Revelation 2:3

3 and thou hast patience, and thou hast suffered for my name [and thou hast sustained for my name], and failedest not.

Revelation 2:3 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 2:3

And hast borne
Not evil men, nor false apostles, but "burdens", as the Ethiopic version reads, and as the word signifies; meaning afflictions, reproaches, and persecutions, which pressed sore, and lay heavy on these ministers and churches; and yet they bore them with constancy and cheerfulness, and were not moved by them. The Arabic version reads, "and thou hast borne me"; my name and Gospel, among the Gentiles, and carried it from place to place; see ( Acts 9:15 ) ;

and hast patience;
which they had from God, as his gift, and which they had in their hearts, and in exercise, and found it useful to them. It was in exercise in a suitable time, and it continued with them; it was not worn out through the length and greatness of their trials.

And for my name's sake hast laboured:
which may refer either to enduring sufferings for Christ's name's sake, for his Gospel's sake, for righteousness sake, for the sake of the elect, and for the sake of the honour, glory, and interest of Christ; or to labouring in the ministry, not for filthy lucre sake, nor for party sake, but for the honour of Christ, and the good of souls; and there never was an interval in which this was more true:

and hast not fainted:
so as to sink under the burden borne; to have patience quite tired out; to, be weary of labouring for Christ's name's sake; and so as to give out, and quit the service of Christ.

Revelation 2:3 In-Context

1 And to the angel of the church of Ephesus write thou, These things saith he, that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, which walketh [that walketh] in the middle of the seven golden candlesticks.
2 I know thy works, and thy travail, and thy patience, and that thou mayest not suffer evil men [and that thou mayest not sustain evil men]; and thou hast assayed them that say that they be apostles, and be not, and thou hast found them liars;
3 and thou hast patience, and thou hast suffered for my name [and thou hast sustained for my name], and failedest not.
4 But I have against thee a few things, that thou hast left thy first charity.
5 Therefore be thou mindful from whence thou hast fallen, and do penance, and do the first works; or else, I shall come soon to thee, and I shall move thy candlestick from his place [if not, I shall come soon to thee, and shall move thy candlestick of his place], but thou do penance.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.