Rev 2:1-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rev 2:1-3:22: 2:1–3:22 The seven messages to the seven churches reflect the state of Christ’s church when Revelation was written, and it is similar today. God still calls Christians to faithfulness and integrity. Those who heed Christ’s message will reap God’s promised rewards; those who fail to do so will be judged. Summary for Rev 2:1-7: 2:1-7 The letter to the church in Ephesus addresses tradition-bound Christians who are faithful but have lost their early, zealous love for Christ and for each other (see 2:5 ). 2:1 Write ... to the angel: This repeated command that introduces each of the seven letters suggests the importance of the message. • Ephesus had become the main city of the Roman province of Asia. It contained the temple of Artemis (see Acts 19:23-35 ) and became the richest banking center in that part of the world. The people of Ephesus were very independent; they declined help from Alexander in rebuilding their temple after it was destroyed (300s BC ), arguing adroitly that one god should not stoop to build a temple to another god (see Strabo, Geography 14.1.22). The Ephesians’ protective pride also led to the uproar against Paul (Acts 19:23-41 ).

Summary for Rev 2:1-3:22: 2:1–3:22 ^a The seven messages to the seven churches reflect the state of Christ’s church when Revelation was written, and it is similar today. God still calls Christians to faithfulness and integrity. Those who heed Christ’s message will reap God’s promised rewards; those who fail to do so will be judged.
Summary for Rev 2:1-7: 2:1-7 ^b The letter to the church in Ephesus addresses tradition-bound Christians who are faithful but have lost their early, zealous love for Christ and for each other (see 2:5 ^c). 2:1 ^d Write ... to the angel: This repeated command that introduces each of the seven letters suggests the importance of the message.

• Ephesus had become the main city of the Roman province of Asia. It contained the temple of Artemis (see Acts 19:23-35 ^e) and became the richest banking center in that part of the world. The people of Ephesus were very independent; they declined help from Alexander in rebuilding their temple after it was destroyed (300s BC), arguing adroitly that one god should not stoop to build a temple to another god (see Strabo, Geography 14.1.22). The Ephesians’ protective pride also led to the uproar against Paul (Acts 19:23-41 ^f).
Summary for Rev 2:2-3: 2:2-3 ^g I know: This repeated refrain (2:9 ^h, 13 ⁱ, 19 ^j; 3:1 ^k, 8 ^l, 15 ^m) shows Christ’s total knowledge of his people, their activities, and their circumstances.

• The Ephesian Christians had a correct theology marked by perseverance and faithfulness. They had examined various claims, exercised discipline on evil people, could tell what is true and what is false, and had patiently suffered for their faith in Christ.
2:4 ⁿ You don’t love me or each other as you did at first: When the church was first established, their love for Christ and for each other had been strong. Struggles with false teachers and persecution had caused that original love to grow cold. Correct theology, action, and even suffering (2:2-3 ^o) are just an empty shell of Christian life if dynamic love is absent (1 Cor 13 ^p).
2:5 ^q Christ calls even those who keep the faith to turn back to him and repent of cold-heartedness. The warning, I will come and remove your lampstand, means that they would lose their status as a church; God would treat them as he did the apostates within Israel (see Rom 11 ^r).
2:6 ^s Not much is known of the Nicolaitans, but their teaching (2:15 ^t) seems to link them with those who ate food sacrificed to idols and who were involved in sexual immorality, behavior prohibited by the council in Jerusalem (see Acts 15:20 ^u, 29 ^v). Irenaeus argued (about AD 180) that the Nicolaitans were dependent on Nicolas (Acts 6:3-5 ^w) and that John’s writings were directed against the heresies of the Nicolaitans who followed Cerinthus (see 1 John Book Introduction, “Setting”).
2:7 ^x The reward for obedience is fruit from the tree of life—that is, eternal life (22:2 ^y; Gen 3:22 ^z).