Revelation Chapter 2 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
Revelation Chapter 2 (New Testament)
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Revelation Chapter 2 (New Testament)
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
| Greek Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἄγγελος — angelos | Verse 1 — “Unto the angel of the church…” | “Messenger,” envoy. | Angelos (“messenger”) may refer to a church leader or actual angel (“messenger”). It conveys one entrusted with divine communication. The term highlights Christ’s authority over the churches. — Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (1889) |
| κράτησις — kratēsis | Verse 1 — “…who holdeth the seven stars…” | “Holding fast,” firm grasp. | Kratēsis (“holding firmly”) signifies sovereign control (“firm grasp”). Christ’s authority preserves His churches. The term underscores divine security. — Richard C. Trench, Commentary on the Epistles to the Seven Churches (1861) |
| πόνος — ponos | Verse 2 — “…thy labor…” | “Toil,” strenuous work. | Ponos (“toil”) emphasizes strenuous ministry effort (“labor”). It reveals the cost of faithfulness. The term honors perseverance. — B. F. Westcott, Some Lessons of the Revised Version (1892) |
| ὑπομονή — hypomonē | Verse 2 — “…and thy patience…” | “Endurance,” steadfastness. | Hypomonē (“endurance”) denotes steadfast courage (“patience/endurance”). It is the ability to stand firm under trials. The term marks spiritual maturity. — Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament (1896) |
| ἀφίημι — aphiēmi | Verse 4 — “…thou hast left thy first love.” | “Abandon,” let go. | Aphiēmi (“to leave/abandon”) indicates relational departure (“abandon”). It describes the cooling of affection toward Christ. The term urges spiritual renewal. — Thayer, Lexicon (1889) |
| μετανόησον — metanoēson | Verse 5 — “Repent…” | “Change mind,” turn around. | Metanoēson (“repent”) demands decisive transformation (“turn back/change”). It calls for inward and outward renewal. The term is central to Christ’s warnings. — Westcott, The Revelation of the Risen Lord (1898) |
| νικῶν — nikōn | Verse 7 — “To him that overcometh…” | “Conquer,” overcome. | Nikon (“overcoming”) represents victorious perseverance (“conquer”). It is achieved through faithfulness to Christ. The term forms a refrain for all seven churches. — Trench, Synonyms (1896) |
| ξύλον ζωῆς — xylon zōēs | Verse 7 — “…the tree of life…” | “Tree of life,” life-giving tree. | Xylon Zōēs (“tree of life”) symbolizes immortality (“life-giving tree”). It evokes Eden restored. The term points to eschatological reward. — Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church (1890) |
| βλασφημέω — blasphēmeō | Verse 9 — “…blasphemy of them…” | “Revile,” speak evil. | Blasphēmeō (“to revile”) marks slander against God’s people (“blaspheme/slander”). It shows Satanic opposition. The term deepens the theme of spiritual warfare. — Thayer, Lexicon (1889) |
| στέφανος — stephanos | Verse 10 — “…I will give thee a crown of life.” | “Crown,” victor’s wreath. | Stephanos (“crown/wreath”) indicates reward for endurance (“crown”). It reflects Greco-Roman victory imagery fulfilled spiritually. The term symbolizes eternal triumph. — B. F. Westcott, Commentary on the Epistles of John (1883) |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| R. H. Charles (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1855–1931) | The Revelation of St. John | The church at Ephesus is commended for perseverance, but warned against losing initial zeal. |
| Ferdinand Christian Baur (University of Tübingen, Germany, 1792–1860) | Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ | Baur interprets the exhortation as reflecting early tensions between doctrinal fidelity and moral practice. |
| A. T. Robertson (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, United States, 1863–1934) | Word Pictures in the New Testament | Robertson highlights endurance in faith and the importance of doctrinal vigilance. |
| Charles B. Williams (Yale University, United States, 1860–1929) | A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John | The letter underscores ethical responsibility alongside spiritual devotion. |
| Alfred Plummer (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1841–1926) | A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John | Plummer emphasizes the balance between commendation and moral exhortation. |
How well do you know The Bible? Find Out- Take Free Quiz
Revelation Chapter 2
Verse: "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." (Revelation 2:4)
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
Lesson: This verse warns against losing our passion and love for Christ. It's easy to become distracted by the busyness of life and neglect our relationship with Him. We must guard our hearts and keep our focus on Him.
Conclusion: Our love for Christ should be the driving force behind everything we do. When we lose sight of that, we lose our sense of purpose and direction.
Prayer Points: Ask God to renew your love for Him. Confess any areas where you've neglected your relationship with Him. Pray for a fresh passion to serve Him.
What's Next? Get A Piano Lesson in Houston or Online from The Alive Christians' School of Music
