Revelation 2

Revelation 2:1

Neither as being lords. Not with an arbitrary, despotic rule. Over [God’s] heritage. Rather, “over the charge allotted you” (Revised Version). But being ensamples to the flock. Instead of ruling imperiously, rather set an example that others may follow.

Revelation 2:2

And when the chief Shepherd shapp appear. Christ, to whom all the under-shepherds shall give account. Ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. The eternal reward of faithful duty.

Revelation 2:3

Likewise, ye younger. Some scholars think that all who are not elders are meant. Among the Greeks “younger” sometimes meant those inferior in position. Perhaps the word enforces this sense as well as those younger in years. Submit yourselves to the elder. “Elders” in the Greek. The duty of submissiveness and humility is the thought of the passage. Be subject one to another. Mutual deference must be shown, as well as mutual service. Be clothed with humility. The literal rendering is “Wrap yourselves up in humility”. God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Quoted from Proverbs 3:34.

Revelation 2:4

Humble yourselves. Because God “giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). Under the mighty hand of God. God exalts as well as casts down. He lifts up the humble, therefore, “Humble yourselves . . . that he may exalt you”. In due time. In God’s own time; not our time, but God’s.

Revelation 2:5

Casting all your care upon him. Simply submitting, doing the Lord’s will, and casting all care on him.

Revelation 2:6

Be sober. Sobriety is necessary to vigilance. Be vigilant. Wide awake and watchful. The reason follows. An enemy is ready to spring upon them. The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. He goeth about as the lion, seeking for prey. The lion while hunting only roars when it springs. So the devil is stealthy and does not give warning of his approach.

Revelation 2:7

Whom resist. See James 4:7. When the devil is resisted he flees. Stedfast in the faith. Firm in the faith. Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren. That your sufferings are not unusual, but that the brethren everywhere suffer as you do.

Revelation 2:8

And the God of all grace. Who bestows all grace. Who hath called us unto his eternal glory. God is always spoken of as the author of the calling. After that ye have suffered a while. You may be called to suffer for a season, but it will soon be over. Make you perfect. He will supply every need, leave nothing wanting.

Revelation 2:10

By Silvanus. Silas, the old companion of Paul. It has been supposed that Paul, then a prisoner of Rome, had sent Silvanus to Peter. Our faithful brother to you, as I suppose. This implies that Peter had little personal acquaintance, Silvanus having been with Paul in the work among the Gentiles. I have written briefly. He sends this letter “by Silvanus”. This is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. The gospel which had been preached to them.

Revelation 2:11

The [church that is] at Babylon. “She that is in Babylon” (Revised Version). The word “church” is not in the Greek. Peter probably referred to his wife. The salutations are from individuals. On Babylon, see topic 9257. Alford says, ``There is no reason whatever for regarding this any place but the Chaldean capital.’’ [So doth] Marcus, my son. Most likely John Mark, the author of the second gospel. See Acts 12:12 13:5 15:37 Colossians 4:10.

Revelation 2:12

Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. See PNT Romans 16:16.

Revelation 2:14

Wherefore let them that suffer. Let all who suffer, not for doing evil but for righteousness sake, keep on in well doing and commit their souls to the care of the all seeing and faithful God.

Revelation 2:15

Making the Calling and Election Sure SUMMARY OF II PETER 1: Greetings. Adding to Faith the Christian Graces. Not Followed Fables. The Transfiguration. Simon Peter. To his first epistle he only prefixed the name given him by the Lord. Here he calls himself by both names, as found in Lu 5:8 John 13:6 20:2 Ac 10:5 and many other places. A servant. Of Jesus as the Lord. And an apostle of Jesus Christ. Of Jesus as the Messiah. To them that have obtained like precious faith. Who are also saints enjoying the precious promises.

Revelation 2:16

Grace and peace. The usual apostolic benediction. These come through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord. Those who have learned to know God and his Son have eternal life (John 17:3). This knowledge is one that comes from fellowship with Christ.

Revelation 2:17

According as his divine power. “Seeing that his divine power” (Revised Version). Hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness. It has granted us all things needful to live godly lives. Through the knowledge of him that hath called us. These all come through the knowledge of God. To glory and virtue. “By his own glory and virtue” (Revised Version). God’s power is manifested in his glory and virtue. It is his moral excellency and glory that move upon men, not physical power.

Revelation 2:18

Whereby. By his glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3). Exceeding great and precious promises. The splendid promises of the gospel. That by these. The offers of the gospel. Ye might be partakers of the divine nature. One of the promises was communion with God and fellowship with Christ. See John 14:23. Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. All who come to Christ and are in him have escaped from sin and corruption.

Revelation 2:19

And beside this. “Yea, and for this very cause” (Revised Version). Because God has called you with precious promises. What God has done calls on us to do our part. Giving all diligence. “Adding on your part all diligence” (Revised Version). No exertion must be spared. There must be the fullest co-operation with God. Add to your faith virtue. “In your faith supply virtue” (Revised Version). The Common Version is wrong. Faith is the basis of the Christian life and all are expected to possess it, but out of it must grow other excellencies. And to virtue. “And in [your virtue]” (Revised Version). Moral courage, the natural fruit of a trusting faith in God. Knowledge. The moral heroism must be guided by knowledge or it will run into “a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2).

Revelation 2:20

And to knowledge temperance. Self-control. And to temperance patience. Unflinching, patient endurance. And to patience godliness. A reverence for things divine shown by growing more and more into the divine likeness.

Revelation 2:21

And to godliness brotherly kindness. An active good will toward the saints. And to brotherly kindness charity. The heart element which gives brotherly kindness its power and sweetness.

Revelation 2:22

For if these things be in you, and abound. If these qualities abound they will be fruitful, showing that they have knowledge of Christ in reality.

Revelation 2:23

He that lacketh these things. The qualities named in 2 Peter 1:5-7. Is blind. Shows that he has a defective moral vision. And cannot see afar off. Is short sighted; does not see what his future good requires. And hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. If he could remember how he was cleansed from his own sinful state, he would show greater diligence lest he should again fall into sin.

Revelation 2:24

Wherefore . . . give diligence. “The more diligence” (Revised Version). Diligence to the end is needful in order to salvation. Your calling and election. The calling is first in order; the election comes when we accept the call. Sure. Our own efforts are needed to make them sure. For if ye do these things. Those named above. Thus we will make the “calling and election sure”. For then we “shall never fail”.

Revelation 2:25

For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly. We will be richly prepared for entrance. Into the everlasting kingdom. The heavenly kingdom.

Revelation 2:26

Wherefore. The language that follows anticipates his speedy decease (2 Peter 1:15).

Revelation 2:27

As long as I am in this tabernacle. In the body, the present home of his spirit.

Revelation 2:28

Knowing that shortly I must put off [this] my tabernacle. Must die very soon. Even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Christ had predicted his death as a martyr (John 21:18,19). It is to this prediction that Peter refers.

Revelation 2:29

Moreover I will endeavour. “I will give diligence” (Revised Version). He will so diligently admonish them that after his death they will remember his words.