Revelation 2:2 ESV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 2:2

I know thy works - The common formula with which all the epistles to the seven churches are introduced. It is designed to impress upon them deeply the conviction that he was intimately acquainted with all that they did, good and bad, and that therefore he was abundantly qualified to dispense rewards or administer punishments according to truth and justice. It may be observed that, as many of the things referred to in these epistles were things pertaining to the heart - the feelings, the state... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 2:2-3

Revelation 2:2-3. I know Jesus knows all the good and all the evil which his servants and his enemies suffer and do. Weighty words, I know! How dreadful will it one day sound to the wicked, how sweet to the righteous! The churches and their angels must have been astonished to find their several states so exactly described, even in the absence of the apostle, and could not but acknowledge the all-seeing eye of Christ and of his Spirit. With regard to us, to every one of us also he saith, ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

Letter to Ephesus (2:1-7)Over the years the church at Ephesus had been troubled constantly by false teachers, as Paul had warned (cf. Acts 20:17,Acts 20:29-30). The false teaching condemned in Paul’s letters to Timothy and in the letters of John was centred in Ephesus. Later the church in Ephesus was troubled by the Nicolaitans, who taught that Christians could best demonstrate their freedom from rules and regulations by eating food that had been offered to idols and joining in immoral... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 2:2

works. The Lord deals according to works in "the day of the Lord". See Isaiah 66:18 . thy. Omit. labour = toil. The verb in Revelation 2:3 and Matthew 6:28 . patience. As in Revelation 2:3 with Revelation 1:9 . See Romans 2:7 . bear. Gr . bastazo. In Rev. here, Revelation 2:3 ; Revelation 17:7 (carrieth). evil. App-128 . hast tried = didst try. say they. The texts read "call themselves". apostles. App-189 . hast found = didst find. liars. Greek. pseudes. Only here; Revelation 21:8... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 2:2

I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;I know ... This clause appears throughout the letters, reminding all people that, "All things are naked and open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13).Works ... toil ... patience ... Like the other letters, except in cases where no commendation was possible, this one begins with the Lord's... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 2:2

Revelation 2:2. I know thy works, &c.— Our Saviour having begun with telling the angel, that He holds the seven stars in his right hand, (that is, "directs the angels or bishops of the seven churches,") and that He walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, or lamp-sconces; that is, views, considers, protects, and governs them; it is no wonder that he should know here, and in every one of the rest, what is done therein! read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 2:2

2. I know thy works—expressing His omniscience. Not merely "thy professions, desires, good resolutions" (Revelation 14:13, end). thy labour—Two oldest manuscripts omit "thy"; one supports it. The Greek means "labor unto weariness." patience—persevering endurance. bear—evil men are a burden which the Ephesian Church regarded as intolerable. We are to "bear (the same Greek, Revelation 14:13- :) one another's burdens" in the case of weak brethren; but not to bear false brethren. tried—by... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 2:1-7

A. The letter to the church in Ephesus 2:1-7Jesus Christ told John to write the letter to the church in Ephesus to commend the Ephesian Christians for their labors and perseverance in God’s truth. He also wanted to exhort them to rekindle their former love for the Savior. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 2:2-3

2. Commendation 2:2-3 (cf. Revelation 2:6)The Greek word oida, translated "know" (Revelation 2:2), reflects full and exact knowledge from absolute clearness of vision and is always the word used to describe Christ’s knowledge in Revelation. [Note: Swete., p. 24] The other Greek word for knowledge, ginosko, speaks of progress of knowledge in Revelation.This church had remained faithful to Jesus Christ for over 40 years. He approved of the good works of these believers-their toil in His service,... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 2:1-29

The Epistles to the Seven Churches (Revelation 2:1 to Revelation 3:22)Since ’seven’ is the perfect number, the ’seven churches’ represent all the Churches of the province of Asia. At the same time, the special circumstances of each Church are faithfully pictured in each epistle. Ramsay points out that St. John alludes, as well, to the special circumstances of each city. He suggests that the Churches are mentioned in the order in which a messenger carrying letters would travel. The letters,... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 2:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 2:2-3

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:1-7

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 2:2

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 2:2

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 2:2

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 2:2

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 2:1-7

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 2:2-3

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 2:1-29

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