Revelation 2:1-5 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 2:4

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee - The clause should be read, according to the Greek, thus: But I have against thee that thou hast left thy first love. They did not retain that strong and ardent affection for God and sacred things which they had when first brought to the knowledge of the truth, and justified by faith in Christ. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 2:5

Remember - Consider the state of grace in which you once stood; the happiness, love, and joy which you felt when ye received remission of sins; the zeal ye had for God's glory and the salvation of mankind; your willing, obedient spirit, your cheerful self-denial, your fervor in private prayer, your detachment from the world, and your heavenly-mindedness. Remember - consider, all these. Whence thou art fallen - Fallen from all those blessed dispositions and gracious feelings already... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1

Unto the angel (see on Revelation 1:20 ). "The angel" seems to be the spirit of the Church personified as its responsible guardian. The Church of Ephesus . " In Ephesus" is certainly the right reading; in all seven cases it is the angel of the Church in the place that is addressed. In St. Paul's:Epistles we have " in Rome," " in Corinth," " in Colossae," " in Ephesus," " of Galatia," " of the Thessalonians." Among all the cities of the Roman province of Asia, Ephesus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1

The stars, the lamps, and the Lord. "He that holdeth … golden candlesticks." We may well pause on the threshold of the first of these letters to the Churches to consider, as we have not done before, the truths that underlie the sublime symbols of the stars and the lamps of gold and the holding of the stars in the Lord's right hand, and his walking in the midst of the lamps of gold. Here, as well as throughout these letters, "He that hath an ear, let him hear." I. THE STARS . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

The epistle to the Church at Ephesus. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

Ephesus: the declining Church. This letter to the Church at Ephesus, as welt as all the others, is sent to the Church through its "angel." It is not very easy for an English reader to understand to what office in the Church such an expression can refer. The various meanings of "bishop" or "overseer," "pastor," "messenger," have been assigned. We do not accept either to the exclusion of any other. We will, however, indicate some historic matters concerning Church officers, and then leave... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

The epistle to the Church at Ephesus. Ephesus was a notable place in the days of St. John. It and Corinth, on either side of the AE gean, and between which there was a regular traffic, have been likened to the Liverpool and New York of our day, on either side of the Atlantic. Ephesus was large, populous, wealthy, the capital of the province and the centre of the religious worship of the great Diana, whose magnificent temple was accounted one of the wonders of the world. Nor is the place... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

(1) The epistle to the Church in Ephesus: the decay of early love. The Ephesian Church highly commended for many things—for "toil" in service and for "patience" in tribulation; unwearied endurance in suffering; repudiation of "evil men," and fidelity in trying them "which call themselves apostles, and they are not;" and even" hating the works" which the Lord says, "I also hate." But the works of the Church are all known to him who "walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

The words of Christ from eternity to the congregation at Ephesus. "Unto the angel of the Church of Ephesus," etc. The quality of words, whether weak or potent, pure or unvirtuous, useful or otherwise, depends evermore upon the character of the author. Hence the words of truly great men, intellectually and morally great, are the most blessed of all the blessed things we have; they are the organs of the highest light and choicest life. Hence the words of Christ have a value unsurpassed and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:2

Owing to the inaccurate use of a corrupt text, the Authorized Version is hero very faulty. The Revised Version is to be preferred throughout. I know thy works . This introductory "I know" appears in all seven letters. He whose eyes are "as a flame of fire" ( Revelation 1:14 ) has perfect knowledge of his servants, and this knowledge is the basis of the praise and blame. "Works," a favourite word with St. John, and very frequent in both Gospel and Apocalypse, is used in a wide sense,... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 2:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 2:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:2

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