Letters. They can be fascinating glimpses into personal thoughts of people past and present. Our New Testament is saturated with them.
Growing up, I heard a lot of teaching on and from these epistles in midweek Bible study. But there were some letters that more often made it into the Sunday sermons. I’m referring, of course, to the letters contained in the 2nd and 3rd chapters of John’s Revelation.
I always heard them referred to as the “letters to the seven churches.” But are they?
The easiest way to determine a letter’s recipient is, of course, to check the salutation. Reading the salutations of New Testament epistles shows that many are addressed to an entire group of believers within a city, or even across entire regions.
“To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints”
(Romans 1:7)
“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus”
(I Corinthians 1:2)
“...unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia”
(II Corinthians 1:1)
“...unto the churches of Galatia”
(Galatians 1:2)
“...to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus”
(Ephesians 1:1)
“...to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1)
“To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse”
(Colossians 1:2)
“...unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thessalonians 1:1)
“...unto the church of the Thessalonians”
(II Thessalonians 1:1)
“...to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad”
(James 1:1)
“...to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia”
(I Peter 1:1)
Often, these recipients were even encouraged to share their letters with each another.
“And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.”
(Colossians 4:16)
The salutations of other New Testament epistles show that they were intended for a solitary reader.
“Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith”
(I Timothy 1:2)
“To Titus, mine own son after the common faith”
(Titus 1:4)
The letters in the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Revelation are often talked about as if fitting into the former category, a letter to the church in Laodicea, for example. But this is not entirely accurate.
The introduction to the book does state, “John to the seven churches which are in Asia” (Revelation 1:4), and John is told in the 11th verse of the first chapter, “What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
But within this letter we call “Revelation” are contained seven smaller letters that are more recipient-specific:
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write...” (Revelation 2:1)
“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write...” (Revelation 2:8)
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write...” (Revelation 2:12)
“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write...” (Revelation 2:18)
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write...” (Revelation 3:1)
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write...” (Revelation 3:7)
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write...” (Revelation 3:14)
Not, “Unto the churh of,” but “Unto the angel of the church of.”
Now most can agree this is not a reference to the traditional noncorporeal being the average person thinks of when they hear the word “angel,” but rather the consensus is that this refers to a pastor, which is consistent with “a messenger,” the meaning of the Greek word “aggelos,” from which “angel” is translated.
To say that a letter to the pastor of a church is, by extension, a letter to the church body seems a bit of a stretch considering that the Lord, himself, clarifies them as distinct and separate.
“The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”
(Revelation 1:20)
Reading these as letters to pastors then, rather than to congregations, brings a fascinating twist to their context, especially if you’re a pastor.
