Rev 2:1-3 | NET2full | STEP | “To the angel of the church in Ephesus , write the following: “ This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has a firm grasp on the seven stars in his right hand —the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands :

Revelation of John 2:1-3

To the Church in Ephesus

1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write the following: ^{▼▼tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.}

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ^{▼▼tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” The expression τάδε λέγει (tade legei) occurs eight times in the NT, seven of which are in Rev 2-3. “The pronoun is used to add solemnity to the prophetic utterance that follows.…In classical drama, it was used to introduce a new actor to the scene (Smyth, Greek Grammar, 307 [§1241]). But the τάδε λέγει formula in the NT derives from the OT, where it was used to introduce a prophetic utterance (BAGD, s.v. ὅδε, 1)” (ExSyn 328). Thus, the translation “this is the solemn pronouncement of” for τάδε λέγει is very much in keeping with the OT connotations of this expression.} ^{▼▼sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. The LXX has the same Greek phrase (τάδε λέγει, tade legei) about 350 times, with nearly 320 of them having “the Lord” (Heb יהוה, Yahweh) as subject. That the author of Revelation would use such an expression seven times with the risen Christ as the speaker may well imply something of Christ’s sovereignty and deity. Cf. also Acts 21:11 in which the Holy Spirit is the speaker of this expression.} the one who has a firm grasp on ^{▼▼tn Grk “holds,” but the term (i.e., κρατῶν, kratōn) with an accusative object, along with the context, argues for a sense of firmness. (Cf. ExSyn 132.)} the seven stars in his right hand ^{▼▼sn On seven stars in his right hand see 1:16.} —the one who walks among the seven golden ^{▼▼tn Grk “lampstands of gold” with the genitive τῶν χρυσῶν (tōn chrusōn) translated as an attributive genitive.} lampstands: 2 ‘I know your works as well as your ^{▼▼tn Although the first possessive pronoun σου (sou) is connected to τὰ ἔργα (ta erga) and the second σου is connected to ὑπομονήν (hupomonēn), semantically κόπον (kopon) is also to be understood as belonging to the Ephesian church. The translation reflects this.} labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate ^{▼▼tn The translation “tolerate” seems to capture the sense of βαστάσαι (bastasai) here. BDAG 171 s.v. βαστάζω 2.b.β says, “bear, endure…κακούς Rv 2:2.…bear patiently, put up with: weaknesses of the weak Ro 15:1; cf. IPol 1:2; evil Rv 2:3.”} evil. You have even put to the test ^{▼▼tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle was broken off from the previous sentence and translated as an indicative verb beginning a new sentence here in the translation.} those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. 3 I am also aware ^{▼▼tn Because of the length and complexity of this Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the phrase “I am also aware” to link this English sentence back to “I know” at the beginning of v. 2.} that you have persisted steadfastly, ^{▼▼tn The Greek word translated “persisted steadfastly” (ὑπομονή, hupomonē) is the same one translated “steadfast endurance” in v. 2.} endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary.