Wahyu 1:2

1:2 who then ¹  testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about ²  Jesus Christ.

Wahyu 2:6

2:6 But you do have this going for you: ³  You hate what the Nicolaitans ⁴  practice ⁵  – practices I also hate.

Wahyu 3:15

3:15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. ⁶  I wish you were either cold or hot!

[1:2]  ¹ tn “Then” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to make the chronological succession clear in the translation.

[1:2]  ² tn The genitive phrase “about Jesus Christ” is taken as an objective genitive.

[2:6]  ³ tn Grk “But you do have this.” The words “going for you” are supplied to complete the English idiom; other phrases like “in your favor” (NIV) or “to your credit” (NRSV) could also be supplied.

[2:6]  ⁴ sn The Nicolaitans were a sect (sometimes associated with Nicolaus, one of the seven original deacons in the church in Jerusalem according to Acts 6:5) that apparently taught that Christians could engage in immoral behavior with impunity.

[2:6]  ⁵ tn The expression τὰ ἔργα τῶν Νικολαϊτῶν (ta erga twn Nikolaitwn) has been translated as a subjective genitive.

[3:15]  ⁶ sn Laodicea was near two other towns, each of which had a unique water source. To the north was Hierapolis which had a natural hot spring, often used for medicinal purposes. To the east was Colossae which had cold, pure waters. In contrast to these towns, Laodicea had no permanent supply of good water. Efforts to pipe water to the city from nearby springs were successful, but it would arrive lukewarm. The metaphor in the text is not meant to relate spiritual fervor to temperature. This would mean that Laodicea would be commended for being spiritually cold, but it is unlikely that Jesus would commend this. Instead, the metaphor condemns Laodicea for not providing spiritual healing (being hot) or spiritual refreshment (being cold) to those around them. It is a condemnation of their lack of works and lack of witness.