To the Church in Thyatira

¹⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

¹⁹ “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. ²⁰ But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. ²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. ²² Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, ²³ and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. ²⁴ But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. ²⁵ Only hold fast what you have until I come. ²⁶ The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, ²⁷ and he will rule^[c] them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. ²⁸ And I will give him the morning star. ²⁹ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Footnotes

1. Revelation 2:9 Greek blasphemy
2. Revelation 2:13 Or your faith in me
3. Revelation 2:27 Greek shepherd

antinomianism ? 

Antinomianism, derived from the Greek words anti (meaning "against") and nomos (meaning "law"), is the theological or philosophical view that Christians or believers are released from the obligations of moral or religious laws by virtue of grace, faith, or spiritual liberation.

• Core Definition: Proponents of antinomianism argue that faith alone is necessary for salvation, and therefore moral codes, religious statutes, or civil laws are either unnecessary or actively contrary to true spiritual freedom.

• Historical Context: The term gained prominence during the Protestant Reformation, when critics leveled the accusation against certain radical reformers who interpreted salvation by grace alone as an elimination of the moral law (the Ten Commandments). Martin Luther strongly opposed antinomianism, arguing that while good works do not earn salvation, a transformed heart naturally produces moral obedience.

• In Biblical Studies: Passages like the one from Revelation concerning Thyatira often reference internal theological disputes or heresies involving compromised moral standards, sexual immorality, and the adoption of teachings deemed corrupting by church authorities.