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Writer's pictureDr. Dilday

Revelation 2:4: Loss of the First Love (Sadness)

Updated: Oct 12, 2019

Verse 4:[1] Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.


[But, etc., ἀλλ᾽ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ] But I have something against thee (Beza, Piscator), that is, That I complain concerning thee (Grotius, similarly Beza). Concerning this expression, see Matthew 5:23[2] (Grotius).


Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee; something to accuse thee of, and blame thee for.



[Because, etc., ὅτι—πρώτην ἀφῆκας] Because thy first love (that is, former, as in John 1:15,[3] in which place see what things are said, that is, that love so fervent: A certain weariness is wont to creep in with time even upon keen souls: Hence they are to be stirred as if from sleep both by others through admonitions, and by themselves through prayers and attentive meditations [Grotius]) thou hast laid aside (Beza), or, abandoned (Piscator). Thou hast remitted much of that charity, not of all sorts, but of that burning sort (Grotius): thou hast left (Erasmus, Montanus). Not simply, but relatively (Gomar), as far as the exercise and fruits of it (Durham); with respect to degree and fervor (Gomar, similarly Durham, Hammond), both in the habit of the soul, and in the use and operations of that (Gomar). Here He reprimands his lukewarmness in good deeds (Ribera, Pareus out of Ambrose), in the conversion of the Gentiles, and the stirring up of Christians unto better works; either, because he sees that the Ephesians worshippers of Diana were tenaciously resisting him, or, because he was disheartened by the long continuance of the labors (Menochius): that is to say, Thou art much in external reformation, profession, and zeal, but a lively passion in fulfilling thy duties is wanting to thee (Durham). He understands love here, either, 1. towards neighbors (Gagnæus out of the Greeks, similarly Durham), that is, beneficence towards those in need (Pareus out of Andreas Cæsarius), the care of the poor. This care always indeed had regard to Bishops, but especially was it burdening them in the new Churches where there were as yet no Deacons (Grotius). Or, 2. towards his flock, which he was neglecting, permitting some to perish through ignorance, others through the infirmity of the flesh, etc. See John 21:16, 17 (Brightman): or, 3. towards God (Durham, thus Camerarius), or Christ (Hammond, More): whom in the beginning he loved more than Father, Mother, etc.;[4] but afterwards this love was waning in them (More’s Prophetical Exposition of the Epistles to the Seven Churches in Asia 3:8), and many were beginning to act the part of Gnostics in this matter, and to consider a denial of the faith as a valueless matter (More, similarly Hammond); which was the doctrine and practice of the Gnostics (Hammond). [Concerning which Reverend Hammond explains at length.]


Because thou hast left thy first love; of late thou hast not been so warm in the propagation of my gospel, and maintaining my truth. The love of many in this church, both toward God and their brethren, probably was cooled, though not wholly extinguished.

[1] Greek: ἀλλ᾽ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ, ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην σου τὴν πρώτην ἀφῆκας.


[2] Matthew 5:23: “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee (ἔχει τι κατὰ σοῦ)…”


[3] John 1:15: “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me (ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν).”


[4] See Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26.

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Dr. Dilday
Dr. Dilday
12 de out. de 2019

Dr. Dilday's Sermon: "Habit and Heart"

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=22810224510

1) Introduction

2) Analysis

a) Context

b) Verse 4

3) Use: Let us develop good habits in youth.

a) Text

b) Children

c) New converts

d) New court

4) Doctrine: Christianity is a religion of the heart.

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Dr. Dilday
Dr. Dilday
15 de ago. de 2018

J.C. Philpot's Gospel Pulpit: 'But there is another sense in which the Lord may be considered as addressing the Church here by the name of "the virgin of Israel," which I may term an experimental sense. In this sense I understand it as referring to the experience of the first love of a virgin soul. We must ever bear in mind that the word of truth not only lays down doctrine in its clearest form, but blends it continually with the experience of the saints, and thus truth wears a twofold aspect—truth in the mind of God, truth in the heart of a believer. We find the Lord speaking to the church of Ephesus, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee…


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Dr. Dilday
Dr. Dilday
15 de ago. de 2018

Octavius Winslow's Evening Thoughts: '"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."—Revelation 2:4



Should the humiliating truth force itself upon you, my dear reader, that "I am not as I once was; my soul has lost ground; my spirituality of mind has decayed; I have lost the fervor of my first love and slackened in the heavenly race; Jesus is not as He once was, the joy of my day, the song of my night; and my walk with God is no longer so tender, loving, and filial, as it was"—then honestly and humbly confess it before God. To be humble as we should be, we must know ourselves. There must be no disguising of…


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Dr. Dilday
Dr. Dilday
15 de ago. de 2018

Spurgeon's Morning and Evening: '"Thou hast left thy first love."—Revelation2:4



Ever to be remembered is that best and brightest of hours, when first we saw the Lord, lost our burden, received the roll of promise, rejoiced in full salvation, and went on our way in peace. It was spring time in the soul; the winter was past; the mutterings of Sinai's thunders were hushed; the flashings of its lightnings were no more perceived; [Exodus 19:16; 20:18] God was beheld as reconciled; the law threatened no vengeance, justice demanded no punishment. Then the flowers appeared in our heart; hope, love, peace, and patience sprung from the sod; the hyacinth of repentance, the snowdrop of pure holiness, the crocus of golden faith,…

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Dr. Dilday
Dr. Dilday
15 de ago. de 2018


William Tong (for Matthew Henry): 'The rebuke given to this church: Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, Revelation 2:4. Those that have much good in them may have something much amiss in them, and our Lord Jesus, as an impartial Master and Judge, takes notice of both; though he first observes what is good, and is most ready to mention this, yet he also observes what is amiss, and will faithfully reprove them for it. The sin that Christ charged this church with was their decay and declension in holy love and zeal: Thou hast left thy first love; not left and forsaken the object of it, but lost the fervent degree of it that at first appeared. Observe, (1.…

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