給以弗所教會的信

「你要寫信告訴以弗所教會的天使,那位右手拿著七顆星、往來於七個金燈臺中间的主說,

『我知道你的行為、勞碌和堅忍,也知道你嫉惡如仇,曾查驗出那些假冒的使徒,揭穿他們的虛假。 你曾堅定不移地為我的名受苦,沒有氣餒。 但有一件事我要責備你,就是你把起初的愛心丟棄了。 因此,要回想你在哪裡跌倒了,並且悔改,照起初所行的去行。否則,我就要到你那裡,將你的燈臺從原處拿走。 然而你還有一點可取之處,就是你跟我一樣痛恨尼哥拉黨人的行徑。

『聖靈對各教會所說的話,凡有耳朵的都應當聽。我必將上帝樂園中生命樹上的果子賜給得勝者吃。』

給士每拿教會的信

「你要寫信告訴士每拿教會的天使,那位首先的、末後的、死而復活的主說,

『我知道你遭受的苦難和貧窮,其實你是富足的。我也知道那些人對你的毀謗,他們自稱為猶太人,其實不是,而是撒旦的同夥[a] 10 你不要害怕將要遭受的苦難。魔鬼要將你們當中的一些人下在監裡,試煉你們,你們必遭受十天的迫害。但你要至死忠心,我必賜給你生命的冠冕。

11 『聖靈對各教會所說的話,凡有耳朵的都應當聽。得勝者必不被第二次死亡所害。』

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Footnotes

  1. 2·9 撒旦的同夥」希臘文是「撒旦的會眾」,用以表達與「耶和華的會眾」對立。

To the Church in Ephesus

“To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus(A) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand(B) and walks among the seven golden lampstands.(C) I know your deeds,(D) your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested(E) those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.(F) You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,(G) and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.(H) Consider how far you have fallen! Repent(I) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand(J) from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,(K) which I also hate.

Whoever has ears, let them hear(L) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(M) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,(N) which is in the paradise(O) of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna(P) write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,(Q) who died and came to life again.(R) I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!(S) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,(T) but are a synagogue of Satan.(U) 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,(V) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.(W) Be faithful,(X) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.(Y)

11 Whoever has ears, let them hear(Z) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.(AA)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18

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;

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:

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

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.

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

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.

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

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.

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