Revelation 2 · Verse 19

Revelation 2:19

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Revelation 2:19, King James Version

Revelation 2:19 in other translations

BSBI know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first.
WEB“I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.
ASVI know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.
YLTI have known thy works, and love, and ministration, and faith, and thy endurance, and thy works--and the last are more than the first.
DARBYI know thy works, and love, and faith, and service, and thine endurance, and thy last works to be more than the first.
BBEI have knowledge of your works, and your love and faith and help and strength in trouble, and that your last works are more than the first.
WebsterI know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first:

What does Revelation 2:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. The oldest manuscripts transpose the English Version order, and read, "faith and service." The four are subordinate to "thy works"; thus, "I know thy works, even the love and the faith (these two forming one pair, as 'faith works by love,' Ga 5:6), and the service (ministration to the suffering members of the Church, and to all in spiritual or temporal need), and the endurance of (that is, shown by) thee (this pronoun belongs to all four)." As love is inward, so service is its outward manifestation. Similarly, faith and persevering endurance, or "patient continuance (the same Greek as here, Ro 2:7) in well-doing," are connected. and thy works; and the last--Omit the second "and," with the three oldest manuscripts and the ancient versions; translate, "And (I know) thy works which are last (to be) more in number than the first"; realizing 1Th 4:1; the converse of Mt 12:45; 2Pe 2:20. Instead of retrograding from "the first works" and "first love," as Ephesus, Thyatira's last works exceeded her first (Re 2:4, 5).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. I know thy works. Rev 2:2. He knew all they had done, good and bad.

And charity. Love: love to God, and love to man. There is no reason for restricting this word here to the comparatively narrow sense which it now bears. 1Cor 13:1

And service. Gr., ministry--διακονιαν. The word would seem to include all the service which the church had rendered in the cause of religion; all which was the proper fruit of love, or which would be a carrying out of the principles of love to God and man.

And faith. Or, fidelity in the cause of the Redeemer. The word here would include not only trust in Christ for salvation, but that which is the proper result of such trust--fidelity in his service.

And thy patience. Patient endurance of the sorrows of life--of all that God brought upon them in any way, to test the reality of their religion.

And thy works. Thy works as the fruit of the virtues just mentioned. The word is repeated here, from the first part of the verse, perhaps, to specify more particularly that their works had been recently more numerous and praiseworthy even than they had formerly been. In the beginning of the verse, as in the commencement of each of the epistles, the word is used, in the most general sense, to denote all that they had done; meaning that he had so thorough an acquaintance with them in all respects, that he could judge of their character. In the latter part of the verse, the word seems to be used in a more specific sense, as referring to good works, and with a view to say that they had latterly abounded in these more than they had formerly.

And the last to be more than the first. Those which had been recently performed were more numerous, and more commendable, than those which had been rendered formerly. That is, they were making progress; they had been acting more and more in accordance with the nature and claims of the Christian profession. This is a most honourable commendation, and one which every Christian, and every church, should seek. Religion in the soul, and in a community, is designed to be progressive; and, while we should seek to live in such a manner always that we may have the commendation of the Saviour, we should regard it as a thing to be greatly desired that we may be approved as making advances in knowledge and holiness; that as we grow in years we may grow alike in the disposition to do good, and in the ability to do it; that as we gain in experience, we may also gain in a readiness to apply the results of our experience in promoting the cause of religion, lie would deserve little commendation in religion who should be merely stationary; he alone properly developes the nature of true piety, and shows that it has set up its reign in the soul, who is constantly making advances.

(b) "know" Rev 2:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 I know thy works - And of these he first sets forth their charity, την αγαπην, their love to God and each other; and particularly to the poor and distressed: and hence followed their faith, την πιστιν, their fidelity, to the grace they had received; and service, την διακονιαν, and ministration; properly pious and benevolent service to widows, orphans, and the poor in general. And thy patience - Την ὑπομονην σου· 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 labor 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 2:18-29

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. They grew wiser and better. All Christians should earnestly desire that…

Read the full comment on Revelation 2:18-29 →

Revelation 2:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οἶδάoidaI know
σουsouyourG4771
τὰta<the>G3588
ἔργαergaworksG2041
καὶkaiandG2532
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
ἀγάπηνagapēnloveG26
καὶkaiandG2532
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
καὶkaiandG2532
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
διακονίανdiakonianserviceG1248
καὶkaiandG2532
τὴνtēntheG3588
ὑπομονήνhupomonēnperseveranceG5281
σουsouof youG4771
καὶkaiandG2532
τὰtatheG3588
ἔργαergaworksG2041
σουsouof youG4771
τὰtatheG3588
ἔσχαταeschatalatterG2078
πλείοναpleiona[are] greaterG4119
τῶνtōnthan theG3588
πρώτων.prōtōnfirst.G4413

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 2:19

  • 1 Timothy 1:5

    Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

  • 2 Peter 1:7

    And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

  • John 15:2

    Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:3

    We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

  • Revelation 2:2-4

    I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, …

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:6

    But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

  • 2 Peter 3:18

    But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

  • Colossians 3:14

    And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

  • 1 Peter 4:8

    And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

  • Psalms 92:14

    They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

  • Revelation 2:13

    I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
know.
2,9,13
charity.
1Co 13:1-8; Col 3:14; 1Th 3:6; 2Th 1:3; 1Ti 1:5; 1Pe 4:8; 2Pe 1:7
patience.
3
the last.
4; Job 17:9; Ps 92:14; Pr 4:18; Joh 15:2; 2Pe 3:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Revelation 2:18

    And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

  • Revelation 2:19

    I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

  • Revelation 2:20

    Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Read all of Revelation 2

Revelation 2:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo he conocido tus obras, y caridad, y servicio, y fe, y tu paciencia, y que tus obras postreras son más que las primeras.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je connais tes œuvres, et ton amour, et ta foi, et ton service, et ta patience, et tes dernières œuvres qui dépassent les premières.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich kenne deine Werke und deine Liebe und deinen Glauben und deinen Dienst und dein Ausharren, und weiß, daß deiner letzten Werke mehr sind als der ersten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Novi opera tua, et fidem, et caritatem tuam, et ministerium, et patientiam tuam, et opera tua novissima plura prioribus.