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Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he, who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:
Origen
In many places, and especially in the Psalms, you will find speech addressed to the angels. Power has been given to man-at least to him who has the Holy Spirit- to speak even to angels, as found here in the Apocalypse. Clearly it is a man who writes to angels and enjoins something. [Homilies on Luke 23.7]
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St. Augustine
This could not be said to the heavenly angels, who retain their love unchanged, as the only beings of their order that have departed and fallen from their love are the devil and his angels. [Letter 43 Verse 22]
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St. Gregory the Great
But because Holy Scripture is frequently accustomed to designate the preachers of the Church, by the name of 'Angels' because they announce the glory of the heavenly country, we can in this place understand 'Angels' to mean holy preachers. For this cause it is that John, in the Apocalypse, writing to the seven Churches, speaks to the Angels of the Churches, that is, to the preachers of the peoples." (Morals 34.7.14) ____________________________________________________________
Oecumenius
By the angel of the church of Ephesus he means metaphorically the church in Ephesus. For the divine angel was present and listening to what was being said. So then in the same way you are to understand that, wherever you find write these things to the angel of this church, he is referring not to the angel but to the church. he, who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: this is the same as saying, “These are the words of him who treats with care and holds fast and embraces both the holy angels in heaven”—for these are the seven stars- and human beings on earth. For these are the seven candlesticks, as was said earlier. He walks in the midst of those who worship him, and says through the prophet, “I shall dwell among them and I shall walk about among them. (Lev. 26:12)”
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St. Andrew of Caesarea
He discourses with the Church through the angel just as if he were an educator speaking to the one being instructed. For the teacher is familiar with the things produced by the student, and states either the grounds for complaint or the achievements, as he urges the student to imitate himself. By the seven stars, the decoration lying in the right hand of Christ that is, is probably meant the angels, the seven rational orders in heaven, as in the statements by the blessed Irenaeus and Epiphanios, in which he is also walking in the ends of the earth and in the midst of the churches according to his familiar promise.
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Andreas of Caesarea He addresses the Church through an angel; somewhat in the same manner as if any one should address a pupil who is undergoing instruction, through the medium of his teacher; since teachers are sometimes wont to transfer to themselves what pertains to their pupils, whether it be their errors or their distinguished actions; for they endeavor to render their disciples as far as possible like to themselves. It is, however, probable, that, in this passage, the seven stars or seven angels, which elsewhere Irenaeus and Epiphanius express by the name of the intelligent heavens, signify the governance of the whole universe, which is placed in the right hand of Christ; as are all the ends of the earth itself. Since He it is, who, according to his promise, walks in the midst of the churches, and carries on his administration of the world through the medium of his holy angels. _____________________________________________________________ St. Bede Ephesus. Part of this Church he blames, and part he praises, according to the character of the name. For Ephesus is said to be interpreted, "a great fall," as well as "my will in it." stars. That is, Who has you in His right hand, and seeks you by His power. walketh. Who goes about in the midst of you, and searches the hearts and the reins of all. ____________________________________________________________ St. Beatus of Liébana “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus, write.” ‘Under the one appellation “angel”, He designates the number of all the saints. But “Ephesus”, that means “will”, or “My counsel” — it tells of the Catholic Church, as we recalled above; which is made plain in this place: ‘“These things saith He Who holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” ‘That is, He Who holds the souls of the saints in His hand, and steps in the midst of the His churches of the miracles and virtues, and she is turned back to the greatness of His power.’ ___________________________________________________________ Nicholas of Lyra
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus The preface ended, the treatise begins, and it is divided into 2 parts: first, the 7 churches are instructed specifically; second, the whole Church is instructed generally. The first divided into 7 parts with respect to 7 churches, which will become clear. In the first part the church of Ephesus is instructed, whose commendation is given in advance, so that the subsequent correction would be received better. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus That is, its bishop, just as it was said and may be understood in what is to follow. By instructing the bishop who is the head of that church he also instructs the people who are under it, as will appear in the following. Moreover, the expositors commonly say it was Timothy, the disciple of Paul, who established the see of Ephesus, just as it was said before concerning 1Tim. 1. Nevertheless, St. Timothy was the apostle over all the bishops of Asia whose churches he founded and ruled, it is held in On the Lives of Illustrious Men; nevertheless, he generally remained in Ephesus. These things saith he, who holdeth the seven stars It is explained as above.
____________________________________________________________ Rupert of Deutz The same as if he should say, he who walks in the midst of you scrutinizes the hearts and the reins of each. . . . Since therefore he walks amidst candlesticks of this kind, he watches the light of each to see how it shines, lest haply without the oil of charity, without works of love, the faith of the Church should be that of the dead, and give out smoke instead of light. ___________________________________________________________ Luis Alcazar of Seville Among the symbolic significations of gold, I find none which is more exactly suitable than that perfection of holiness which consists in perfect charity. ____________________________________________________________ Haydock Bible To the Angel of the church of Ephesus. The great St. Timothy, who was bishop of Ephesus, died a glorious martyr about this time. But as for the admonitions and reprehensions given in these letters, we must take notice, that they are given to the faithful of each church, and not only to the bishops, as it appears by the words so often repeated. (Witham) --- Angel. This could have been no other than St. Timothy, who was then bishop of Ephesus. We must not suppose the faults, which are reproved by St. John, to belong individually to St. Timothy, but to some members of the Church. (Bossuet, and others) --- These things, saith he, who holdeth, &c. That is, Christ, or the Angel who represented Christ, as appeareth by his titles repeated out of the last chapter. |