Letter to Thyatira

The fourth of Jesus’ messages to the seven churches of Asia, to Thyatira, is arranged in a neat chiasm.

A. Jesus the Son of God, v 18

B. Love, Faith, Service, Perseverance, v 19

C. Jezebel, vv 20

D. Tribulation for adulteresses, v 21-22

C’. Children with pestilence, v 23

B’. To the rest, vv 24-25

A’. Victors share Son’s authority, vv 26-29

The outer A/A’ sections are clearly parallel. Jesus is identified with the Davidic title “Son of God,” and ends with quotations from Psalm 2, where the “Son” is given authority. Jesus the Son of God shares His authority with the “sons of God” who also rule with Him. The B/B’ sections both commend members of the church at Thyatira. The church is divided between the children of Jezebel and those who follow Jesus. The B section describes the virtues of this group, and the B’ section assures them that Jesus is not placing any further burdens on them.

The C/D/C’ could be all one section, since it all has to do with Jezebel and her children. If we distinguish them, then C/C’ link up because Jezebel is “teaching” her “children” to go astray. Those who are Jesus’ own bondservants are led astray by the teaching of Jezebel. The D section at the center describes the judgment on Jezebel, and is enclosed by references to repentance. The D section itself forms a fairly neat chiasm:

a. Time to repent

b. She did not repent of her fornication

c. I cast her on a bed

b’. Along with her adulterous partners

a’. Unless they repent