Revelation 2:2 Revelation 2:2 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: "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience," etc. In the narrative of this epistle, from Revelation 2:2-6, we have, first, Christ’ s approbation and commendation of all the good things in the angel and church of Ephesus. \ Secondly, Christ’ s gentle reproof of what HE found amiss in them. \ Thirdly, his wholesome and spiritual counsel, and exhortation to repent and reform, urged and amplified by a commination threatening to unchurch them, if they did not repent and amend. \ And, fourthly, the reason why Christ gave this church this fair admonition and exercised his forebearance and patience towards them. \ First, Christ’ s approbation, I know thy works so as to reward them, \ Christ is omniscient. \ All things are naked and open in his eyes, \ and thy labour, both of the ministers in the word and doctrine \ kopiwntev and the labour of love among the members in this church \ kai tou kopou thv agaphv; love is a very serviceable grace, \ towards both saints and sinners, \ love is long-suffering; kind \ doth not behave itself unseemly, \ rejoiceth in the truth, \ beareth, believeth, hopeth and endureth all things. The love of Christ constrains his saints to love and labour in love. "And thy patience." The patience of Christ’ s ministers and saints was tried and exercised under all their trail of affliction and persecution, which they endured for his sake. \ It is the duty of the ministers and members of Christ in the churches of saints, to exercise patience in all their trials of affliction and persecution. \ "And how thou canst not bear with them that are evil," etc. Christ commended this church, her ministers or members, who would not bear with, nor forbear those ministers or members among them "that were evil," that is to say, who were corrupted by evil manners, or wicked opinions, whereby others might be leavened and corrupted by their false doctrines or sinful practices; but did exercise the authority and power which the church had received from Christ; first, in admonishing them. Secondly, in withdrawing from them; and thirdly, in excommunicating them, according to the laws of Christ recorded. \ "And thou hast tried them, that say they are apostles, and are not; and hast found them liars." Some of the teachers in this church pretended to be apostles of Christ "which say they are apostles," as did also some of the teachers in other churches, who were false apostles and deceitful workers, \ Transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, who upon trial were found to be liars, i.e. false apostles. "Thou hast tried them," viz. First, what call and commission they had from Christ "and found them liars," for they had not Christ’ s commission, nor were they called by Christ to be apostles by office. Secondly, what apostolical gifts they had given and received from Christ, and in what respect "also found them liars." Thirdly, what doctrine they preached in the name of Christ "and found them liars," in that respect likewise, for they preached not the doctrine of the apostles, but the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. \ Fourthly, what manner of life they lead and what conservation they lived in, and in that respect "found them liars," for they lived not like the apostles, nor had their conservation as became the gospel in simplicity and godly sincerity, \ but they practiced the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which Christ and this church hated. \ The churches of saints have power and authority from Christ to try the calling, gifts, doctrine, and conversation of their teachers. \