Year of the Bible

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Revelation 2

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Commentary on the Book of Revelation, Chapter 2:

Jesus has specific words for seven churches (i.e. Christian communities) located in modern-day western Turkey. Each letter includes a description of Jesus drawn from chapter 1. Jesus knows the circumstances of each community and praises each for the good she has done (if any). He explains how she needs to improve (if she does) and warns of what will happen if change is not made. Finally, He promises conquering for those who remain faithful, using images that will be repeated at the end of the Book for those spending eternity with God (Rev 20-22). In Ephesus, the people have maintained the faith, but they need to rekindle the love they used to have for the Lord. Suffering is coming to those in Smyrna, but Jesus tells them to not fear. Pergamum has already faced persecution and kept the faith, but within their midst are those who encourage pagan practice, symbolized by the character Balaam (Numbers 31:16) and practiced by the Nicolaitans. The last community for this chapter, Thyatira, is divided. Some have remained steadfast in faith, but some are following Jezebel, a symbolic name referencing a person who, like the original Jezebel (2 Kings 18, 21), is leading the faithful into sin.

The Book of Revelation, Chapter 2:

The Message to Ephesus

1 “To the angel of the Church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at ﬁrst. 5 Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at ﬁrst. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

The Message to Smyrna

8 “And to the angel of the Church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the ﬁrst and the last, who died and came to life.
9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death.’

The Message to Pergamum

12 “And to the angel of the Church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; you hold fast my name and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, that they might eat food sacriﬁced to idols and practice immorality. 15 So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it.’

The Message to Thyatira

18 “And to the angel of the Church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a ﬂame of ﬁre, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the ﬁrst. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacriﬁced to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her doings; 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works de serve. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay upon you any other burden; 25 only hold fast what you have, until I come. 26 He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

*Daily Lectio Divina Question:

Place yourself as one of the early martyrs of the church, waiting in the bowels of the Collesseum to be killed by wild animals for not denouncing your faith and sacrificing to idols. Now read this chapter again as one of those early Christians about to die. What movements does this bring up in your spirit?

Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.

Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.

Apocalipsis 2

1 Al ángel de la iglesia de Éfeso escríbele:
«Esto dice el que tiene las siete estrellas
en la mano derecha, el que anda por en
medio de los siete candelabros de oro:
2 “Conozco tus obras, tu fatiga y tu
paciencia; que no puedes soportar a los
malvados y que has puesto a prueba a
los que se dicen apóstoles y no lo son,
y los encontraste mentirosos; 3 que tienes
paciencia y has sufrido por mi nombre,
sin desfallecer. 4 Pero tengo contra
ti que has perdido la caridad que tenías
al principio. 5 Recuerda, por tanto, de
dónde has caído, arrepiéntete, y practica
las obras de antes. De lo contrario,
iré adonde estás tú y desplazaré tu candelabro
de su sitio, a no ser que te conviertas.
6 Sin embargo, tienes esto en tu
favor: aborreces las obras de los nicolaítas,
que yo también aborrezco”».
7 El que tenga oídos, oiga lo que el
Espíritu dice a las iglesias. Al que venza
le daré a comer del árbol de la vida que
está en el paraíso de Dios.
8 Al ángel de la iglesia de Esmirna escríbele:
«Esto dice el Primero y el Último, el
que estuvo muerto y ha vuelto a la vida:
9 “Conozco tu tribulación, tu pobreza
–aunque eres rico– y la calumnia de parte
de los que se dicen judíos y que no son
más que una sinagoga de Satanás. 10 No
temas por lo que vas a padecer: el Diablo
os va a encarcelar a algunos de vosotros,
para que seáis tentados; y sufriréis tribulación
durante diez días. Sé fiel hasta la
muerte y te daré la corona de la vida”».
11 El que tenga oídos, oiga lo que el
Espíritu dice a las iglesias. Quien venza
no será dañado por la muerte segunda.
12 Al ángel de la iglesia de Pérgamo
escríbele:
«Esto dice el que tiene la espada tajante
de doble filo: 13 “Sé dónde habitas;
allí donde está el trono de Satanás;
que mantienes mi nombre y no has negado
mi fe, ni en los días en que Antipas,
mi testigo fiel, sufrió la muerte entre
vosotros, allí donde habita Satanás.
14 Pero tengo algo contra ti: que admites
ahí a los que sostienen la doctrina
de Balaán, que enseñaba a Balac a seducir
a los hijos de Israel para que comieran
de los sacrificios idolátricos y fornicaran.
15 También tienes tú seguidores
de la doctrina de los nicolaítas. 16 Por lo
tanto, arrepiéntete. De lo contrario, iré
enseguida adonde estás tú, y lucharé
contra ellos con la espada de mi boca”».
17 El que tenga oídos, oiga lo que el
Espíritu dice a las iglesias. Al vencedor
le daré del maná escondido; le daré también
una piedrecita blanca, y escrito en
la piedrecita un nombre nuevo, que nadie
conoce sino el que lo recibe.
18 Al ángel de la iglesia de Tiatira escríbele:
«Esto dice el Hijo de Dios, el que tiene
los ojos como una llama de fuego y
los pies como el metal precioso: 19 “Conozco
tus obras, tu caridad, tu fe, tu servicio,
tu paciencia y tus últimas obras,
mayores que las primeras. 20 Pero tengo
contra ti que toleras a esa mujer, Jezabel,
que se dice profetisa y que enseña
y seduce a mis siervos a fornicar y comer
lo sacrificado a los ídolos. 21 Le he
dado tiempo para que se arrepintiera,
pero no quiere arrepentirse de su fornicación.
22 Mira, a ella voy a arrojarla en
el lecho, y a los que adulteran con ella,
en una gran tribulación, a no ser que
se arrepientan de sus obras. 23 Entregaré
a la muerte a sus hijos y sabrán todas
las iglesias que yo soy el que escudriña
los corazones y las entrañas y os daré a
cada uno según vuestras obras. 24 Pero
a los demás que estáis en Tiatira, todos
los que no seguís esa doctrina y no habéis
conocido las profundidades de Satanás,
como ellos dicen, yo os anuncio
que no pondré sobre vosotros otra carga;
25 pero conservad con firmeza lo que
tenéis, hasta que yo venga. 26 Al que venza
y al que guarde hasta el fin mis obras
le daré potestad sobre las naciones, 27 y
las apacentará con cetro de hierro y las
romperá como vasijas de barro, 28 como
Padre;
y le daré la estrella de la mañana”».
29 El que tenga oídos, oiga lo que el
Espíritu dice a las iglesias.

Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy

Sitúate como uno de los primeros mártires de la iglesia, esperando en las entrañas del Coliseo a ser asesinado por animales salvajes por no denunciar tu fe y sacrificar a los ídolos. Ahora vuelve a leer este capítulo como uno de esos primeros cristianos a punto de morir. ¿Qué sentimientos despierta en tu espíritu?

La Biblia de Navarra

Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra

para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo

dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).