Study Desk

THE minister, to the mother church, and her children, those whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all those who have known the truth,

And now I beseech you, O mother church, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

The children of your elect sister Church greet you. Grace be with you. Amen.

Who have borne witness concerning your love before the whole church: for the good things which you have done for them by supplying their needs, as is pleasing to God,

I wrote to the church, that Di-ot''re-phes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, would not receive us.

Therefore, if I come, I will mention the things which he did, gossiping against us with malicious words: and not content with this, he not only did not receive the brethren, but also forbade those who would like to receive them, and cast them out of the church.

De-me''tri-us has good report of all men, and of the church, and of the truth itself: yea, we also testify for him; and we know that our testimony is true.

TO the angel * of the church of Eph''esus write: These things says the Omnipotent; who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things says the first and the last, which was dead and is alive:

And to the angel of the church in Per''gamos write: These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword;

And unto the angel of the church in Thya- ti''ra write: These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like unto a flame of fire, and whose feet are like fine brass from Lebanon;

AND unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things says he who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works; you have a name that you are alive and yet you are dead.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he who is the holy one, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;

And unto the angel of the church in Laod- i-ce''a write; These things says the Amen, the faithful, and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;