Revelation 2:8

To the Church in Smyrna

2:8 “To ¹  the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: ² 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ³  the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but ⁴  came to life:

Revelation 2:12

To the Church in Pergamum

2:12 “To ⁵  the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following: ⁶ 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ⁷  the one who has the sharp double-edged sword: ⁸ 

Revelation 2:18

To the Church in Thyatira

2:18 “To ⁹  the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following: ¹⁰ 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ¹¹  the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame ¹²  and whose feet are like polished bronze: ¹³ 

Revelation 3:14

To the Church in Laodicea

3:14 “To ¹⁴  the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: ¹⁵ 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ¹⁶  the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator ¹⁷  of God’s creation:

Revelation 8:11

8:11 (Now ¹⁸  the name of the star is ¹⁹  Wormwood.) ²⁰  So ²¹  a third of the waters became wormwood, ²²  and many people died from these waters because they were poisoned. ²³ 

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

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]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present between these two phrases.

⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

⁶ tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

⁷ tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

⁸ sn On the sharp double-edged sword see 1:16.

⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

¹⁰ tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

¹¹ tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

¹² tn Grk “a flame of fire.” The Greek term πυρός (puros) has been translated as an attributive genitive.

¹³ 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.

¹³ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

¹⁴ tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

¹⁵ tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

¹⁶ tn Or “the beginning of God’s creation”; or “the ruler of God’s creation.” From a linguistic standpoint all three meanings for ἀρχή (arch) are possible. The term is well attested in both LXX (Gen 40:13, 21; 41:13) and intertestamental Jewish literature (2 Macc 4:10, 50) as meaning “ruler, authority” (BDAG 138 s.v. 6). Some have connected this passage to Paul’s statements in Col 1:15, 18 which describe Christ as ἀρχή and πρωτότοκος (prwtotoko"; e.g., see R. H. Mounce, Revelation [NICNT], 124) but the term ἀρχή has been understood as either “beginning” or “ruler” in that passage as well. The most compelling connection is to be found in the prologue to John’s Gospel (1:2-4) where the λόγος (logos) is said to be “in the beginning (ἀρχή) with God,” a temporal reference connected with creation, and then v. 3 states that “all things were made through him.” The connection with the original creation suggests the meaning “originator” for ἀρχή here. BDAG 138 s.v. 3 gives the meaning “the first cause” for the word in Rev 3:14, a term that is too philosophical for the general reader, so the translation “originator” was used instead. BDAG also notes, “but the mng. beginning = ‘first created’ is linguistically probable (s. above 1b and Job 40:19; also CBurney, Christ as the ᾿Αρχή of Creation: JTS 27, 1926, 160-77).” Such a meaning is unlikely here, however, since the connections described above are much more probable.

¹⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” in keeping with the parenthetical nature of this remark.

¹⁸ tn Grk “is called,” but this is somewhat redundant in contemporary English.

¹⁹ sn Wormwood refers to a particularly bitter herb with medicinal value. According to L&N 3.21, “The English term wormwood is derived from the use of the plant as a medicine to kill intestinal worms.” This remark about the star’s name is parenthetical in nature.

²⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the star falling on the waters.

²¹ tn That is, terribly bitter (see the note on “Wormwood” earlier in this verse).

²² tn Grk “and many of the men died from these waters because they were bitter.”