“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first — the rebuke is severe: orthodoxy without love (agapē) is spiritual death. The phrase "at first" suggests the church's early fervent devotion to Christ (and thus to the beloved community) has cooled into formal correctness. This anticipates 1 Corinthians 13:1-3: knowledge and even faith without love profit nothing.
Church Fathers on Revelation 2:4
“And you have left your first love: remember whence you have fallen.” He who falls, falls from a height: therefore He said whence: because, even to the very last, works of love must be practised; and this is the principal commandment. Finally, unless this is done, He threatened to remove their candlestick out of its place, that is, to disperse the congregation.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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