Revelation 2:2

I know (oida). Rather than ginwskw and so "emphasizes better the absolute clearness of mental vision which photographs all the facts of life as they pass" (Swete). So also in Acts 2:9 Acts 2:13 Acts 2:19 ; Acts 3:1 Acts 3:8 Acts 3:15 . For the distinction see John 21:17 , "where the universal knowledge passes into the field of special observation." Works (erga). The whole life and conduct as in John 6:29 . And thy toil and patience (kai ton kopon kai thn upomonhn sou). "Both thy toil and patience," in explanation of erga, and see 1 Thessalonians 1:3 , where all three words (ergon, kopo, upomonh) occur together as here. See Revelation 14:13 for sharp distinction between erga (activities) and kopoi (toils, with weariness). Endurance (upomonh) in hard toil (kopo). And that (kai oti). Further explanation of kopo (hard toil). Not able (ou dunh). This Koin form for the Attic dunasai (second person singular indicative middle) occurs also in Mark 9:22 ; Luke 16:2 . Bear (bastasai). First aorist active infinitive of bastazw, for which verb see John 10:31 ; John 12:6 ; Galatians 6:2 . These evil men were indeed a heavy burden. And didst try (kai epeirasa). First aorist active indicative of peirazw, to test, a reference to a recent crisis when these Nicolaitans (verse Galatians 6 ) were condemned. The present tenses (dunh, ecei) indicate the continuance of this attitude. Cf. 1 John 4:1 . Which call themselves apostles (tou legonta eautou apostolou). Perhaps itinerant missionaries of these Nicolaitans who posed as equal to or even superior to the original apostles, like the Judaizers so described by Paul ( 2 Corinthians 11:5 2 Corinthians 11:13 ; 2 Corinthians 12:11 ). Paul had foretold such false teachers (Gnostics), grievous wolves, in Acts 20:29 ; in sheep's clothing, Jesus had said ( Matthew 7:15 ). And they are not (kai ouk eisin). A parenthesis in Johannine style ( John 2:9 ; John 3:9 ; 1 John 3:1 ) for kai ouk onta to correspond to legonta. And didst find (kai eure). Second aorist active indicative of euriskw. Dropping back to the regular structure parallel with epeirasa. False (pseudei). Predicate accusative plural of pseudh, self-deceived deceivers as in 1 John 21:8 .