Revelation 2:3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

We have here, I. The inscription, where observe, 1. To whom the first of these epistles is directed: To the church of Ephesus, a famous church planted by the apostle Paul (Acts 19:1-41), and afterwards watered and governed by John, who had his residence very much there. We can hardly think that Timothy was the angel, or sole pastor and bishop, of this church at this time,?that he who was of a very excellent spirit, and naturally cared for the good state of the souls of the people, should... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 2:1-7

2:1-7 To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write: These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. I know your works--I mean your toil and your steadfast endurance, and I know that you cannot bear evil men, and that you have put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and who are not, and have proved them liars. I know that you possess steadfast endurance. I know all that you have borne for my name's... read more

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 2:3

And hast borne - The same things mentioned in the preceding verse, but in an inverted order, the particular reason of which does not appear; perhaps it was intended to show more forcibly to this Church that there was no good which they had done, nor evil which they had suffered, that was forgotten before God. And hast not fainted - They must therefore have had a considerable portion of this love remaining, else they could not have thus acted. 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 2:3

The text followed in the Authorized Version is here very corrupt; we must read with the Revised Version, And thou hast patience (as in Revelation 2:2 ), and didst bear for my Name's sake, and hast not grown weary . The last verb ( κεκοπίακες ) is closely akin to toil ( κόπος ) in Revelation 2:2 . The seeming contradiction between "I know thy toil" and "thou hast not toiled" has caused confusion in the text. Yet οὐ κεκοπίακες does not mean "thou hast not toiled," but "thou... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 2:1-7

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 2:3

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 2:3

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