The Letters to the Seven Churches

The Letter to Ephesus

“Write to the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:(A) I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,(B) and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not,(C) and you have found them to be liars.(D) I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name,(E) and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.(F) Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.(G) Otherwise, I will come to you[b] and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give(H) the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in[c] the paradise of God.(I)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Or messenger, also in vv. 8,12,18
  2. 2:5 Other mss add quickly
  3. 2:7 Other mss read in the midst of

The Message to Ephesus

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

“I know your works, your toil and your endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them to be false.(A) I also know that you are enduring and bearing up for the sake of my name and that you have not grown weary.(B) But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember, then, from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.(C)

Read full chapter