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)

To the Church in Pergamum

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum(AB) write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.(AC) 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,(AD) not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,(AE) who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.(AF)

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:(AG) There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,(AH) who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols(AI) and committed sexual immorality.(AJ) 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(AK) 16 Repent(AL) therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.(AM)

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear(AN) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(AO) I will give some of the hidden manna.(AP) I will also give that person a white stone with a new name(AQ) written on it, known only to the one who receives it.(AR)

To the Church in Thyatira

18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira(AS) write:

These are the words of the Son of God,(AT) whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.(AU) 19 I know your deeds,(AV) your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel,(AW) who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.(AX) 21 I have given her time(AY) to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.(AZ) 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery(BA) with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds,(BB) and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.(BC)

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you,(BD) 25 except to hold on to what you have(BE) until I come.’(BF)

26 To the one who is victorious(BG) and does my will to the end,(BH) I will give authority over the nations(BI) 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter(BJ) and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[b](BK)—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star.(BL) 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear(BM) what the Spirit says to the churches.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18
  2. Revelation 2:27 Psalm 2:9

To the Church in Ephesus

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of (A)him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, (B)who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

(C)“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but (D)have tested those (E)who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up (F)for my name's sake, and you (G)have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned (H)the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do (I)the works you did at first. If not, (J)I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of (K)the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (L)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (M)To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of (N)the tree of life, which is in (O)the paradise of God.’

To the Church in Smyrna

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of (P)the first and the last, (Q)who died and came to life.

“‘I know your tribulation and (R)your poverty ((S)but you are rich) and the slander[a] of (T)those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, (U)that you may be tested, and for (V)ten days (W)you will have tribulation. (X)Be faithful (Y)unto death, and I will give you (Z)the crown of life. 11 (AA)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (AB)The one who conquers will not be hurt by (AC)the second death.’

To the Church in Pergamum

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has (AD)the sharp two-edged sword.

13 “‘I know where you dwell, (AE)where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not (AF)deny my faith[b] even in the days of Antipas (AG)my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of (AH)Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might (AI)eat food sacrificed to idols and (AJ)practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of (AK)the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, (AL)I will come to you soon and (AM)war against them with (AN)the sword of my mouth. 17 (AO)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (AP)To the one who conquers I will give some of (AQ)the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with (AR)a new name written on the stone (AS)that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

To the Church in Thyatira

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, (AT)who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

19 (AU)“‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman (AV)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants (AW)to practice sexual immorality and (AX)to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but (AY)she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he (AZ)who searches mind and heart, and (BA)I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call (BB)the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I (BC)do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast (BD)what you have until I come. 26 (BE)The one who conquers and who keeps my works (BF)until the end, (BG)to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and (BH)he will (BI)rule[c] them with a rod of iron, (BJ)as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him (BK)the morning star. 29 (BL)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:9 Greek blasphemy
  2. Revelation 2:13 Or your faith in me
  3. Revelation 2:27 Greek shepherd

To the Church in Ephesus

“Write this to the ·angel [or messenger; see 1:20] of the church in Ephesus [C an important city in western Asia Minor]:

“The One who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands [C the resurrected Jesus; 1:16, 20] says ·this [L these things]: I know ·what you do [L your works], ·how you work hard [L your toil] and ·never give up [L your perseverence/endurance]. I know you do not put up with ·the false teachings of evil people [L evildoers; or evil]. You have tested those who say they are apostles but really are not, and you found they are ·liars [or false]. You have ·patience [perseverance; endurance] and have ·suffered troubles [endured much] for my name and have not ·given up [L grown weary].

“But I have this against you: You have ·left [abandoned] ·the love you had in the beginning [or your first love]. So ·remember [consider] ·where you were before you fell [L how far you have fallen]. ·Change your hearts [Repent] and do ·what [L the works] you did at first. If you do not ·change [repent], I will come to you and will take away your lampstand from its place. But ·there is something you do that is right [L this you have]: You hate what the Nicolaitans do [C we know little about this heresy, which possibly entailed false worship and immorality], as much as I.

“Every person who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] I will give the right to eat the fruit from the ·tree of life, which is in the ·garden [or paradise] of God [22:2; Gen. 2:9].

To the Church in Smyrna

“Write this to the ·angel [or messenger; see 1:20] of the church in Smyrna [C a major city in western Asia Minor, identified with present-day Izmir, Turkey]:

“The One who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again [C the resurrected Jesus; 1:17–18], says ·this [L these things]: I know your ·troubles [persecution; affliction] and that you are poor, but really you are rich! I know the ·bad things [slander; blasphemy] some people say about you. They say they are Jews, but they are not true Jews. They are a synagogue ·that belongs to [L of] Satan. 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, and you will ·suffer [be persecuted/afflicted] for ten days [C perhaps a symbolic number meaning a significant and definite time]. But be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the ·crown [C a wreath worn to indicate high status or as a reward] of life.

11 “Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches. Those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] will not be hurt by the second death [C the spiritual death after physical death; 20:6, 14; 21:8].

To the Church in Pergamum

12 “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see 1:20] of the church in Pergamum [C a rich city in western Asia Minor]:

“The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword [C the resurrected Jesus; 1:16] says this [L these things]: 13 I know where you live. It is where Satan has his throne [C a reference to false worship; Pergamum was a center of emperor worship]. But you ·are true to me [L hold fast to my name]. You did not ·refuse to tell about [deny] your faith in me even during the time of Antipas, my faithful witness who was killed ·in your city [L among you; C we know nothing further about Antipas], where Satan lives.

14 “But I have a few things against you: You have some there who follow the teaching of Balaam. He taught Balak how to ·cause the people of Israel to sin [L put a stumbling block before the children of Israel] by eating food offered to idols and by taking part in sexual sins [Num. 22—24; 31:8; Deut. 23:4–5; 2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 11]. 15 You also have some who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans [see 2:6]. 16 So ·change your hearts and lives [repent]. If you do not, I will come to you quickly and ·fight [make war] against them with the sword that comes out of my mouth [C the judgment he enacts by merely speaking; 1:16].

17 “Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches.

“I will give some of the hidden manna [C perhaps alluding to a Jewish tradition that the manna placed in the ark is hidden until the messianic age; ultimately referring to the spiritual life Christ provides; John 6:32–35] to everyone who ·wins the victory [overcomes; conquers]. I will also give to each one who ·wins the victory [overcomes; conquers] a white stone with a new name written on it [C an unknown cultural image, which, along with the manna, points to salvation in Christ]. No one knows this new name except the one who receives it [C the name could be God’s or Christ’s, but more likely refers to a new name given to the people of God].

To the Church in Thyatira

18 “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see 1:20] of the church in ·Thyatira [C a small city in western Asia Minor]:

“The Son of God, who has eyes that blaze like fire [1:14] and feet like shining bronze [1:15; C the resurrected Jesus], says ·this [L these things]: 19 I know ·what you do [your works]. I know about your love, your faith, your service, and your ·patience [endurance; perseverance]. I know that ·you are doing more now than you did at first [L your last works are greater than the first].

20 “But I have this against you: You ·let that woman Jezebel spread false teachings [L tolerate the woman Jezebel; C probably the leader of the Nicolaitans, here given the name of the notorious Baal-worshiping queen; 1 Kin. 16:31–34; 21:25–26; 2 Kin. 9:22]. She ·says she is [calls herself] a prophetess, but ·by her teaching she leads [teaches and misleads/deceives] my ·people [L servants] to take part in sexual sins and to eat food that is offered to idols. 21 I have given her time to ·change her heart and turn away from her sin [repent of her sexual immorality], but she does not want to ·change [repent]. 22 ·So [L Look!] I will throw her on ·a bed of suffering [or a sickbed; C the bed used for sexual sin is now a bed of suffering]. And all those who take part in adultery with her will suffer greatly if they do not ·turn away from the wrongs she does [repent of her works/deeds]. 23 I will also kill her ·followers [L children]. Then all the churches will know I am the One who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you for ·what you have done [your works/deeds].

24 “But ·others [the rest] of you in Thyatira have not followed her teaching and have not learned what some call Satan’s deep secrets. I say to you that I will not put any other ·load [burden] on you. 25 Only ·continue in your loyalty [L hold fast to what you have] until I come.

26 “I will give ·power [authority] over the nations to everyone who ·wins the victory [overcomes; conquers] and ·continues to be obedient to me [or keeps working for me; L keeps/obeys my works] until the end.

27 ‘·You [L he; C the one who overcomes] will ·rule over [L shepherd] them with an iron ·rod [or scepter],
    ·as when pottery is broken into pieces [or and will break them into pieces like pottery; Ps. 2:9].’

28 This is the same ·power [authority] I received from my Father. I will also give him the morning star [C usually the planet Venus as seen before sunrise, but here symbolically Christ at his return; 22:16; Num. 24:17; 2 Pet. 1:19]. 29 Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches.

給七個教會的信

給以弗所教會的信

「你要給那在以弗所教會的使者[a]寫信說:

「那位右手握著七顆星、在七座金燈臺中間行走的,這樣說: 我知道你的行為,包括你的勞苦和忍耐,也知道你不能容忍惡人[b]。你曾考驗那些自稱是使徒,其實不是使徒的,而且看出他們是假的。 你也有忍耐,曾為我的名勞苦,並不疲乏。 然而,我有事要責備你,就是你放棄了你起初的愛; 所以你應當記住你是從哪裡跌落的,應當悔改,應當行你起初所做的事!否則我[c]就要來到你那裡;如果你不悔改,我就要把你的燈臺從原處挪去。 不過,你有這一點可取之處[d],就是你恨惡尼古拉派的行為,那些行為也是我所恨惡的。

「凡是有耳的,就應當聽聖靈向各教會所說的話!那得勝的,我將要准許他吃神樂園中生命樹的果子[e]

給士每拿教會的信

「你要給士每拿教會的使者[f]寫信說:

「那位首先的、末後的,那位曾經死去又活過來的,這樣說: 我知道你的[g]患難和貧窮;其實你是富有的。我也知道從那些自稱是猶太人而來的毀謗,其實他們不是猶太人,而是屬於撒旦會堂的。 10 你不要怕將要受的苦。看哪,魔鬼要把你們當中一些人投進監獄,使你們受考驗;你們將受十天的患難。你應當至死忠心,我就把生命的冠冕賜給你。

11 「凡是有耳的,就應當聽聖靈向各教會所說的話!那得勝的,絕不會被第二次的死亡所傷害。

給佩爾伽馬教會的信

12 「你要給那在佩爾伽馬教會的使者[h]寫信說:

「那位有雙刃利劍的,這樣說: 13 我知道[i]你居住的地方,就是撒旦寶座所在的地方。不過即使在我忠心的見證人安提帕的那些日子裡,你還持守我的名,也沒有否認對我的信仰;這安提帕是在你們那裡,也就是在撒旦居住的地方被殺害的。 14 然而,我有幾件事要責備你,就是在你那裡有些人持守巴蘭的教導。這巴蘭曾教唆巴勒把絆腳石放在以色列子民面前,就是使他們吃祭過偶像的食物,並且行淫亂。 15 同樣,你那裡也有些人持守與尼古拉派一樣的教導。[j] 16 所以,你應當悔改,否則我就會立即來到你那裡,用我口中的劍與他們交戰。

17 「凡是有耳的,就應當聽聖靈向各教會所說的話!那得勝的,我將要賜給他那隱藏的嗎哪。我還要賜給他[k]一塊白石頭,石頭上有一個寫好的新名字,除了那領受的人以外,沒有人認識這名字。

給錫亞蒂拉教會的信

18 「你要給那在錫亞蒂拉教會的使者[l]寫信說:

「神的兒子,就是那位眼睛如火焰、兩腳彷彿精銅的,這樣說: 19 我知道你的行為,包括你的愛心、信仰、服事和忍耐,也知道你最近所做的比先前的更多。 20 然而,我有事[m]要責備你,就是你容忍那自稱是女先知的婦人耶洗別,教唆並迷惑我的奴僕們行淫亂、吃祭過偶像的食物。 21 我曾給她時間,好讓她悔改,她卻不肯[n]悔改離開自己的淫亂。 22 看哪,我要把她扔在痛苦的[o]床上。那些與她通姦的人,如果不悔改離開她[p]的行為,我也要把他們扔在大患難中。 23 我要用瘟疫[q]擊殺她的兒女[r],這樣各教會就將知道我就是洞察情感和心思的那一位;我也要照著你們的行為回報你們每個人。 24 至於你們其餘在錫亞蒂拉的人,就是那些不接受這教訓的、那些不知道所謂「撒旦深奧之事」的,我告訴你們:我不會把另一個重擔放在你們身上。 25 不過你們應當持守你們所擁有的,直到我來。 26 那得勝的,那把我的工作持守到底的,我將要賜給他權柄統管列國——

27 他將用鐵杖治理[s]列國,
如同打碎陶器那樣[t]——就像我也從我父那裡領受了權柄一樣; 28 我還要把晨星賜給他。

29 「凡是有耳的,就應當聽聖靈向各教會所說的話!

Footnotes

  1. 啟示錄 2:1 使者——或譯作「天使」。
  2. 啟示錄 2:2 惡人——或譯作「惡事」。
  3. 啟示錄 2:5 有古抄本附「很快」。
  4. 啟示錄 2:6 可取之處——輔助詞語。
  5. 啟示錄 2:7 果子——輔助詞語。
  6. 啟示錄 2:8 使者——或譯作「天使」。
  7. 啟示錄 2:9 有古抄本附「行為、」。
  8. 啟示錄 2:12 使者——或譯作「天使」。
  9. 啟示錄 2:13 有古抄本附「你的行為和」。
  10. 啟示錄 2:15 有古抄本附「這是我所恨惡的。」
  11. 啟示錄 2:17 賜給他——有古抄本作「賜給他吃」。
  12. 啟示錄 2:18 使者——或譯作「天使」。
  13. 啟示錄 2:20 有事——有古抄本作「有幾件事」。
  14. 啟示錄 2:21 有古抄本沒有「肯」。
  15. 啟示錄 2:22 痛苦的——輔助詞語。
  16. 啟示錄 2:22 她——有古抄本作「他們」。
  17. 啟示錄 2:23 瘟疫——或譯作「死症」。
  18. 啟示錄 2:23 她的兒女——指「那些跟隨她的人」。
  19. 啟示錄 2:27 治理——原文直譯「牧養」。
  20. 啟示錄 2:27 《詩篇》2:9。