2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus, 1 write the following: 2
“This is the solemn pronouncement of 3 the one who has a firm grasp on 4 the seven stars in his right hand 5 – the one who walks among the seven golden 6 lampstands:
2:8 “To 7 the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: 8
“This is the solemn pronouncement of 9 the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but 10 came to life:
2:12 “To 11 the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following: 12
“This is the solemn pronouncement of 13 the one who has the sharp double-edged sword: 14
2:18 “To 15 the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following: 16
“This is the solemn pronouncement of 17 the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame 18 and whose feet are like polished bronze: 19
1 map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.
2 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
3 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” The expression τάδε λέγει (tade legei) occurs eight times in the NT, seven of which are in Rev 2-3. “The pronoun is used to add solemnity to the prophetic utterance that follows. …In classical drama, it was used to introduce a new actor to the scene (Smyth, Greek Grammar, 307 [§1241]). But the τάδε λέγει formula in the NT derives from the OT, where it was used to introduce a prophetic utterance (BAGD, s.v. ὅδε, 1)” (ExSyn 328). Thus, the translation “this is the solemn pronouncement of” for τάδε λέγει is very much in keeping with the OT connotations of this expression.
sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. The LXX has the same Greek phrase (τάδε λέγει, tade legei) about 350 times, with nearly 320 of them having “the Lord” (Heb יהוה, Yahweh) as subject. That the author of Revelation would use such an expression seven times with the risen Christ as the speaker may well imply something of Christ’s sovereignty and deity. Cf. also Acts 21:11 in which the Holy Spirit is the speaker of this expression.
4 tn Grk “holds,” but the term (i.e., κρατῶν, kratwn) with an accusative object, along with the context, argues for a sense of firmness. (Cf. ExSyn 132.)
5 sn On seven stars in his right hand see 1:16.
6 tn Grk “lampstands of gold” with the genitive τῶν χρυσῶν (twn cruswn) translated as an attributive genitive.
7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
8 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
9 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.
sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present between these two phrases.
11 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
12 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
13 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.
sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
14 sn On the sharp double-edged sword see 1:16.
15 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
16 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
17 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.
sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
18 tn Grk “a flame of fire.” The Greek term πυρός (puros) has been translated as an attributive genitive.
19 tn The precise meaning of the term translated “polished bronze” (χαλκολιβάνῳ, calkolibanw), which appears no where else in Greek literature outside of the book of Revelation (see 1:15), is uncertain. Without question it is some sort of metal. BDAG 1076 s.v. χαλκολίβανον suggests “fine brass/bronze.” L&N 2.57 takes the word to refer to particularly valuable or fine bronze, but notes that the emphasis here and in Rev 1:15 is more on the lustrous quality of the metal.