Revelation (Holman New Testament Commentary | HNTC)

Top Highlights

“In their pursuit of truth and their patience in persecution, these Christians had allowed a tragic flaw to infect their fellowship. Christ’s criticism surely stung: You have forsaken your first love. Some interpreters think this refers to the love (Greek agapé) they had for Christ when they were new converts. In the context, however, it refers mainly to their love for one another which Christ had said was the hallmark for his disciples (John 13:35). In rooting out error and expelling false teachers, they had grown suspicious of one another. I once heard a preacher refer to people whose theology was ‘clear as ice and just as cold.’ That was a description of the Ephesians. Their good deeds were now motivated by duty rather than love.” (Page 35)

“In Revelation 1:13 Jesus was simply among the lampstands (churches). Now he is walking among them, observing their deeds and their motives. Because he has been observing, he can both compliment and criticize.” (Page 34)

“Christ not only wants to provide gold, clothing, and sight to this congregation; he wants them to enjoy his person, his fellowship. If only they admit their Lord, he will give them the richest of fare. His plea, ‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock,’ is poignant and urgent. The verb form for knock suggests insistent, repeated pounding. Although he wants the entire congregation to open the door to fellowship with him, the individual is ultimately the one who must decide, as the singular forms indicate: anyone … him … he.” (Page 61)

“I will … remove your lampstand. Although Christ has promised to build his church worldwide (Matt. 16:18), he guarantees permanence to no individual congregation. A loveless church is no longer truly a church, and Christ has the right to extinguish such a congregation. Tragically, the Ephesian church ultimately succumbed, and neither the city nor the church exists today.” (Page 35)