Now the glorified Christ addresses the church members who have remained faithful, the rest of you … who do not hold this teaching. Reference has already been made to the teaching of Balaam (2.14) and the teaching of the Nicolaitans (2.15), and here the teaching of Jezebel is spoken of (see verse 20). The word teaching refers to what she teaches, not to her manner of teaching. It may be helpful in translation to specify the nature of this teaching: “evil teaching” or “false teaching.” Not hold means “do not follow.”
Who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan: it is possible that here the Greek verb translated have … learned means “have experienced,” “have had … experience of,” as Revised English Bible translates it. It appears that the followers of Jezebel called her teachings “the deep truths (or, secrets) of Satan”; see the parallel “the depths of God” (1 Cor 2.10). The adjective deep means “profound,” “very important” (as opposed to “simple” or “elementary”). It seems strange that the followers of Jezebel themselves (or at least some of them) would call her teachings “the deep truths of Satan”; yet this is one way the text can be understood. But the qualifying phrase in Greek is literally “as they call it.” This may be impersonal, meaning that others call it that. It seems best to take the subject of “as they call it” to be the followers of Jezebel. New American Bible, Revised “the so-called deep secrets of Satan” is a way of avoiding being specific (as the Greek text itself is not specific). It is probable that of Satan is the subjective genitive, “truths (or, secrets) that Satan reveals,” and not the objective genitive, “truths (or, secrets) about Satan.” The use of deep (or, “secret”) indicates that these are truths known only by a select group. For Satan see 2.9. With these comments in mind, this clause may also be expressed as “you have not experienced what her followers (the others) call ‘the deep truths that Satan reveals.’ ”
To you I say, I do not lay upon you any other burden: Christ is still speaking to these Christians who have not accepted the evil doctrines and practices taught by Jezebel. The Greek word for burden generally means something disagreeable or painful, a heavy load to carry (Matt 20.12; Gal 6.2); in a less negative sense it may be used of a command or order that is given to someone. Taking it in this sense—a command, an order—what are the orders implied by “any other orders”? Are they the general commands inherent in the Christian faith regarding Christian conduct? Or are they specific commands issued on a certain occasion? Some commentators point to the similar language used in Acts 15.26-29 and conclude that the commands in that passage are being referred to; but this seems most unlikely. The Greek word may also mean “weighty” in the sense of “important” (see Matt 23.23; 2 Cor 10.10). The meaning here may be “I impose on you no other important command (or, duty).”
It seems very likely that what follows in verse 25 is precisely what is implied by other, that is, “no other command beside (or, other than) this: Hold firmly to what you have.” Therefore, instead of placing a stop at the end of verse 24, as done by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation (and most other translations), the sentence should continue without a stop, as done by Translator’s New Testament: “I lay upon you no other burden but to hold fast what you have until I come”; so also New American Bible, Revised “on you I will place no further burden, except that you must hold fast to what you have until I come” (similarly Barclay, Phillips).
There is the possibility, however, that the Greek word translated only by Revised Standard Version and “But” by Good News Translation is used here as a conjunction, “but, otherwise,” and not as an improper preposition (which normally is followed by the genitive). Considering everything, however, it seems best to follow the example of Translator’s New Testament and New American Bible, Revised in the preceding paragraph.
Hold fast what you have: for the verb see 2.13. They are to maintain firmly their Christian faith and commitment, not to waver in their faithfulness to Christ. So this clause may also be phrased as “You must continue to believe strongly in me” or “You must remain loyal to me.”
Until I come: this is the coming at the end of the age. In translation it should be clear that until I come modifies hold fast, not what you have. Revised Standard Version is ambiguous as it is; New Revised Standard Version, by eliminating the comma after have, is quite unambiguous in the wrong sense: “hold fast to what you have until I come.” Something like Traduction œcuménique de la Bible is quite clear: “This, only: what you have, hold it firmly until I come.”
An alternative translation model for these two verses is:
• But the rest of you in Thyatira have not followed her (Jezebel’s) evil teaching. You have not participated in what her followers call “the deep truths that Satan reveals.” I say to you that I will not impose on you any other important (or, weighty) command, except that you must continue to believe strongly in me until I come.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .