SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:19
Yo he conocido tus obras, y caridad, y servicio, y fe, y tu paciencia, y tus obras, las postreras que son muchas ms que las primeras.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:19
Verse 19. I know thy works] And of these he first sets forth their charity, thn agaphn, their love to God and each other; and particularly to the poor and distressed: and hence followed their faith, thn pistin, their fidelity, to the grace they had received; and service, thn diakonian, and ministration; properly pious and benevolent service to widows, orphans, and the poor in general. And thy patience] thn upomonhn sou? Thy perseverance under afflictions and persecutions, and thy continuance in well- doing. I put faith before service according to the general consent of the best MSS. and versions.
Thy works] The continued labour of love, and thorough obedience.
The last to be more than the first.] They not only retained what they had received at first, but grew in grace, and in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. This is a rare thing in most Christian Churches: they generally lose the power of religion, and rest in the forms of worship; and it requires a powerful revival to bring them to such a state that their last works shall be more than their first.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 19. I know thy works , etc.] Good works, as appears from the particular enumeration of them afterwards, and the commendation of proficiency in them, the last being more than the first, and the distinction from the evil ones in ( Revelation 2:20); this is said to the faithful followers and professors of Christ in this interval: and charity ; by which is meant not a relieving the wants of the poor; much less such a charity as connives at the errors and heresies of men; but the divine grace of love to God nod Christ, and the saints, without which a profession of religion is a vain thing; and, generally speaking, this grace is most in exercise in a time of trouble and persecution: and service ; or ministry, meaning either the ministry of the word, which was exercised by many with great zeal, diligence, and faithfulness, as by Wickliff, John Huss, Jerom of Prague, and others; or the ministering to the necessities of the poor saints, as an evidence of their charity or love; or else the service of God is here intended, which is but reasonable, and is his due, and ought to be performed to him only, and that with fear and fervency, in faith, and with a pure conscience, with humility, and without mercenary views, and in righteousness and true holiness; or the service of love which the saints perform to one another, as praying for one another, bearing one another's burdens, admonishing and reproving for sin, restoring such as are gone astray, comforting the distressed, building up one another in their most holy faith, and exhorting and stirring up each other to the duties of religion: and faith ; not the doctrine of faith, as preached by the ministers of the word, and held and maintained by the true professors of it; but either the grace of faith, or the profession of both; or rather the faithfulness, both of the ministers and private believers of those times, as the Waldenses and Albigenses, the Lollards and Wickliffites, who abode by, and were faithful to the light which they had received: and thy patience ; in suffering for the sake of Christ and the Gospel: and very much it was they did endure, and yet held out to the end: and thy works, and the last [to be] more than the first ; that is, that their works or acts of love to God and Christ and one another, and of service to God and to the saints, and of faith and faithfulness in the cause of God, and of patience in suffering for the Gospel of Christ, were more in quantity, and greater in quality, toward the close of this period, which brought on the Reformation, than at the beginning of it; and which were done by the persons before mentioned, and by others.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 18-29 - Even when the Lord knows the works of his people to be wrought in love faith, zeal, and patience; yet if his eyes, which are as a flame of fire, observe them committing or allowing what is evil, he will rebuke correct, or punish them. Here is praise of the ministry and people of Thyatira, by One who knew the principles from which they acted. The grew wiser and better. All Christians should earnestly desire tha their last works may be their best works. Yet this church connived a some wicked seducers. God is known by the judgments he executes; and by this upon seducers, he shows his certain knowledge of the hearts of men, of their principles, designs, frame, and temper. Encouragement is given to those who kept themselves pure and undefiled. It is dangerou to despise the mystery of God, and as dangerous to receive the mysteries of Satan. Let us beware of the depths of Satan, of whic those who know the least are the most happy. How tender Christ is of his faithful servants! He lays nothing upon his servants but what is for their good. There is promise of an ample reward to the persevering victorious believer; also knowledge and wisdom, suitable to their powe and dominion. Christ brings day with him into the soul, the light of grace and of glory, in the presence and enjoyment of him their Lord an Saviour. After every victory let us follow up our advantage against the enemy, that we may overcome and keep the works of Christ to the end __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
αλλ 235 CONJ εχω 2192 5719 V-PAI-1S κατα 2596 PREP σου 4675 P-2GS ολιγα 3641 A-APN οτι 3754 CONJ εας 1439 5719 V-PAI-2S την 3588 T-ASF γυναικα 1135 N-ASF ιεζαβηλ 2403 N-PRI την 3588 T-ASF λεγουσαν 3004 5723 V-PAP-ASF εαυτην 1438 F-3ASF προφητιν 4398 N-ASF διδασκειν 1321 5721 V-PAN και 2532 CONJ πλανασθαι 4105 5745 V-PPN εμους 1699 S-1APM δουλους 1401 N-APM πορνευσαι 4203 5658 V-AAN και 2532 CONJ ειδωλοθυτα 1494 A-APN φαγειν 5315 5629 V-2AAN
