SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:20
Pero tengo unas pocas cosas contra ti: que permites aquella mujer, Jezabel, (que se dice profetisa) ensear, y engaar a mis siervos, a fornicar, y a comer cosas ofrecidas a los ídolos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:20
Verse 20. That woman Jezebel] There is an allusion here to the history of Ahab and Jezebel, as given in 2 Kings ix. 1-x. 36; and although we do not know who this Jezebel was, yet from the allusion we may take it for granted she was a woman of power and influence in Thyatira, who corrupted the true religion, and harassed the followers of God in that city, as Jezebel did in Israel. Instead of that woman Jezebel, thn gunaika iezabhl, many excellent MSS., and almost all the ancient versions, read thn gunaika sou iezabhl, THY WIFE Jezebel; which intimates, indeed asserts, that this bad woman was the wife of the bishop of the Church, and his criminality in suffering her was therefore the greater. This reading Griesbach has received into the text. She called herself a prophetess, i.e., set up for a teacher; taught the Christians that fornication, and eating things offered to idols, were matters of indifference, and thus they were seduced from the truth. But it is probable that by fornication here is meant idolatry merely, which is often its meaning in the Scriptures. It is too gross to suppose that the wife of the bishop of this Church could teach fornication literally. The messenger or bishop of this Church, probably her husband, suffered this: he had power to have cast her and her party out of the Church, or, as his wife, to have restrained her; but he did not do it, and thus she had every opportunity of seducing the faithful. This is what Christ had against the messenger of this Church.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee , etc.] By way of complaint; so the Arabic version renders it, I have a certain complaint against thee. The impartiality of Christ may be observed in taking notice of the bad deeds, as well as of the good ones of his people, and his tenderness in representing them as few; and these things he had against them not in a judicial way to their condemnation, but in a providential way, in order to chastise them for them, for their good; and they are as follow: because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel ; or thy wife Jezebel, as the Complutensian edition and Syriac version read; the name of King Ahab's wife, who seduced him, in the Hebrew language is Izebel, but is read by the Septuagint in ( 1 Kings 16:31), Jezebel, as here; and by Josephus f97 Jezabela; she had her name from lbz , Zebel, dung, to which Elijah has reference in ( 2 Kings 9:37); the Ethiopic version calls her Elzabel. By her is meant the apostate church of Rome, comparable to Jezebel, the wife of Ahab; as she was the daughter of an Heathen, so is Rome Papal the daughter of Rome Pagan; and as she was the wife of Ahab, and therefore a queen, so the whore of Babylon calls herself; and as Jezebel was famous for her paintings, so the church of Rome for her pretensions to religion and holiness, and for the gaudiness of her worship; and as she was remarkable for her idolatry, whoredoms, witchcrafts, and cruel persecution of the prophets of the Lord, and for murder, and innocent blood she shed; so the church of Rome, for her idolatrous worship of images, for her whoredoms, both in a literal and spiritual sense, and for the witchcrafts, magic, and devilish arts many of her popes have been addicted to, and especially for her barbarities and cruelties exercised upon the true professors of Christ, and for the blood of the martyrs, with which she has been drunk; and as Jezebel stirred up Ahab against good and faithful men, is has this church stirred up the secular powers, emperors, kings, and princes, against the true followers of Christ: and the end of both of them is much alike; as scarce anything was left of Jezebel, so Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, shall be cast into the sea, and be found no more at all: compare ( 2 Kings 9:7,22,30,31,33,37) with ( Revelation 17:1,2,4-6,17,18 18:3,7,21,23); which calleth herself a prophetess ; as perhaps Jezebel might do, since she was such a favourer of the prophets of Baal, and so familiarly conversed with them, and kept them, even a hundred of them, at her table: and certain it is, that the antitype of her pretends to an infallible interpretation of the Scriptures, and to have a bulk of unwritten traditions; and which interpretations and traditions are to be regarded as an infallible rule of faith and practice. Now what is complained of in the true members and followers of Christ is, that they suffered this woman to teach ; when it was insufferable for a woman to teach, and especially such a strumpet: and to seduce my servants to commit fornication ; to deceive such who called themselves the servants of Christ, and draw them into the commission of spiritual fornication, which is idolatry; as the idolatrous worship of the Mass, and of images and saints departed: and to eat things sacrificed unto idols ; as Balaam, or the pope, before had done, ( Revelation 2:14). This may have respect to the latter part of this period, when the eyes of many began to be opened to see these false doctrines and idolatrous practices, and yet had not courage enough to oppose them as they should.
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
και 2532 CONJ εδωκα 1325 5656 V-AAI-1S αυτη 846 P-DSF χρονον 5550 N-ASM ινα 2443 CONJ μετανοηση 3340 5661 V-AAS-3S εκ 1537 PREP της 3588 T-GSF πορνειας 4202 N-GSF αυτης 846 P-GSF και 2532 CONJ ου 3756 PRT-N μετενοησεν 3340 5656 V-AAI-3S
