows that they followed Balaam in not obeying... [ Continue Reading ]
REPENT THEREFORE (μετανοησον ουν). First aorist (tense of urgency) active imperative of μετανοεω with the inferential particle ουν (as a result of their sin).I COME (ερχομα). Futuristic present middle indicative, "I am coming" (imminent), as in Revelation 2:5 with ταχυ as in Revelation 3:11; Rev... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE HIDDEN MANNA (του μαννα του κεκρυμμενου). "Of the manna the hidden" (perfect passive articular participle of κρυπτω). The partitive genitive, the only N.T. example with διδωμ, though Q reads το (accusative) here. For examples of the ablative with απο and εκ see Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 519.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THYATIRA (εν Θυατειροις). Some forty miles south-east of Pergamum, a Lydian city on the edge of Mysia, under Rome since B.C. 190, a centre of trade, especially for the royal purple, home of Lydia of Philippi (Acts 16:14), shown by inscriptions to be full of trade guilds, Apollo the chief deity... [ Continue Reading ]
THY WORKS (σου τα εργα). As in Revelation 2:2 and explained (explanatory use of κα =namely) by what follows. Four items are given, with separate feminine article for each (την αγαπην, την πιστιν, την διακονιαν, την υπομονην), a longer list of graces than in Revelation 2:2 for Ephesus. More praise... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SUFFEREST (αφεις). Late vernacular present active indicative second person singular as if from a form αφεω instead of the usual αφιημ forms.THE WOMAN JEZEBEL (την γυναικα Ιεζαβελ). Symbolical name for some prominent woman in the church in Thyatira, like the infamous wife of Ahab who was gu... [ Continue Reading ]
I GAVE HER TIME (εδωκα αυτη χρονον). First aorist active indicative of διδωμ, allusion to a definite visit or message of warning to this woman.THAT SHE SHOULD REPENT (ινα μετανοηση). Sub-final use of ινα with first aorist active subjunctive of μετανοεω.AND SHE WILLETH NOT (κα ου θελε). "And s... [ Continue Reading ]
I DO CAST (βαλλω). Futuristic present active indicative rather than the future βαλω, since judgment is imminent.INTO A BED (εις κλινην). "A bed of sickness in contrast with the bed of adultery" (Beckwith).THEM THAT COMMIT ADULTERY WITH HER (τους μοιχευοντας μετ' αυτης). Present active articula... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL KILL WITH DEATH (αποκτενω εν θανατω). Future (volitive) active of αποκτεινω with the tautological (cognate) εν θανατω (in the sense of pestilence) as in Ezekiel 33:27.HER CHILDREN (τα τεκνα αυτης). Either her actual children, like the fate of Ahab's sons (2 Kings 10:7) or "her spiritual... [ Continue Reading ]
TO YOU THE REST (υμιν τοις λοιποις). Dative case. Those who hold out against Jezebel, not necessarily a minority (Revelation 9:20; Revelation 19:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13).AS MANY AS (οσο). Inclusive of all "the rest."THIS TEACHING (την διδαχην ταυτην). That of Jezebel.WHICH (οιτινες). "Whic... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWBEIT (πλην). Common after ουκ αλλο as a preposition with the ablative (Mark 12:32), but here a conjunction as in Philippians 1:18.HOLD FAST (κρατησατε). First aorist active imperative of κρατεω, either ingressive (get a grip on) or constative (hold on as a single decisive effort). See presen... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT OVERCOMETH AND HE THAT KEEPETH (ο νικων κα ο τηρων). Present active articular participles of νικαω and τηρεω in the nominative absolute (_nominativus pendens_) as in Revelation 3:12; Revelation 3:21, resumed by the dative αυτω (to him), as in verses Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:17.UNTO TH... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL RULE (ποιμανε). Future active of ποιμαινω, to shepherd (from ποιμην, shepherd), also from Psalms 2:8. See again Revelation 7:17; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15.WITH A ROD OF IRON (εν ραβδω σιδηρα). Continuing the quotation. Instrumental use of εν. Ραβδος (feminine) is the royal scep... [ Continue Reading ]
AS I ALSO HAVE RECEIVED (ως καγω ειληφα). Perfect active indicative of λαμβανω. Christ still possesses the power from the Father (Acts 2:33; Psalms 2:7).THE MORNING STAR (τον αστερα τον πρωινον). "The star the morning one." In Revelation 22:16 Christ is the bright morning star. The victor will... [ Continue Reading ]