Revelation 2:1-29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:3

And hast borne ,.... Not evil men, nor false apostles, but "burdens", as the Ethiopic version reads, and as the word signifies; meaning afflictions, reproaches, and persecutions, which pressed sore, and lay heavy on these ministers and churches; and yet they bore them with constancy and cheerfulness, and were not moved by them. The Arabic version reads, "and thou hast borne me"; my name and Gospel, among the Gentiles, and carried it from place to place; see Acts 9:15 , and hast patience... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:4

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee ,.... So the Jews represent God saying, concerning their fathers, "Abraham", &c.; יש לי עליהם "I have something against them" F1 Pesikta Rabbati apud Yalkut Simeoni, par. 2. fol. 60. 4. . Christ has nothing against his people, his faithful ministers, and true churches, in a judicial way, or to their condemnation, for there is none to them that are in him; but he has often many things to complain of in them, and to rebuke and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:5

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen ,.... Believers cannot totally and finally fall away from the grace which they have received; but they may fall into sin, and from a degree of grace, and the exercise of it, as these first and pure churches did, from some degree of their love to God, and Christ, and one another; and therefore are called upon to remember, mind, and observe from what degree of it they were fallen; in order to bring them under a conviction and acknowledgment of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:6

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans ,.... Though these Christians had left their first love, yet they bore an hatred to the filthy and impure practices of some men, who were called "Nicolaitans"; who committed fornication, adultery, and all uncleanness, and had their wives in common, and also ate things offered to idols; who were so called, as some think F3 Vid. Irenaeum adv. Haeres, l. 1. c. 27. & Tertull. de Praescript. Haeret. c. 46, 47. , from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:7

He that hath an ear ,.... Such who have new ears given them, as all have who are made new creatures; such who have their ears circumcised, and opened by the Spirit of God; who hear with understanding, affection, and faith; who try what they hear, and approve, embrace, and retain that which is good, Let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches ; let such hearken, and listen with attention to what is said by the Spirit, in what goes before, and follows after, in this epistle,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:8

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write ,.... Of the city of Smyrna; see Gill on Revelation 1:11 . That there was a church of Christ here is not to be doubted, though by whom it was founded is not certain; very likely by the Apostle Paul, who was in those parts, and by whose means all Asia heard the Gospel of Christ, Acts 19:10 . Some think the present angel or pastor of this church, was Polycarp, the disciple of John. Irenaeus F6 Adv. Haeres. l. 3. c. 3. , who knew him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:9

I know thy works ,.... Good works, as before in Revelation 2:2 , and tribulation ; this is Christ's legacy to his people, and which lies in their way to heaven; and never was the way of any to heaven more strewed with it than was the way of the saints in this period. But Christ took notice of it, and of them in it; he knew their souls in adversity, and remarked their patience under it, and their constancy, and close adherence to him: and poverty ; which was true in a literal sense,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:10

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer ,.... God's people undergo sufferings of various sorts, as the Christians of those times did, scourgings, imprisonment, confiscation of goods, and death itself in various shapes; and these are certain, they shall suffer them; they are all known beforehand to Christ, and he sometimes gives his people previous notice of them, nor should they indulge a slavish fear about them. It is reported of Polycarp, bishop of this church at Smyrna, in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:11

He that hath an ear, let him hear ,.... See Gill on Revelation 2:7 , he that overcometh ; and is not intimidated by poverty, confiscation of goods, tribulation, persecution, and death itself, but through Christ is a conqueror, and more than a conqueror over all these things: shall not be hurt of the second death ; by which is meant eternal death, in distinction from a corporeal and temporal one; and lies in a destruction of both body and soul in hell, and in an everlasting... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:12

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write ,.... Of the city of Pergamos; see Gill on Revelation 1:11 . In it was a church of Christ, but when it begun, and how long it lasted, is not certain. Antipas, who is mentioned, Revelation 2:13 ; is thought, by some, to have been the pastor of it. Though, according to the Apostolical Constitutions F19 L. 7. c. 46. , Caius was the first bishop of it; and it appears, that in the "second" century there were several in this place that... read more

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