The Letter to Ephesus (Rev 2:1–7)
The Letter to Ephesus (Rev 2:1–7) The meaning of the word “Ephesus” is “desirable” or “darling,” it is the word that a Greek bridegroom would use for the girl he desired to marry. [1] The NIV uses the word “darling,” while the NKJV uses “fair” as an adjective to describe the bride in the Song of Songs. Every believer is desirable to the Father, in Christ, for we are His bride. Ironically, the angel that is called “desirable” or “darling” has left his “first love” (Rev. 2:4). The contents of this first letter form the pattern for the other six. It contains five main features: the correspondent, the commendation, the concern, the command, and the counsel. The Correspondent 2:1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: Quoting from the vision of “the One like the Son of Man” (Rev. 1:13,16), the Lord Jesus Christ described Himself to the angel in Ephesus. He “hol