REV 2:1-7

To the Church in Ephesus

1"To the messenger of the assembly in Ephesus, write: 'These things says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

2I know your works and your toil and your steadfast endurance, and that you cannot bear evil people, and that you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and found them to be false;

3and you have steadfast endurance and have borne up on account of my name and have not grown weary.

4But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first.

5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

6Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To the one who conquers, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'"

In the world it was spoken into

The Ephesian church, addressed here, was situated in a major Roman port city known for its commerce, religious diversity, and imperial cult. Ephesus housed the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, making it a hub of pagan worship and economic activity tied to idolatry. The church, likely a small, marginalized group, faced pressure to conform to societal norms or compromise their faith. The mention of testing 'those saying themselves to be apostles' reflects the early Christian struggle against false teachers, a common issue in Pauline communities. The accusation of abandoning 'first love' may refer to a loss of fervent devotion or communal care, possibly due to external pressures or internal divisions. The 'golden lampstands' evoke the imagery of the Jerusalem Temple, suggesting the church’s role as a light-bearing community in a pagan city. The call to 'repent' implies a need for reorientation toward their original commitment to Christ and one another.

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How other translations render this

REV 2:1

KJV: 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;
BSB: “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
Koinōnos: To the messenger of the assembly in Ephesus, write: 'These things says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

REV 2:2

KJV: 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:
BSB: I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
Koinōnos: I know your works and your toil and your steadfast endurance, and that you cannot bear evil people, and that you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and found them to be false;

REV 2:3

KJV: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
BSB: Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name.
Koinōnos: and you have steadfast endurance and have borne up on account of my name and have not grown weary.

REV 2:4

KJV: Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
BSB: But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.
Koinōnos: But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first.

REV 2:5

KJV: 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.
BSB: Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Koinōnos: Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

REV 2:6

KJV: But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
BSB: But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Koinōnos: Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

REV 2:7

KJV: 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.
BSB: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
Koinōnos: The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To the one who conquers, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

REV 2:1

angel:The word translated 'angel' literally means 'messenger.' While it can refer to celestial beings, it often simply means someone who delivers a message or acts as an envoy.
church:The term used here for 'church' referred to a formally summoned assembly or gathering of citizens, not necessarily a religious congregation in the modern sense.

REV 2:2

the:The word translated 'perseverance' carries the sense of steadfast endurance or patient continuance, especially in the face of difficulties, rather than just passive waiting.

REV 2:5

do repent:The word translated 'do repent' means to change one's mind or purpose, often implying a change of direction or a turning away from past actions, not just feeling sorrow.