New American Standard Bible 1995
Revelation 2:4
Revelation 2:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
- New International Version (NIV)Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Context of Revelation 2:4
2‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent. 6Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Read all of Revelation 2Revelation 2:4 word by word
ἀλλ᾽ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην σου τὴν πρώτην ἀφῆκες.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Revelation 2:4
- Revelation 2:14But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.
- Revelation 3:14“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
- Jeremiah 2:2“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.
- Matthew 24:12Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
- Philippians 1:9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
- Philippians 3:13Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
- Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
Commentaries on Revelation 2:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee - The clause should be read, according to the Greek, thus: But I have against thee that thou hast left thy first love. They did not retain that strong and ardent affection for God and sacred things which they had when first brought to the knowledge of the truth, and justified by faith in Christ.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee - Notwithstanding this general commendation, there are things which I cannot approve. Because thou hast left thy first love - Thou hast “remitted” ( ̓͂ aphēkas) or let down thy early love; that is, it is less glowing and ardent than it was at first. The love here referred to is evidently love to the Saviour; and the idea is, that, as a church, they had less of this than formerly characterized them. In this…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4You have abandoned your first love: When the church began, their love for Christ and each other was strong. Struggles with false teachers and persecution caused that original love to grow cold. Correct beliefs, action, and even suffering (Revelation 2:2–3) are only an empty form of Christian life if living and active love is missing (1 Corinthians 13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. somewhat ... because--Translate, "I have against thee (this) that," &c. It is not a mere somewhat"; it is everything. How characteristic of our gracious Lord, that He puts foremost all He can find to approve, and only after this notes the shortcomings! left thy first love--to Christ. Compare 1Ti 5:12, "cast off their first faith." See the Ephesians' first love, Ep 1:15. This epistle was written under Domitian, when thirty years had elapsed since Paul…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 2:4
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. Revelation 2:4 Jer 2:2; Matt 24:12 ↩
Commentaries on Revelation 2
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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