Revelation 2

Last updated
Revelation 2
←  chapter 1
chapter 3  →
Papyrus 98 (Rev 1,13-2.1).JPG
Revelation 1:13–2:1 on the verso side of Papyrus 98 from the second century.
Book Book of Revelation
Category Apocalypse
Christian Bible part New Testament
Order in the Christian part27

Revelation 2 is the second chapter of the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, [1] but the precise identity of the author remains a point of academic debate. [2] This chapter contains messages to churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira, four of the seven churches of Asia located in modern-day Turkey, with messages for the other three churches appearing in chapter 3. [3]

Contents

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 29 verses.

Textual witnesses

Early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter include: [4] [lower-alpha 1]

The map of West Anatolia (formerly the province of Asia) showing the island of Patmos and the location of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Seven churches of asia.svg
The map of West Anatolia (formerly the province of Asia) showing the island of Patmos and the location of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Old Testament references

New Testament references

The message to Ephesus (2:1–7)

Verse 1

"To the angel of the church of 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:" [8]

The message to Smyrna (2:8–11)

Verse 8

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:'" [9]

Verse 9

"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." [10]

The message to Pergamum (2:12–17)

Verse 12

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:'" [11]

Verse 14

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. [12]

The instruction Balaam gave to Balak, which is here called his "doctrine", was that Balak should get some of the most beautiful women in his kingdom to ply the men of Israel, and draw them into uncleanness, and so to idolatry; this would provoke God's anger to the Israelites, so Balak might get an advantage over them. Israelites did commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, eat things sacrificed to idols, and bowed down to Baal Peor, is certain (Numbers 25:1); but that this was brought about through the counsel of Balaam is not so plainly expressed, though it is hinted at in Numbers 31:15; but the Jewish writers are very clear about this matter. Jonathan ben Uzziel, one of the Targumists on Numbers 24:14, has these words of Balaam,

"Come, and I will counsel thee, (speaking to Balak,) go and set up inns, and place in them whorish women, to sell food and drink at a low price: and this people will come and eat and drink, and be drunken, and will lie with them, and deny their God; and they will be quickly delivered into thine hands, and many of them shall fall.

This now was the stumbling block he taught Balak to lay before them. And elsewhere it is said, [13]

"that Balaam, the wicked, gave counsel to Balak, the son of Zippor, to cause the Israelites to fall by the sword; he said to him, the God of this people hates whoredom, cause thy daughters to commit whoredom with them, and ye shall rule over them."

Both Philo [14] and Josephus [15] speak of this counsel of Balaam, much to the same purpose. The Samaritan Chronicle says [16] that this counsel pleased the king, and he sent into the camp of Israel, on a sabbath day, 24,000 young women, by whom the Israelites were so seduced, that they did everything they desired them, which was just the number of those that were slain, Numbers 25:9. [17]

The message to Thyatira (2:18–29)

Verse 18

"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 like fine brass:'" [18]

Verse 20

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. [19]

The Jerusalem Bible suggests that Jezebel was a "self-styled prophetess of the Nicolaitan sect". [20] Theologian John Gill writes:

"That woman Jezebel" – or "thy wife Jezebel", as the Complutensian edition and Syriac version read – the name of King Ahab's wife, who seduced him, in the Hebrew language is "Izebel", but is read by the Septuagint in 1 Kings 16:31, "Jezebel", as here; and by Josephus as "Jezabela"; [21] she had her name from "Zebel", "dung", to which Elijah has reference in 2 Kings 9:37; the Ethiopic version calls her "Elzabel". She was the daughter of an Heathen, and as she was the wife of Ahab, and therefore a queen, so the "whore of Babylon" calls herself; and as Jezebel was famous for her paintings, so are her pretensions to religion and holiness, and for the gaudiness of her worship; and as she was remarkable for her idolatry, whoredoms, witchcrafts, and cruel persecution of the prophets of the Lord, and for murder, and innocent blood she shed; and as Jezebel, who stirred up Ahab against good and faithful men, so Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, shall be cast into the sea, and be found no more at all: compare 2 Kings 9:7 with Revelation 17:1. [22] [23]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Book of Revelation is missing from Codex Vaticanus. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balaam</span> Prophet in the Book of Numbers

Balaam, son of Beor, was a biblical character, a non-Israelite prophet and diviner who lived in Pethor, a region or settlement which has never been located. According to chapters Numbers 22–24 of the Book of Numbers, he was hired by King Balak of Moab to curse Israel, but instead he blessed the Israelites, as dictated by God. Subsequently, the plan to entice the Israelites into idol worship and sexual immorality is attributed to him . Balaam is also mentioned in the Book of Micah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balak</span> Biblical character

Balak son of Zippor was a king of Moab described in the Book of Numbers in the Hebrew Bible, where his dealings with the prophet and sorcerer Balaam are recounted. Balak tried to engage Balaam the son of Beor for the purpose of cursing the migrating Israelite community. On his journey to meet the princes of Moab, Balaam is stopped by an angel of the Lord after beating his female donkey. The Lord then "opened the mouth of the donkey" to tell him there was an angel with a drawn sword facing him. He tells the angel he will return home: "I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood against me on the road". The angel instructs Balaam to attend the meeting with the princes of Moab but to "say only what I tell you". According to Numbers 22:2, and Joshua 24:9, Balak was the son of Zippor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jezebel</span> Biblical figure; Phoenician princess and wife of Ahab

Jezebel was the daughter of Ithobaal I of Tyre and the wife of Ahab, King of Israel, according to the Book of Kings of the Hebrew Bible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew 14</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Matthew 14 is the fourteenth chapter in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament section of the Christian Bible. It continues the narrative about Jesus' ministry in Galilee and recounts the circumstances leading to the death of John the Baptist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew 21</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Matthew 21 is the twenty-first chapter in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament section of the Christian Bible. Jesus triumphally or majestically arrives in Jerusalem and commences his final ministry before his Passion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balak (parashah)</span> Jewish weekly Torah reading

Balak is the 40th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the seventh in the Book of Numbers. In the parashah, Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, tries to hire Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam's donkey speaks to Balaam, and Balaam blesses Israel instead. The parashah constitutes Numbers 22:2–25:9. The parashah is made up of 5,357 Hebrew letters, 1,455 Hebrew words, 104 verses, and 178 lines in a Torah Scroll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phinehas</span> Biblical priest and prophet who opposed the heresy of Peor

According to the Hebrew Bible, Phinehas was a priest during the Israelites' Exodus journey. The grandson of Aaron and son of Eleazar, the High Priests, he distinguished himself as a youth at Shittim with his zeal against the heresy of Peor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revelation 1</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Revelation 1 is the first chapter of the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, but the precise identity of the author is a point of academic debate. This chapter contains the prologue of the book, followed by the vision and commission of John.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Corinthians 3</span> Chapter of the New Testament

2 Corinthians 3 is the third chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle and Timothy in Macedonia in 55–56 AD/CE. Biblical commentator Heinrich Meyer emphasises that the use of the plural 'we' in 2 Corinthians 3:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:6 includes Timothy in the writing of the letter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Corinthians 11</span> Chapter of the New Testament

2 Corinthians 11 is the eleventh chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle and Timothy in Macedonia in 55–56 CE. According to theologian Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer, chapters 10–13 "contain the third chief section of the Epistle, the apostle's polemic vindication of his apostolic dignity and efficiency, and then the conclusion".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revelation 3</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Revelation 3 is the third chapter of the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, but the precise identity of the author remains a point of academic debate. This chapter contains messages to the churches of Sardis and Philadelphia and Laodicea, three of the seven churches of Asia located in modern-day Turkey, continuing from the messages for the other four churches which appear in chapter 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hebrews 4</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Hebrews 4 is the fourth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The author is anonymous, although the internal reference to "our brother Timothy" causes a traditional attribution to Paul, but this attribution has been disputed since the second century and there is no decisive evidence for the authorship. This chapter contains the admonition to press on toward 'God's Rest' and a reflection on the power of God's Word.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hebrews 9</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Hebrews 9 is the ninth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The author is anonymous, although the internal reference to "our brother Timothy" causes a traditional attribution to Paul, but this attribution has been disputed since the second century and there is no decisive evidence for the authorship. This chapter contains the exposition about the ministry of the first covenant and Christ's effective sacrifice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revelation 10</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Revelation 10 is the tenth chapter of the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, but the precise identity of the author remains a point of academic debate. This chapter and the first part of the next chapter report two episodes which intervene between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hosea 1</span>

Hosea 1 is the first chapter of the Book of Hosea in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Hosea, son of Beeri, and this chapter especially sets forth the spiritual whoredom of Israel by symbolical acts. It is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets.

Isaiah 11 is the eleventh chapter of the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains prophesies attributed to the prophet Isaiah. This chapter can be divided into two main parts, verses 1–9 and verses 11–16, with verse 10 as a connecting statement between them. The New International Version entitles the chapter "The Branch from Jesse".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Kings 3</span> 2 Kings, chapter 3

2 Kings 3 is the third chapter in the second part of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the Second Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. After a short introduction to the reign of the last king of Israel from the Omride, Jehoram of Israel, the son of Ahab, this chapter records the war of the coalition of the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom, against Mesha the king of Moab with some contribution of Elisha the prophet. Another view of the events in this chapter is notably provided by the inscription on the Mesha Stele made by the aforementioned king of Moab in c. 840 BCE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Kings 9</span> 2 Kings, chapter 9

2 Kings 9 is the ninth chapter of the second part of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the Second Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. This chapter records Jehu's anointing as the next king of Israel and his assassinations of Jehoram of Israel, Ahaziah of Judah and Jezebel, the queen mother of Israel. The narrative is a part of a major section 2 Kings 9:1–15:12 covering the period of Jehu's dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Kings 10</span> 2 Kings, chapter 10

2 Kings 10 is the tenth chapter of the second part of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the Second Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. This chapter records Jehu's massacres of the sons of Ahab, the kinsmen of Ahaziah the king of Judah and the Baal worshippers linked to Jezebel. The narrative is a part of a major section 2 Kings 9:1–15:12 covering the period of Jehu's dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1 Kings 21</span> 1 Kings, chapter 21

1 Kings 21 is the 21st chapter of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the First Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE. This chapter belongs to the section comprising 1 Kings 16:15 to 2 Kings 8:29 which documents the period of the Omrides. The focus of this chapter is the reign of king Ahab in the northern kingdom.

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Craig A (2005). Craig A Evans (ed.). Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: John, Hebrews—Revelation. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Victor. ISBN   0781442281.
  2. ↑ F. L. Cross, The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997), 45
  3. ↑ Bauckham 2007, p. 1289.
  4. ↑ Elliott, J. K. "Revelations from the apparatus criticus of the Book of Revelation: How Textual Criticism Can Help Historians." Union Seminary Quarterly Review 63, no. 3–4 (2012): 1–23.
  5. ↑ Claremont Coptic Encyclopaedia, Codex Vaticanus, accessed 29 September 2018
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Biblical concordances of Revelation 2 in the 1611 King James Bible".
  7. 1 2 Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Vol. Book IV and V: Psalms XC–CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 838. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  8. ↑ Revelation 2:1 NKJV
  9. ↑ Revelation 2:8 NKJV
  10. ↑ Revelation 2:9 NKJV
  11. ↑ Revelation 2:12 NKJV
  12. ↑ Revelation 2:14 NKJV
  13. ↑ T. Hieros. Sanhedrin, fol. 28. 4. & Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 106. 1. Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 20. fol. 229. 1. Yalkut, par. 1. fol. 244. 3, 4. & par. 2. fol. 76. 4
  14. ↑ Philo. De Vita Mosis, l. 7. p. 647, 648.
  15. ↑ Josephus. Antiqu. l. 4. c. 6. sect. 6, 7, 8, 9.
  16. ↑ Apud Hottinger. Exercit. Antimorin. p. 109.
  17. ↑ John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible – Revelation 2:14
  18. ↑ Revelation 2:18 NKJV
  19. ↑ Revelation 2:20 NKJV
  20. ↑ Jerusalem Bible (1966), footnote at Revelation 2:20
  21. ↑ Josephus. Antiqu. l. 8. c. 13. sect. 1. 4, 7.
  22. ↑ John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible on Revelation 2:20
  23. ↑ Understanding the meaning of Revelation 2:9? on Revelation 2:20

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain :Gill, John. Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–1763).

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.