Christian Standard Bible
Revelation 1:4
4John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
Revelation 1:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
- New International Version (NIV)John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
- English Standard Version (ESV)John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
- New King James Version (NKJV)John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
Context of Revelation 1:4
2who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. 3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near. John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood, 6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father — to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Read all of Revelation 1Revelation 1:4 word by word
Ἰωάννης ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαις ταῖς ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἑπτὰ πνευμάτων ἃ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
- to theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- to theἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
- sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
- which are inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- AsiaἈσίαAsia · AsiaG773
- Graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- peaceεἰρήνηeirēnē · peaceG1515
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- him which isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- which is to comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- theπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- Spiritsπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- throneθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
Cross-references for Revelation 1:4
- Revelation 1:1The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
- Revelation 1:11saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
- Revelation 2:1“Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
- Revelation 3:1“Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.
- Acts 19:10This went on for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
- 1 Peter 1:1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
- Romans 1:7To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 1:3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 1:2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 1:2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
- Revelation 1:8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
- Exodus 3:14God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
- Psalms 90:2Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
- Psalms 102:25Long ago you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
- Isaiah 41:4Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I am the Lord, the first and with the last — I am he.”
- Isaiah 57:15For the High and Exalted One, who lives forever, whose name is holy, says this: “I live in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the oppressed.
Commentaries on Revelation 1:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4John to the seven Churches - The apostle begins this much in the manner of the Jewish prophets. They often name themselves in the messages which they receive from God to deliver to the people; e.g. "The vision of Isaiah, the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem." "The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah; to whom the word of the Lord came." "The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel, the priest." "The word of the Lord that came…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4John to the seven churches which are in Asia - The word “Asia” is used in quite different senses by different writers. It is used: (1)as referring to the whole eastern continent now known by that name; (2)either Asia or Asia Minor; (3)that part of Asia which Attalus III, king of Pergamos, gave to the Romans, namely, Mysia, Phrygia, Lycaonia, Lydia, Carla, Pisidia, and the southern coast - that is, all in the western, southwestern, and southern parts of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-8Verses 4-8 There can be no true peace, where there is not true grace; and where grace goeth before, peace will follow. This blessing is in the name of God, of the Holy Trinity, it is an act of adoration. The Father is first named; he is described as the Jehovah who is, and who was, and who is to come, eternal, unchangeable. The Holy Spirit is called the seven spirits, the perfect Spirit of God, in whom there is a diversity of gifts and operations. The…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4To the seven churches do not mean there were only seven churches in the Roman province of Asia. Instead, these seven churches represent the entire group. "Grace and peace" is a typical Christian greeting (see study notes on 2 Corinthians 1:1–2; 2 Thessalonians 1:1–2). The order of these words is consistent in the New Testament, suggesting that peace follows from God's grace. from Him who is and was and is to come: God controlled the past, will control the…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. John--the apostle. For none but he (supposing the writer an honest man) would thus sign himself nakedly without addition. As sole survivor and representative of the apostles and eye-witnesses of the Lord, he needed no designation save his name, to be recognized by his readers. seven churches--not that there were not more churches in that region, but the number seven is fixed on as representing totality. These seven represent the universal Church of all…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 1:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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