The seven letters to the communities (2:1-3:22)
These are short, simple and personal letters addressed to the communities of Ephesus (2:1-7), Smyrna (2:8-11), Pergamum (2:12-17), Thyatira (2:18-29), Sardis (3:1-6), Philadelphia (3:7-13) and Laodicea (3:14-22). We shall not explain each letter, but give only a few indications which pertain to all the letters.
The seven parts of each letter
All these letters follow the same format. Each of them has these seven particularities:
- They are all addressed to "the angel of the community" (2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14).
- They are all presented as the message of Jesus: "Here is the message of ..." (2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14).
- In each letter, Jesus is given a title (2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14) and most of these titles are drawn from the vision of John (1:12-20).
- Jesus begins all these letters, saying: "I know ..." and describes the positive traits of the community (2:2-3, 9, 13, 19; 3:8). He finds nothing positive, however, in the community at Laodicea: it is neither cold nor hot (3:15).
- Then Jesus describes the negative points of each community and gives warnings (2:4-6, 14-16, 20-25; 3:2-3, 15-19). Two communities, Smyrna and Philadelphia, show nothing negative; Jesus encourages them to persevere (2:10; 3:11). In the community at Sardis, the negative is stronger than the positive (3:1-4). Hence he asks them to change their way of life.
- All the communities receive the final injunction: "Let anyone who can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches" (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:5, 12, 21).
- All the letters end with some promise for those who are victorious (2:7, 11, 17, 26-28); 3:5, 12, 21).
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