2:1 (a)(b)(c)And to the angel of the church of Ephesus write: Thus says he which (d)holds the (e)seven stars (f)in his right hand, which (g)(h)walks (i)in the middle of the seven candlesticks of gold, a. John.* b. Note that in all these things he talks not only to the bishop, but also to those who are in his charge.* c. I.e. write* to the bishop; of whose hand Christ** asks the sins of those placed under his authority, and without whose assent he does not dare to judge those placed under his authority. d. Although they have sinned, he does not forsake them yet if they will repent.* e. I.e. seven bishops.* f. I.e. in his power.* g. Sc. as one distributing gifts, or not at rest yet. h. Because they are not yet such as he could rest in.* i. I.e. in the middle of the seven churches.* The first vision is about the reproof1 of the churches.
He starts giving individual warnings, which can be individual and universal, for the various members of any church.
"Ephesus" translates to "will", "advice" or "deep fall".2
"Ephesus", for the part of those who persevere well, translates to "will", because the will of God is in them3, by whose works God is delighted. Concerning these he then says4 that those who had fallen into error should be corrected by their example; for them5, "Ephesus" translates to "advice", i.e. "needing advice", or "deep fall", or "my will". John writes to the bishop of each church, to him who asks. _____________________________________________________________________ 2:2 (a)I know your works and (b)labor, and your (c)patience, and that (d)you cannot bear (e)evil men, and (f)have tried them which say themselves to be (g)apostles, and are not, and (h)have found them liars: a. I.e. I approve. b. I.e. tribulation. c. I.e. that you do not grumble about the delayed reward. d. I.e. you cannot help expelling or correcting evil men.* e. Acting inhumanly against you.* f. I.e. you have tested their doctrine, because only those who are inside, i.e. in the Church, are tried. g. I.e. sent by God, so that they may deceive you more easily. h. By their evil preaching and their evil life ____________________________________________________________________ 2:3 And you (a)have patience, (b)and have borne (c)for my name, and have not fainted. a. In the evils that they bring upon you and inflict upon you through earthly powers.* b. I.e. not for human praise, but to glorify my name, so that others may take example from it.* c. I.e. through.* And have not fainted. It indicates that there would have been a reason for human failing if help had not come to prevent it. __________________________________________________________________ 2:4 (a)But I have (b)against you a few things, (c)because you have left your first charity. a. This concerns the advice.* b. I.e. the reverse of the crown. c. Either the bishop in his person, affected by weariness over the vices in those under his authority, or those under his authority out of love for earthly things. Heli was a good priest and yet he was condemned
because of his sons whom he did not want to correct (1 Kings 3). |