Revelation 2:4

Thy first love. This “love” probably included wholehearted love for God and for truth, and love for one another as brethren and for their fellow men in general (see on Matt. 5:43, 44; 22:34–40). Perhaps the doctrinal controversies stirred up by the false teachers had given rise to a factious spirit. Also, in spite of diligent efforts on the part of many to stay the tide of false teaching, a number who remained in the church were no doubt affected in greater or less degree by it. To the extent that error had found a lodging place in the church, to that extent was thwarted the activity of the Holy Spirit as a messenger of truth (John 16:13), whose task it is to convert the principles of truth into a living force for the transformation of character (see John 16:8–11; Gal. 5:22, 23; Eph. 4:30; etc.). Furthermore, as the testimony of those who had personally associated with Jesus ended, as one by one they died, and the vision of the imminence of Christ’s return (see on Rev. 1:1) began to fade, the flame of faith and devotion burned ever lower. For comment on other aspects of this departure from the pristine purity of faith and practice see Vol. IV, pp. 834, 835.