Revelation 2:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the first address He says: “I know your works, and your labor, and your patience.” That is: “I know that you both work and labor, and I see that you endure, so that you may not think that I remain too long away from you.

“And I know that you cannot bear the corrupt, and those who call themselves apostles and are not so, and that you have found them to be liars, and that you have patience for My name” (Rev 2:2-3).

All this belongs to praise, and to abundant praise. Yet men of this kind, this order of people, and the elect must be reminded in every way, so that the good things due them may not be taken away.

He said that He has a little against them: “You have left,” He says, “your first love. Remember, then, from where you have fallen” (Rev 2:4-5).

He speaks with the church through the angel, as one might speak with disciples through the teacher.

For an instructor, striving to make the one taught like himself, usually takes upon himself everything concerning the disciple, both errors and successes.

By the seven stars or angels, mentioned by blessed Irenaeus and Epiphanius under the name of the seven heavens, we should here understand the governance of the heavenly ranks.

This governance is held in the right hand of Christ, as are all the ends of the earth. For according to His promise, He walks in the midst of the churches and governs the world by the holy angels.

When the Lord speaks of the angel of the church of Ephesus, He means the church in Ephesus figuratively. For His angel, who intercedes for each particular church, committed no fault requiring him to hear about the necessity of repentance.

He is especially holy, and therefore stands at the right hand of the Lord. In this he bears witness to his natural purity and light-like radiance.

And what benefit would there be for the One who addressed the evangelist to say: “Write to the angel”? The angel of God was present and heard those conversing, since he was at the right hand of the Speaker.

Finally, the saint himself, interpreting the vision he had observed, says: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev 2:7).

John partly rebukes and partly praises this church, in keeping with its very name. For Ephesus can be understood both as a great fall and as "My will is in her."

He shows that what is written to one particular church applies to all.

It is not only the Church of Ephesus that will be moved from its place if it does not repent. Nor is the throne of Satan found only in Pergamum, but everywhere.

Thus the other particulars also apply to all the churches.

The tree of life is Christ. By the vision of Him, holy souls are filled in the heavenly Paradise and in the present body of the Church.

See Rev 2:12-13.

The word Ephesus means “desired” or “longed for.” By its very name it represents the first, desired Church of the apostolic times.

One need only read the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles and the writings of the ancient Church fathers to see what pure works of love the Apostles and apostolic men performed.

There one sees what difficult ascetic labors they undertook, what afflictions they struggled against, what hardships they overcame, and with what patience they endured every calamity.

The words are remarkable: “and that you cannot bear the corrupt.” This speaks of the strictness of the first Christians. They did not tolerate anyone in their Church who lacked reverence before God or failed to witness his faith in Christ by good works.

"To the angel of the Church of Ephesus." Geographically, Ephesus was the closest city to the island of Patmos.

It was a glorious ancient city on the shore of the Icarian Sea, between Smyrna and Miletus.

At that time it was famous for its extensive trade and learning, and still more for its magnificent temple in honor of the goddess Artemis, or Diana (Acts 19:20).

The Christian Church there had to wage constant struggle against the local national religion.

It may be asserted almost with certainty that at this time the bishop of the Church of Ephesus was the Apostle Timothy, disciple of the Apostle Paul.

After praise, the Lord indicates that He has something against him and rebukes him for abandoning his first love. Some extend Timothy's life to the year 97.

What did the Lord command to be written to the angel, or president, of the church of Ephesus? Rev 2:1-7.

He commanded that it be written that his former praiseworthy qualities are known and remembered by the Lord: patience and diligence in preaching the Lord’s name, aversion to corrupt men, and penetrating insight concerning false apostles.

But it is not praiseworthy that he left his first love. Therefore, if he does not again do his former works, the Lord, who walks in the midst of the church lampstands, that is, who governs the Church, will come to him.

He will altogether move the lampstand of the church of Ephesus from its place.

In chapters 2 and 3, the Apostle John sets forth the revelations he received concerning each of the seven churches of Asia Minor.

The revelation concerning these churches contains praises of their Christian faith and life, censure of their deficiencies, exhortations and consolations, threats and promises.

The content of this revelation has the closest immediate relation to the state of church life in the churches of Asia Minor at the end of the first century.

At the same time, it also refers to the Church in general throughout the whole course of her existence on earth.