Remember, Repent, and Do the Works of Love You Did at First
Revelation 2:1-7
Those who conquer will eat of the tree of life.
#love
#works
Published December 26th, 2016
Main point summary
Arc
Notes
notes
Main point summary
You rightly hate evil works but you lack good works (works of love). Therefore, remember, repent, and do the works of love you did at first and you will eat of the tree of life.
Arc
editing
NT
Revelation 2:1-7
na28
esv
Τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Ἐφέσῳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον• Τάδε λέγει ὁ κρατῶν τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ, ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἑπτὰ λυχνιῶν τῶν χρυσῶν•
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of e him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, f who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
οἶδα τὰ ἔργα σου
g “‘I know your works,
καὶ τὸν κόπον
your toil
καὶ τὴν ὑπομονήν σου
and your patient endurance,
καὶ ὅτι οὐ δύνῃ βαστάσαι κακούς,
and how you cannot bear with those who are evil,
καὶ ἐπείρασας τοὺς λέγοντας ἑαυτοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν
but h have tested those i who call themselves apostles and are not,
καὶ εὖρες αὐτοὺς ψευδεῖς,
and found them to be false.
καὶ ὑπομονὴν ἔχεις
I know you are enduring patiently
καὶ ἐβάστασας διὰ τὸ ὄνομά μου
and bearing up j for my name’s sake,
καὶ οὐ κεκοπίακες.
and you k have not grown weary.
series
ἀλλʼ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ
But I have this against you,
ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην σου τὴν πρώτην ἀφῆκες.
that you have abandoned l the love you had at first.
ideaexplanation
concessive
μνημόνευε οὖν πόθεν πέπτωκας
Remember therefore from where you have fallen;
καὶ μετανόησον
repent,
καὶ τὰ πρῶτα ἔργα ποίησον•
and do m the works you did at first.
progression
εἰ δὲ μή,
If not,
ἔρχομαί σοι
n I will come to you
καὶ κινήσω τὴν λυχνίαν σου ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτῆς,
and remove your lampstand from its place,
ἐὰν μὴ μετανοήσῃς.
unless you repent.
conditional
ἀλλὰ τοῦτο ἔχεις, ὅτι μισεῖς τὰ ἔργα τῶν Νικολαϊτῶν
Yet this you have: you hate the works of o the Nicolaitans,
ἃ κἀγὼ μισῶ.
which I also hate.
generalspecific
ground
inference
Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.
p He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς, ὅ ἐστιν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τοῦ θεοῦ.
q To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of r the tree of life, which is in s the paradise of God.’
na28
discourse
Notes
The message to the Ephesian church is introduced in verse 1. In verses 2-3, Jesus acknowledges the ways in which they have been faithful. Then in verse 4, the message takes a decisive turn and Jesus rebukes them for abandoning the love they had at first (most likely love towards others). This is followed by Jesus commanding them to repent and warning them if they do not. The main part of the message ends with a final encouragement. It is possible that this final encouragement is also meant to instruct. It is "works" of love that Jesus wants them to do. It is right for them to hate the works of the Nicolaitans but they should also be doing works of their own, namely, works of love. Finally, the message concludes with a call to hear and a promise to those who conquer that they will be granted to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Comments
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