Revelation 2:21

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) And I gave her space.—Read, And I gave her time to repent, and she will not (or, is not willing to) repent of her fornication, or, to repent out of—i.e., so as to forsake her fornication. Here, as before, we are reminded that true repentance is a repentance whereby we forsake sin. (Comp. Revelation 2:5; Revelation 3:2.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:18-29 Even when the Lord knows the works of his people to be wrought in love, faith, zeal, and patience; yet if his eyes, which are as a flame of fire, observe them committing or allowing what is evil, he will rebuke, correct, or punish them. Here is praise of the ministry and people of Thyatira, by One who knew the principles from which they acted. They grew wiser and better. All Christians should earnestly desire that their last works may be their best works. Yet this church connived at some wicked seducers. God is known by the judgments he executes; and by this upon seducers, he shows his certain knowledge of the hearts of men, of their principles, designs, frame, and temper. Encouragement is given to those who kept themselves pure and undefiled. It is dangerous to despise the mystery of God, and as dangerous to receive the mysteries of Satan. Let us beware of the depths of Satan, of which those who know the least are the most happy. How tender Christ is of his faithful servants! He lays nothing upon his servants but what is for their good. There is promise of an ample reward to the persevering, victorious believer; also knowledge and wisdom, suitable to their power and dominion. Christ brings day with him into the soul, the light of grace and of glory, in the presence and enjoyment of him their Lord and Saviour. After every victory let us follow up our advantage against the enemy, that we may overcome and keep the works of Christ to the end.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication - Probably after some direct and solemn warning of the evil of her course. The error and sin had been of long standing, but he now resolved to bear with it no longer. It is true of almost every great sinner, that sufficient time is given for repentance, and that vengeance is delayed after crime is committed. But it cannot always be deferred, for the period must arrive when no reason shall exist for longer delay, and when punishment must come upon the offender.

And she repented not - As she did not do it; as she showed no disposition to abandon her course; as all plea of having had no time to repent would now be taken away, it was proper that he should rise in his anger and cut her down.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

21. space—Greek, "time."

of her fornication … she repented not—The three oldest manuscripts read, "and she willeth not to repent of (literally, 'out of,' that is, so as to come out of) her fornication." Here there is a transition from literal to spiritual fornication, as appears from Re 2:22. The idea arose from Jehovah's covenant relation to the Old Testament Church being regarded as a marriage, any transgression against which was, therefore, harlotry, fornication, or adultery.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

I was not quick with her, but gave her a time of patience, and did not cut her off at first; but she was incorrigible, and went on in her sinful courses.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication,.... Of idolatry. This may have respect to the time of the witnesses, the Waldenses, and others, who bore a testimony against the Romish idolatry, and reproved for it, and denounced the judgment of God in case of impenitence; and as these things were repeated time after time, this may be called a space given to repent in; just as Jezebel had a space given her to repent in, from the time that Elijah declared the word of the Lord, that the dogs should eat her: so the Jews (b) say of the old world, that God gave them , "space to repent", but they repented not, as here:

and she repented not; see Revelation 9:20; for the time for, and means leading to repentance may be given, yet if the grace of repentance itself is not given, men, either particular persons, or whole bodies of men, will never repent of their sins. The Alexandrian copy, Complutensian, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, read, "and she would not repent",

(b) Juchasin, fol. 7. 1.

Geneva Study Bible

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Revelation 2:21. This misleader’s worthiness of punishment[1243] is increased by the fact that she had time for repentance, and yet will not repent. Thus by the καί this point is added to the guilt mentioned in Revelation 2:20.

ἔδωκα, κ.τ.λ., designates not the unsearchable decree of God in relation to “the speedy coming” of the Lord, that a time for repentance should still be open, but in connection with which it is predicted that the same will not be utilized;[1244] but a time of repentance is designated, the discerning of which, indeed, lies in an act of the Lord’s grace that is now past (ἔδωκα),[1245] but which, as the pres. ὑ θέκλει μεταν. shows, is to be regarded as continuing still to the present, and that, too, fruitlessly. Thus there is no ground for the opinion[1246] that John had already before published a written rebuke. But it is correctly inferred[1247] that the woman Jezebel had for a long time already exercised her corrupt activity. Even the fact that she had been let go[1248] appears from the standpoint of Divine Providence to afford an opportunity for a time of repentance, although the church must on this account be censured.

The ὲκ after μεταν.[1249] naturally stands as a designation of the movement out of sins.

The ΠΟΡΝΕΊΑ—not “inaccurately stated for immodest pursuits leading to inchastity”[1250]—is meant precisely as in Revelation 2:20 (Revelation 2:14). Fornication in its various forms was properly the heart of the error.

[1243] Cf. Revelation 2:22.

[1244] Ebrard.

[1245] Cf. Winer, p. 80. Ebrard inaccurately paraphrases the aor. after the manner of the present.

[1246] Ew. ii.

[1247] Ew., De Wette.

[1248] Cf. Revelation 2:20.

[1249] Revelation 2:22. Cf. Acts 8:22 : ἀπό.

[1250] De Wette.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Revelation 2:21. The immorality was flagrant; more flagrant still was the obstinate persistence in it, despite admonitions and forbearance (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:11; Bar. Ap. xxi. 20; 2 Peter 3:9). This allusion to an abuse of God’s patience and to a warning given already (hardly in some writing like Jud. 2 Peter, Spitta) is left quite indefinite; it was probably familiar enough to the first readers of the book. Interests and old associations had proved hitherto too strong for this prophetic counsel to be followed. Membership of a trade-guild, although it necessarily involved the recognition of some pagan deity and often led to orgies, “was a most important matter for every tradesman or artisan; it aided his business, and brought, him many advantages socially” (Ramsay).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21. Read, And I gave her time that she should repent, and she will not [does not choose to] repent of her fornication.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. - Here again the Revised Version must be preferred; the Authorized Version follows a corrupt Greek text. With the construction, "I gave her time that (ἵνα) she should repent," comp. Revelation 8:3; Revelation 9:5; Revelation 12:14; Revelation 19:8; John 17:4; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 5:20. With "willeth not to repent," comp. John 6:21, 67; John 7:17; John 8:44. Jezebel "despised the riches of Christ's forbearance and long suffering, not believing that his goodness led her to repentance" (Romans 2:4). The whole passage should be compared with this (see also Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; Psalm 10:6; 2 Peter 3:3, 4, 9). Revelation 2:21

Vincent's Word Studies

Space (χρόνον)

Lit., time, as Rev.

Repent (μετανοήσῃ)

See on Matthew 3:2; see on Matthew 21:29.

Of her fornication (ἐκ)

Lit., out of; i.e., so as to come out of and escape from her sin. See on Revelation 2:7.