Revelation 2-3 (The Sermons to the Seven Churches)

Dr. Jeffrey Weima (Calvin Theological Seminary) guides us through Revelation 2-3. We discuss:

* The significance of the form of the addresses to the seven churches as sermons rather than letters

* Why John writes to these seven churches, and the significance of their arrangement

* What it means that the church in Ephesus "abandoned the love you had at first" (2:4)

* Who are the Nicolaitans and what did they do and teach? (2:6, 15)

* The meaning of the phrase "the synagogue of Satan" (2:9; 3:9) and how to handle this phrase in light of the history of anti-Judaism and anti-semitism

* The meaning of the "hidden manna" and the difficulty of making sense of "the white stone" with the name on it (2:17)

* The significance of Jezebel (3:17) and the nature of the punishment that she receives: "I am throwing her on a bed" (3:22)

* The significance of "the key of David" (3:7)

* The significance of the church of Laodicea being likened to lukewarm water (3:15–16)

Works by Jeff Weima

* The Sermons to the Seven Churches of Revelation: A Commentary & Guide. Baker Academic, 2021

* Paul the Ancient Letter Writer: A Introduction to Epistolary Analysis. Baker Academic, 2016

* Neglected Endings: The Significance of the Pauline Letter Closings. Sheffield, 1994

This Week’s Blurb

Jeff Weima recommends: 

* Taking a Biblical Study Tour to Turkey with Jeff Weima.

* For more information, visit his website www.jeffreyweima.com

Next Episode 

In our next episode, Dr. Daniel Carroll (Rodas) (Wheaton College) guides us through the book of Amos.

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This episode is co-sponsored by Samford University and the Alabama Humanities Alliance, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of the Alabama Humanities Alliance, the National Endowment for the Humanities or Samford University.