CHAPTER 2
The first act of my words and interpretations has indeed been accomplished; now again another target must be struck, showing what is the exhortation to the churches. Therefore, first to the church in Ephesus, as presiding over the rest of Asia, it is commanded to write, saying therefore:
Revelation 2:1-7 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works and your labor and your patience, and that you cannot bear evil men, and you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them to be liars; and you have patience and have endured for my name's sake, and have not grown fatigued. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the works you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Nevertheless, you have this in your favor 1 , that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my 2 God .
He referred to the church in Ephesus in an indirect way 3 as the angel of the church in Ephesus . For his angel, the protector of the church, has not sinned in a way that requires repentance upon hearing; he is the most holy one and, because of this, being at the right hand of the Lord, he bears this sign of his natural purity and radiant brilliance. Why was it necessary to say to the one who was exchanging words to write to the evangelist? For the divine angel was present and heard the things being said; for he was on the right hand of the one speaking, and finally, the holy one himself, interpreting the vision shown to him, says: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches . For he did not say this to the angels of the churches, but to the churches themselves. Therefore, in the other visions wherever you find them, write these things to the angel of this church, that the words are not about the angel, but about the church. What does he command to be written to the church in Ephesus?
These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands . It is similar to saying, “this is what the one who surrounds, holds sway over, and binds together both the holy angels in heaven and the men on earth,” for these are the seven stars . For these are the seven lampstands , as has been said before; because He walks in the midst of those who worship Him, and through the prophet He says: “I will dwell among them and walk among them.” (Lev. 26:12)
He says, I know your works and your labor and your patience, “ and nothing of the good things you do has escaped my notice.” (Job 34:21) The one who formed the hearts of you all, who understands all your works (Ps. 32:15), and who says that you cannot bear evil men , has given you a spirit of perseverance.
and you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them to be liars . The believers in Ephesus fulfilled the divine command: “not to trust every spirit, but to test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 Jn. 4:1) Therefore, they tested those who were preaching the Gospel among them and put them to the test; they found some false apostles who were delivering spurious doctrines, and he says that those around Cerinthus, who were contemporaries of the evangelist, were proclaimers of profane doctrines.
Oecumenius commentary on 1 John 4:1
After John has completed his discourse on love for one's neighbor, and has demonstrated that this is a sign of the permanence of the Spirit we have received, he now adds a judgment concerning those who are truly brothers and neighbors, so that having this, we do not fall into the occasion of the commandment of love concerning false brothers, false apostles, and false prophets , bringing great harm upon ourselves from this. Indeed, by embracing them as if they were of similar character, we will first harm ourselves while we communicate with those who are faithless, and we present holy things to dogs (Matt. 7:6): then, to those who associate with us, our love towards them will persuade many to take them as teachers and to believe what is said by them, while not observing, as if they were stealthily drawn away because of their conduct with us, and what is the indication of these.
He says , and you have patience and have endured for my name's sake, and have not grown fatigued , and you have done well indeed; for it is said, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of God.” (Gal. 6:2)
He says, but I have this against you, that you have abandoned your first love . Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the works you did at first in righteousness . As he says, “your good deeds have not escaped me,” (Job. 34:21) likewise, you have not ceased your love for those in need. Therefore, return to the previous kindness taught by me, which you have neglected. He said, "See that you do not turn back from where you have gone out.”
I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent . The coming to you does not indicate a transitional [μεταβατικὸν] movement, since God fills all things, but rather a turning as if from patience to punishment.
The removal of the lampstand , or rather the church, he says is its own abandonment which occurs against those who sin; in everything, they are thrown into confusion and turmoil, as it is also said: "My eye has been troubled in my anger; and my heart within me was troubled." (Ps. 30:103 54:4)
He says, nevertheless, you have this in your favor, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate . He placed the fault of the two achievements in the middle, so that from the praises at the extremes, he might console the blame in the middle, so that no one would be overwhelmed by the greater sorrow. Now, as for Nicolaus, the one for whom we are speaking, he became an arch-heretic 5 [αἱρεσιάρχης], blasphemous and detestable. Therefore, those descended from him, turning away from those evils, found praise in Ephesus through Christ. Then, after the oracle, the evangelist sets forth his own, saying,
He who has an ear , that is, one who is obedient, and who obeys divine laws, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches . The Spirit says , either that the things of the Revelation were being accomplished in the Spirit, or that the Spirit refers to Christ, as He is and is understood to be God, just as a servant and the Son of Man speaks as he is and is understood to be a man. For the Godhead [θεότης] has been said to be spirit in general, as the Lord Himself says to the Samaritan woman He was speaking with: “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (Jn. 4:24) What then does the Spirit say?
To the one who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God . This is a figurative expression; for the tree of life refers to the blessed and everlasting life, which the saints will enjoy in the kingdom of God, which is now called Paradise . For indeed, those here are said to be worthy as victors over the enemy and as avengers in these trials. But indeed, for the Lord to say, of my God , let no one be caused to stumble; for it is necessary, according to the economy [οἰκονομίᾳ] of the flesh, that all humble words be observed. For indeed He also said in the Gospel: “I am going to my Father, and your Father, and my God, and your God.” (Jn. 20:17) These things were conveyed to the church of Ephesus.
Revelation 2:8-11 He says, And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your affliction and your poverty, yet you are rich. I also know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear anything of what you are about to suffer; behold, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested; and you will have a trial for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be harmed by the second death.
First , meaning that the Lord calls Himself by the essence of the Godhead [τῆς θεότητος]; Last , indeed, meaning, by the incarnation and the economy with the flesh.
He who is said to have died and came to life again ; he who is said to have come to the experience of death, and by death has destroyed death (2 Tim. 1:10).
Oecumenius commentary on 2 Timothy 1:10
Already long ago it was prefigured that we would be saved, but now it has been revealed through the incarnation of our Savior God. For such is the will of God, that the world should be saved through faith, now and not at another time, it has now been revealed. who abolished death. To the one who forgives sin, and granted resurrection.
I know your affliction and your poverty, yet you are rich , yet do not say anything like the disobedient Jews said who rejected the faith, “that we have fasted and you did not notice, we have humbled our souls and you did not pay attention.” (Isa. 58:3) But he says you are rich because you have Christ as your wealthy protector, even though he became poor for our sake (2 Cor. 8:9) by taking the form of a servant (Philip. 2:7).
And the slander of the illegitimate Jews is interpreted as the confession of Judas. Therefore, the true Jews, and the spiritual Israel 6 , would be those who confess Christ, and Israel are those who see God in spirit. “ For the one who is a Jew outwardly is not a Jew, nor is circumcision that is outward in the flesh” pleasing to God, as Paul says, “but the one who is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart,” not of the flesh. (Rom. 2:28) Therefore, the Jews who have remained in unbelief form a blasphemous synagogue , led by Satan .
Oecumenius commentary on Romans 2:28-29
Next he defines who is truly a Jew and who is truly circumcised. And it seems he does not reject the Jew, but the transgressor: yet this much he most strongly opposes them, indicating that they do everything for display. "Nor the circumcision which is in the flesh, visible." Having said this he cast away all bodily things. “A Jew inwardly.” As in the spiritual Jew. “And circumcision.” For, he says, there is no need to circumcise the flesh of the foreskin, but to circumcise the heart from evil deeds. And having said, “In the spirit,” he makes progress by faith. For the faithful, through the Holy Spirit, have the circumcision of sins. He says, He whose heart is cut off from all impurity. For this is the true Jew, the one who fulfills the law. "Whose praise is not from men, but from God." For the hidden and inward circumcision there will be no human praise, but God who examines hearts and reins.
Do not fear anything , he says, of what you are about to suffer . behold, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested ; and you will have a trial for ten days . For indeed by the power of the Devil, men do evil to the godly. But God consents, testing them more thoroughly through trials. But take heart, he says, your suffering is brief and short-lived.
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life . This is true: for it has been said, "He who endures to the end will be saved," (Matt. 10:22) but not the one who throws their shield [ῥίψασπις 7 ] and, having grown weak, turns away from the struggles.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be harmed by the second death . What has been said is very precise; for in the first death, which is the separation of the soul from the body, all alike, both the righteous and the sinners, become prisoners, so that the divine decree may reach its end: “you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3:19) But in the second death, which the Lord calls sin, saying, "Let the dead bury their own dead," (Matt. 8:22) the victors over temptations would not be wronged.
Revelation 2:12-17 And to the angel he says , write to the church in Pergamum: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in the same way. Repent therefore; if not, I will come to you soon and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except the one who receives it.
And to the church in Pergamum write : I am the one who has the sword coming out of my mouth, so that I may avenge those who violate my commandments; for the danger of those who do not obey the divine commands is signified by the sword in the mouth .
He says where you dwell, where Satan's throne is . For all of Asia is indeed full of idols, especially Pergamum. But he also says that dwelling in such a place, you have kept my faith unshaken, not deviating at all toward the evil counsel of the many, but even opposing it during the days and festivals of the idols, as my faithful witness who has spoken boldly in my name says, you came as far as you could against those plotting, guarding the truth until death. And since he also touches on the most holy covenant, and we all sin greatly according to what is written to you (James 3:2), and yet being such, he says, “I have the right to accuse.”
Oecumenius commentary on James 3:2
That no man can lead a life without sin is confirmed by the slipperiness of the tongue. From the same, it also demonstrates that no one can attain perfection. For who is there who has not erred through his tongue?
For you have some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in the same way . Balak, therefore, taught him in the manner of a teacher who became guide to Balaam. According to both Balaam and Balak, the story is clearly established in the book of Numbers, which is the book of Numbers written by the wisest Moses. Josephus records 8 that by the counsel of Balaam, the Midianites were sent against Israel into fornication, calling them to apostasy from God. He says that those who come from Nicolaus do such things and you do not drive them away from yourself.
Then he says, Repent therefore; if not, I will come to you soon and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth . O depth of the riches and wisdom, and goodness of God. (Rom. 11:33) For he did not say, "I am coming to fight against you," but rather, "I will fight against them," clearly referring to the Nicolaitans. For he spared among those in Pergamum who were faithful and devout.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches . To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna of the mystery. He said, in an indirect way 9 , that he would grant him to be filled with the intelligible and future goods.
and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except the one who receives it . For it has been said, “what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor. 2:9)
Revelation 2:18-29 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like gleaming bronze; I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The declaration of the proper title [προσηγορίας] is made clearer by the one who communicates with the evangelist.
He says , These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire , symbolizing the awe-inspiring and threatening judgment against sinners.
and His feet are like gleaming bronze , symbolizing the firmness of faith in him and unwavering steadfastness, or the spiritual fragrance of the evangelical doctrines as described above 10 .
He said, I know your works, your love and faith and service , just as he said, I praise all your efforts. For he puts “I know,” instead of, “I praise,” like, "I know you to be spoken of among all men” to Moses, (Ex. 33:12) and “the Lord knows the way of the righteous.” (Ps. 1:6) And he says that service is assistance to those in need.
And he says that your latter works exceed the first ; it shows that as they went on, they themselves became greater in fulfilling the commandments;
But I have this against you that you ; this is to show that only God is completely blameless.
What do I have against you? That you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess , that you do not persecute [διώκεις] her. From Jezebel, who dwelt with Ahab, she who is continually a demonstration of wickedness. She says that she herself is a prophetess ; she teaches and leads many astray into fornication and eating food sacrificed to idols.
She who calls herself a prophetess ; she teaches and leads many astray to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols . This means either sensual fornication or the apostasy from God, according to what has been said: "and they committed fornication in their practices” (Ps. 106:39); and again “they committed adultery with the trees." (Jer. 3:9) But the Lord, not wishing the death of the sinner, but rather repentance and life, says that He has given her an opportunity for repentance. But if she refuses to repent , then I will do these things to her and those who commit adultery with her, so that all may know that I am God.
For God who searches mind and heart . For it is said, "For God searches the minds and hearts," (Jer. 17:10) They have nothing in common with the adulterous woman; being simpler and not knowing the schemes of the wicked, for this reason, they say: I will not impose any further burden on you; simplicity is sufficient for you. But you must continue in the teaching what you have received until my second coming.
And to the one who overcomes the evil one, I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father . This is what is spoken of in the Gospels by those who have well managed the trusts and the talents entrusted to them. “ Be in charge of ten cities”; and there will “be another in charge of five cities.” (see Luke 19:17,19) And to Daniel, “and the kingdom shall be given to the saints of God.” (Dan. 7:22) For it indicates a certain beginning and authority given to the saints over those who are inferior and in need of guidance. Therefore, he says that he shepherds them with strict authority, but the disobedient he will crush like earthenware vessels.
And I will give him the morning star , says the prophet concerning the Assyrian or Satan, “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn!” (Isa. 14:12) He is still called the morning star ; therefore, he says, I will give Satan into the hand of my servants. Similar to what is said by the apostle: “God will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Rom. 16:20) And, “on an asp and a basilisk 11 you will tread, and you will trample a lion and a dragon.” (Ps. 90:13)
Oecumenius commentary on Romans 16:20
"Crush.” It was far greater than to subject. “Satan.” He says that not only will he crush the scandals by intervening, but also their commander Satan himself. [Oecumenius quoting Severian of Gabala]
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Translator’s notes for chapter 2.
1. “in your favor” [ἀγαθόν], literally means “good thing” or “to your benefit”. This reading is not in the common Greek text.
2. “my” is added by Oecumenius.
3. “in an indirect way” [περιφραστικῶς]. This Greek word literally translates as “periphrastically” or “circumlocutorily.”
4. [Μεταβατικὸν] is a Greek word meaning "transitional" or "transitory." It can be used in different grammatical cases to describe something that is a stage of change or that does not last.
5. “arch-heretic” [αἱρεσιάρχης] In Christian theology, a heresiarch or arch-heretic, is an originator of heretical doctrine, or the founder of a sect that sustains such a doctrine. Heresy is belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine.
6. “Therefore, the true Jews, and the spiritual Israel, would be those who confess Christ, and Israel are those who see God in spirit.” Perhaps Oecumenius has Gal. 6:14-16 in mind here, “But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
7. “abandons” [ῥίψασπις] ῥίψασπις is a Greek word that literally translates to "shield-flinger" or "shield-thrower" and was used as a term of reproach for a coward who abandoned their shield in battle. It refers to a soldier who fled from combat, casting aside their primary defensive gear. This was considered a deeply shameful act, particularly in cultures with a strong emphasis on military honor and duty, like ancient Sparta.
8. Josephus, On the Antiquities of the Jews 4.126-140.
9. “in an indirect way” [περιφραστικῶς] The same expression is used in 2:1. This Greek word literally translates as “periphrastically” or “circumlocutorily.”
10. “Above”, that is, chapter 1 verse 15 comments by Oecumenius.
11. “ basilisk” [βασιλίσκον] In European histories and legends, a basilisk is a legendary reptile reputed to be a serpent king, who causes death to those who look into its eyes.