Wahyu 2:2-3

2:2 ‘I know your works as well as your ¹  labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate ²  evil. You have even put to the test ³  those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. 2:3 I am also aware ⁴  that you have persisted steadfastly, ⁵  endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary.

Wahyu 2:7

2:7 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, ⁶  I will permit ⁷  him to eat from the tree of life that is ⁸  in the paradise of God.’ ⁹ 

Wahyu 2:11

2:11 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers ¹⁰  will in no way be harmed by the second death.’

Wahyu 2:17

2:17 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, ¹¹  I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white ¹²  stone, ¹³  and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand ¹⁴  except the one who receives it.’

Wahyu 2:19

2:19 ‘I know your deeds: your love, faith, ¹⁵  service, and steadfast endurance. ¹⁶  In fact, ¹⁷  your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones.

Wahyu 2:26

2:26 And to the one who conquers ¹⁸  and who continues in ¹⁹  my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations ²⁰  –

[2:2]  ¹ tn Although the first possessive pronoun σου (sou) is connected to τὰ ἔργα (ta erga) and the second σου is connected to ὑπομονήν (Jupomonhn), semantically κόπον (kopon) is also to be understood as belonging to the Ephesian church. The translation reflects this.

[2:2]  ² tn The translation “tolerate” seems to capture the sense of βαστάσαι (bastasai) here. BDAG 171 s.v. βαστάζω 2.b.β says, “bear, endure…κακούς Rv 2:2.…bear patiently, put up with: weaknesses of the weak Ro 15:1; cf. IPol 1:2; evil Rv 2:3.”

[2:2]  ³ tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle was broken off from the previous sentence and translated as an indicative verb beginning a new sentence here in the translation.

[2:3]  ⁴ tn Because of the length and complexity of this Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the phrase “I am also aware” to link this English sentence back to “I know” at the beginning of v. 2.

[2:3]  ⁵ tn The Greek word translated “persisted steadfastly” (ὑπομονή, Jupomonh) is the same one translated “steadfast endurance” in v. 2.

[2:7]  ⁶ tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.” The pendent dative is allowed to stand in the English translation because it is characteristic of the author’s style in Revelation.

[2:7]  ⁷ tn Or “grant.”

[2:7]  ⁸ tn Or “stands.”

[2:7]  ⁹ tc The omission of “my” (μου, mou) after “God” (θεοῦ, qeou) is well attested, supported by א A C and the Andreas of Caesarea group of Byzantine mss (Ï^A). Its addition in 1611, the Ï^K group, latt, and others, seems to be evidence of a purposeful conforming of the text to 3:2 and the four occurrences of “my God” (θεοῦ μου) in 3:12.

[2:11]  ¹⁰ tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.”

[2:17]  ¹¹ tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.” The pendent dative is allowed to stand in the English translation because it is characteristic of the author’s style in Revelation.

[2:17]  ¹² tn Or “bright.” The Greek term λευκός (leukos) can refer either to the color white (traditional here) or to an object that is bright or shining, either from itself or from an outside source of illumination (L&N 14.50; 79.27).

[2:17]  ¹³ tn On the interpretation of the stone, L&N 2.27 states, “A number of different suggestions have been made as to the reference of ψῆφος in this context. Some scholars believe that the white ψῆφος indicates a vote of acquittal in court. Others contend that it is simply a magical amulet; still others, a token of Roman hospitality; and finally, some have suggested that it may represent a ticket to the gladiatorial games, that is to say, to martyrdom. The context, however, suggests clearly that this is something to be prized and a type of reward for those who have ‘won the victory.’”

[2:17]  ¹⁴ tn Or “know”; for the meaning “understand” see L&N 32.4.

[2:19]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “and faith.” Here and before the following term καί (kai) has not been translated because English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the next to last and last terms in a list.

[2:19]  ¹⁶ tn Or “perseverance.”

[2:19]  ¹⁷ tn The phrase “In fact” is supplied in the translation to bring out the ascensive quality of the clause. It would also be possible to supply here an understood repetition of the phrase “I know” from the beginning of the verse (so NRSV). Grk “and your last deeds [that are] greater than the first.”

[2:26]  ¹⁸ tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.”

[2:26]  ¹⁹ tn Grk “keeps.” In a context that speaks of “holding on to what you have,” the idea here is one of continued faithful behavior (BDAG 1002 s.v. τηρέω 3 has “ὁ τηρῶν τὰ ἔργα μου the one who takes my deeds to heart Rv 2:26”).

[2:26]  ²⁰ tn Or “over the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).