REV 2:4 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) However, I do have something against you: you’ve abandoned the love that you first had.

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

UST Nevertheless, I must criticize you about something: You no longer love me as you did when you first believed in me.

AICNT “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

OEB But this I have against you – You have abandoned your first love.

WEBBE But I have this against you, that you left your first love.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love!

LSV But I have against you that you left your first love!

FBV But I have something against you: you have neglected your first love.

TCNT But I have this against yoʋ: Yoʋ have left yoʋr first love.

T4T Nevertheless, I have this complaint against you: You no longer love each other and me as you did when you first [MTY] trusted in me.

LEB But I have this against you: that you have left your first love.

BBE But I have this against you, that you are turned away from your first love.

Moff But I have this against you: you have given up loving one another as you did at first.

Wymth Yet I have this against you—that you no longer love Me as you did at first.

ASV But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.

DRA But I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first charity.

YLT 'But I have against thee: That thy first love thou didst leave!

Drby but I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first love.

RV But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.
(But I have this against thee/you, that thou/you didst/did leave thy/your first love. )

SLT But I have against thee, for thou hast let go thy first love.

Wbstr Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

KJB-1769 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
( Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee/you, because thou/you hast left thy/your first love. )

KJB-1611 Neuerthelesse, I haue somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first loue.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Neuertheles, I haue somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first loue.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Gnva Neuertheles, I haue somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first loue.
(Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee/you, because thou/you hast left thy/your first love. )

Cvdl Neuerthelesse I haue somwhat agaynst the, for thou hast lefte thy fyrst loue.
(Nevertheless I have somewhat against them, for thou/you hast left thy/your first love.)

TNT Neverthelesse I have sumwhat agaynst the for thou haste lefte thy fyrst love.
(Nevertheless I have somewhat against the for thou/you haste left thy/your first love. )

Wycl But Y haue ayens thee a fewe thingis, that thou hast left thi firste charite.
(But I have against thee/you a few things, that thou/you hast left thy/your first charity.)

Luth Aber ich habe wider dich, daß du die erste Liebe verlässest.
(But I have against you/yourself, that you(sg) the first love(n) leave.)

ClVg Sed habeo adversum te, quod caritatem tuam primam reliquisti.[fn]
(But I_have against you(sg), that charity your(sg) the_first I_leftsti. )

2.4 Sed habeo adversum te quod charitatem. Vel episcopus in persona sua, affectus tædio vitiorum reprehenditur in subditis, vel subditi amore terrenorum delinquere inveniuntur. Heli sacerdos fuit bonus, et tamen damnatus est quia filios corrigere nolebat.

2.4 But I_have against you(sg) that charity. Or episcopus in/into/on person his_own, with_feelings tædio of_vices reprehenditur in/into/on I_submitis, or I_submiti with_love earthly_things delinquere are_found. Heli priest it_was good/kind/gracious, and nevertheless damnatus it_is because children to_correct nolebat.

UGNT ἀλλὰ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ, ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην σου τὴν πρώτην ἀφῆκες.
(alla eⱪō kata sou, hoti taʸn agapaʸn sou taʸn prōtaʸn afaʸkes.)

SBL-GNT ἀλλὰ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην σου τὴν πρώτην ἀφῆκες.
(alla eⱪō kata sou hoti taʸn agapaʸn sou taʸn prōtaʸn afaʸkes.)

RP-GNT Ἀλλὰ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ, ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην σου τὴν πρώτην ἀφῆκας.
(Alla eⱪō kata sou, hoti taʸn agapaʸn sou taʸn prōtaʸn afaʸkas.)

TC-GNT [fn]Ἀλλὰ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην σου τὴν πρώτην [fn]ἀφῆκας.
(Alla eⱪō kata sou hoti taʸn agapaʸn sou taʸn prōtaʸn afaʸkas. )

2:4 αλλα 𝔐^C,K [60.6%] ¦ αλλ 𝔐^A ECM NA²⁸ TR [38.5%]

2:4 αφηκας 𝔐^A,C,K [96.8%] ¦ αφηκες NA SBL TH WH [2.7%]

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–7: Jesus spoke to the church at Ephesus

In this section, Jesus spoke to the people at Ephesus who believed in him. He said that they were doing some good things, but they were also doing a bad thing. He then encouraged them and warned them to repent. Lastly, he gave a promise to any believer who persevered in his faith.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Message to Ephesus (GNT)

Jesus gave a message to the church at Ephesus

Advice to the group of believers at Ephesus

2:4a

But I have this against you:

¶ But I have one complaint against you.
¶ But there is something I dislike/criticize about your way of life, namely,

But I have this against you: This clause indicates that Jesus was displeased with the believers about something. He explained what he was displeased about in 2:4b. Other ways to translate this clause are:

But I have this complaint against you. (NLT)

However, I find fault with you in this way:

But I do have this one criticism of you.

2:4b

You have abandoned your first love.

You have left/abandoned your early/previous/former love.
that you love much less now than you did at first.
that you do not love me and each other at all like you did when you began to follow me.

You have abandoned your first love: The word abandoned means “left” or “forsook.” It indicates that the believers love much less now than they did earlier. Other ways to translate this clause are:

you have abandoned the love you had at first (RSV)

you love little compared to how you loved at first

you have less love now than formerly (NJB)

John did not explicitly say whom the Ephesian believers now loved less. He was probably referring to their love in general, including love for God, for Jesus, and for fellow believers. If possible, do not say explicitly whom they loved less. However, some languages must say who was loved. If this is true in your language, you should add a general word or phrase. For example:

you love everyone less

You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! (NLT)

first: This word refers to the first time that the Ephesian believers began to follow Jesus. At that time they loved Jesus and one another very much, and they acted in ways that showed it.

love: The word love refers to a strong feeling of affection and concern for someone.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ, ὅτι

˱I˲_˓am˒_having (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλʼ ἔχω κατά σοῦ ὅτι τήν ἀγάπην σοῦ τήν πρώτην ἀφῆκες)

See the discussion of the expression I have against you in the General Notes to this chapter to decide how to translate the expression here and in its other occurrences in these letters. Alternate translation: [I disapprove of you because] or [I have a criticism to make of you, that]

τὴν ἀγάπην σου τὴν πρώτην ἀφῆκες

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλʼ ἔχω κατά σοῦ ὅτι τήν ἀγάπην σοῦ τήν πρώτην ἀφῆκες)

To stop doing something is spoken of as leaving it behind. Here the expression you have left behind your first love represents love as an object that can be forsaken. Alternate translation: [you have stopped loving me as you did at the beginning]

Parallel REV 2:4

Section 2:1–7: Jesus spoke to the church at Ephesus

2:4a

2:4b