The Letter To The Church In Ephesus
1 "Write [this] to the angel [i.e., the messenger] of the church at Ephesus [Note: These "messengers," (verses 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14) are thought by some to be evangelists]: These things are the words of the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
1 “To the angel of the church in (A)Ephesus write:The One who holds (B)the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks (a)(C)among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
1 “Write to the angel(a) of the church in Ephesus:“The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says:
1 "To the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write: "The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands, says this:
2 I know about your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. [I know] that you cannot tolerate wicked men and that you have tested those who call themselves apostles, but really are not, and found them to be liars.
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
2 ‘(D)I know your deeds and your toil and (b)perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you (E)put to the test those who call themselves (F)apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;
2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.
2 "I know what you've been doing, your toil, and your endurance. I also know that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles, but are not, and have found them to be false.
3 And you have persevered and endured [suffering] for my name's sake [i.e., in my service] and [yet] have not grown weary.
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
3 You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary.
3 You have endured and suffered because of my name, yet you have not grown weary.
4 "But, this is what I have against you, that you have forsaken your first love [i.e., love for Christ and His church].
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.
4 However, I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.
5 So, remember where you have fallen from and repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives] and do the things you did at first [i.e., when you were first converted], or else I will come and remove your lampstand from its place [i.e., I will not permit the congregation to survive], unless you repent.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and (I)repent and (J)do the (d)deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your (K)lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you(b) and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
5 Therefore, remember how far you have fallen. Repent and go back to what you were doing at first. If you don't, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place unless you repent.
6 But you have this [in your favor]: You hate the [evil] deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate [Note: These people were probably followers of someone named Nicolas and were known to be false teachers. See verse 15].
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
6 But this is to your credit: You hate the actions of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 "The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. To the person who has victory [in the Christian life] I will give [the opportunity] to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." [Note: "Paradise" is equivalent to heaven. See II Cor. 12:4].
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
7 (M)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (N)To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of (O)the tree of life which is in the (P)Paradise of God.’
7 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor(A) the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in(c) God’s paradise.(B)
7 "Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life that is in God's paradise.'"
The Letter To The Church In Smyrna
8 "And write [this] to the angel of the church at Smyrna: These things are the words of the First and the Last [i.e., Jesus], who was dead, but has come [back] to life:
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
8 “And to the angel of the church in (Q)Smyrna write:(R)The first and the last, who (e)(S)was dead, and has come to life, says this:
8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna:“The First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life, says:
8 "To the messenger of the church in Smyrna, write: "The first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says this:
9 I know [about] your suffering and your poverty (but you are [really] rich), and the slander of those who say they are Jews, though they [really] are not, but are a synagogue of Satan [i.e., they claimed to be an assembly of God's people, but in reality were serving Satan].
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
9 ‘I know your (T)tribulation and your (U)poverty (but you are (V)rich), and the blasphemy by those who (W)say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of (X)Satan.
9 I know your(d) affliction and poverty, yet you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
9 "I know your suffering and your poverty though you are rich and the slander committed by those who claim to be Jews but are not. They are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. [For] look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. [But], you should be faithful [to God] even to the point of dying [for Him], and I will give you the crown of [never ending] life.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be (Y)tested, and you will have tribulation (Z)for ten days. (f)Be (AA)faithful until death, and I will give you (AB)the crown of life.
10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown(e) of life.
10 Don't be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The Devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. For ten days you will undergo suffering. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the victor's crown of life.
11 "The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. The person who has victory [in the Christian life] will not be harmed at all by the second death [i.e., the lake of fire. See 21:8].
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
11 (AC)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (AD)He who overcomes will not be hurt by the (AE)second death.’
11 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.(C)
11 "Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be hurt by the second death.'"
The Letter To The Church In Pergamum
12 "And write [this] to the angel of the church at Pergamum: These are the words of Him who has the sharp double-edged sword:
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
12 “And to the angel of the church in (AF)Pergamum write:The One who has (AG)the sharp two-edged sword says this:
12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum:“The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword(D) says:
12 "To the messenger of the church in Pergamum, write: "The one who holds the sharp, two-edged sword, says this:
13 I know where you are living; [it is] where Satan's throne is. And [I know] that you are holding on firmly to my name, and did not deny [your] faith in me, even in the days of my faithful witness Antipas [Note: The Greek word here for witness is "martyr"], who was killed there where you are, where Satan lives.
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
13 ‘I know where you dwell, where (AH)Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny (AI)My faith even in the days of Antipas, My (AJ)witness, My (AK)faithful one, who was killed among you, (AL)where Satan dwells.
13 I know(f) where you live—where Satan’s throne is! And you are holding on to My name and did not deny your faith in Me,(g) even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness who was killed among you, where Satan lives.
13 "I know where you live. Satan's throne is there. Yet you hold on to my name and have not denied your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your presence, where Satan lives.
14 "But I have a few things against you because you have people there [in the church] who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumblingblock in front of the Israelites, [causing them] to eat food sacrificed to idols and to be sexually immoral [See Num. 23-24].
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
14 But (AM)I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the (AN)teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, (AO)to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.
14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block(h) in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.(i)
14 But I have a few things against you: You have there some who hold to the teaching of Balaam, the one who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality.
16 So, repent, or I will come to you quickly and will attack those people with the sword of my mouth.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
16 Therefore (AQ)repent; or else (AR)I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with (AS)the sword of My mouth.
16 Therefore repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
16 So repent. If you don't, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 "The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. To the person who has victory [in the Christian life] I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will [also] give him a white stone with a new name written on it, which no one understands, except the one who receives it."
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
17 (AT)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (AU)To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden (AV)manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a (AW)new name written on the stone (AX)which no one knows but he who receives it.’
17 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna.(k)(E) I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name(F) is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.
17 "Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone. On the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the person who receives it.'"
The Letter To The Church In Thyatira
18 "And write [this] to the angel of the church at Thyatira: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like flaming fire and feet like shiny brass:
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
18 “And to the angel of the church in (AY)Thyatira write:(AZ)The Son of God, (BA)who has (g)eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
18 “Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira:“The Son of God, the One whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze,(l) says:
18 "To the messenger of the church in Thyatira, write: "The Son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire and whose feet are like glowing bronze, says this:
19 I know about your deeds, your love, your faith, your service and your endurance, and that your most recent deeds are more numerous than when you first began [your Christian lives].
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
19 ‘(BB)I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and (h)perseverance, and that your (i)deeds of late are greater than (j)at first.
19 I know your works—your love, faithfulness,(m) service, and endurance. Your last works are greater than the first.
19 "I know what you've been doing your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance and that your last actions are greater than the first.
20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman [named] Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and deceives my servants into [practicing] sexual immorality and into eating things sacrificed to idols.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
20 But (BC)I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman (BD)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they (BE)commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
20 But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives My slaves to commit sexual immorality(n) and to eat meat sacrificed to idols.
20 But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and who teaches and leads my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
22 Listen, I will throw her, and those who commit sexual unfaithfulness with her, into a bed where they will experience terrible suffering unless they repent of her [or, their] practices.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
22 Behold, I will throw her (k)on a bed of sickness, and those who (BH)commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of (l)her deeds.
22 Look! I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her(p) practices.
22 Look! I am going to strike her with illness. Those who commit adultery with her will also suffer greatly, unless they repent from acting like her.
23 And I will strike her children dead [or, "kill her children by some terrible calamity" See Ex. 5:3 LXX]. Then all the churches will know that I am the One who searches the inmost being of people [Note: The Greek says, "searches the kidneys and hearts." In that day these internal organs stood for the inner thoughts, emotions, etc.]. And I will repay each one of you people according to what you have done.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
23 And I will kill her children with (m)pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who (BI)searches the (n)minds and hearts; and (BJ)I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
23 I will kill her children with the plague.(q)(G) Then all the churches will know that I am the One who examines minds(r) and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will reward each of you as your actions deserve.
24 But I say to all the rest of you there in Thyatira who have not followed this [false] teaching [See verse 20], that is, those who have not known "the deep things of Satan," as people call them --- I will not burden you with anything else [i.e., beyond this problem about Jezebel's false teaching].
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
24 But I say to you, the rest who are in (BK)Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the (BL)deep things of Satan, as they call them—I (BM)place no other burden on you.
24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known the deep things(s) of Satan—as they say—I do not put any other burden on you.
24 "But as for the rest of you in Thyatira you who do not hold to this teaching and who have not learned what some people call the deep things of Satan I won't burden you with anything else.
25 Nevertheless, hold on firmly to what you [already] have [i.e., the qualities mentioned in verse 19] until I come [Note: This probably refers to coming with judgment on wrongdoing. See verse 16].
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
25 Just hold on to what you have until I come.
26 "And to the person who has victory [in the Christian life], and who continues to do what I want until the end [of his life], I will give him authority over the nations [Note: This probably refers to a spiritual reign with Christ during the Christian age. See 20:4].
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
26 (BP)He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds (BQ)until the end, (BR)to him I will give authority over the (o)nations;
26 The one who is victorious and keeps My works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations—
26 To the person who conquers and continues to do what I've commanded to the end, I will give authority over the nations.
27 And he will rule them [as a shepherd] with a staff of iron, [and smash them] as the clay jars of a potter are broken to pieces [See Psa. 2:9]. [Note: Some translations begin verse
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
27 and he shall (p)(BS)rule them with a rod of iron, (BT)as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father;
27 and he will shepherd(t)(I) them with an iron scepter;he will shatter them like pottery(J)(u)—just as I have received this from My Father.
27 "He will rule them with an iron scepter; shattering them like clay pots.'
29 And I will give him the morning star [Note: Jesus is called "the Morning Star" in 22:16].
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
29 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
29 "Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.'"