82、“但我反对你，就是你把起初的仁爱离弃了”表示有一件事要反对他们，就是他们没有将生活的良善放在首位，然而，无论过去还是现在，每个教会起初都将生活的良善放在首位。这话是说给以弗所教会的，因为该教会是指教会中那些主要或首先关注教义真理，而非生活良善的人(AR 73节)；然而，生活的良善本应是首先，也就是主要被关注的；因为人在何等程度上处于生活的良善，就在何等程度上真正处于教义的真理，反过来则不然。原因在于，生活的良善打开心智的内层，当这些内层被打开时，真理就出现在自己的光中，它们由此不仅被理解，还被热爱。当主要或首先关注的是教义时，情况就不同了。这时，真理的确被知道，却不能出于属灵情感从内层被看到和热爱(AR 17节)。每个教会起初都首先关注生活的良善，其次关注教义的真理；但随着教会衰落，它开始首先关注教义的真理，其次关注生活的良善；最终，在末了，它只关注信。这时，它不仅将仁之良善与信分离，甚至还忽略或放弃它们。由此明显可知，“你把起初的仁爱离弃了”表示他们没有将生活的良善放在首位，然而，无论过去还是现在，每个教会起初都将生活的良善放在首位。
82. "'Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first charity.'" (2:4) This symbolically means, but this is against them, that they do not hold goods of life in first place, as they did, however, before, and as people do at the beginning of every church.
This statement is addressed to the church of Ephesus, because it means people in the church who regard doctrinal truths primarily or in first place, and not goods of life (no. 73), even though goods of life ought to be regarded in first place or primarily. For to the extent that a person is engaged in good endeavors in his life, to the same extent he is in possession of doctrinal truths really, but not the reverse. The reason is that goods of life open the inner recesses of the mind, and when these have been opened, truths appear in their own light, causing them to be not only understood, but also loved. Not so when doctrinal teachings are regarded primarily or in first place. Truths may indeed be known then, but they cannot be seen interiorly or loved with a spiritual affection. However, more light may be shed on this in no. 17 above.
In its beginning, every church regards goods of life in first place, and secondly doctrinal truths. But as a church declines, it begins to regard doctrinal truths in first place, and secondly goods of life. And in the end it at last regards faith only, and it not only divorces goods of charity from faith then, but even gives up practice of them.
It can be seen from this now that the statement, "You have left your first charity," means, symbolically, that they do not hold goods of life in first place, as they did, however, before, and as people do at the beginning of every church.
82. [verse 4] 'But I have against thee that thou hast left thy first charity' signifies that this is against them, that they do not have the goods of life in the first place, which nevertheless was and is the case at the beginning of every Church. This is said to the [Ephesian] Church, because by it are understood those in the Church who primarily or in the first place have the truths of doctrine in view and not the goods of life (73); when yet the goods of life ought to be regarded in the first place, that is, primarily, for in so far as a man is in goods of life, so far is he really in truths of doctrine, but not the reverse. This is because the goods of life open the interiors of the mind, and when these have been opened truths appear in their own light, out of which they are not only understood, but also loved. The case is different when doctrinal matters are in view primarily or in the first place. Then truths can indeed be known, but not seen interiorly nor loved out of a spiritual affection; but this may be seen elucidated above (17). Every Church during its beginning has the goods of life in view in the first place, and in the second the truths of doctrine; but as a Church turns aside, it starts to have these truths of doctrine in view in the first place, and the goods of life in the second; and at length at the end it has faith alone in view. Then it not only separates the goods of charity from faith, but even gives them up. From these considerations it can now be established that by 'Thou hast left thy first charity' is signified that they do not have the goods of life in the first place, which nevertheless was and is the case at the beginning of every Church.
82. Verse 4. But I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first charity, signifies that this is against them, that they do not hold goods of life in the first place, which, nevertheless, was and is done in the beginning of every church. This is said to this church, because by it are meant those in the church who primarily or in the first place regard the truths of doctrine, and not the goods of life, (73); when yet the goods of life are to be regarded in the first place, that is, primarily; for in proportion as a man is in the goods of life, in the same proportion he is really in the truths of doctrine, but not the reverse. The reason is, that the goods of life open the interiors of the mind, and these being opened, truths appear in their own light, whence they are not only understood, but also loved. It is otherwise when doctrinals are regarded primarily or in the first place. Truths may indeed then be known, but they are not seen interiorly and loved from spiritual affection; but this may be seen illustrated above, (17). Every church in its beginning, regards the goods of life in the first place, and the truths of doctrine in the second; but as the church declines, it begins to regard the truths of doctrine in the first place, and the goods of life in the second; and at length in the end it regards faith alone, and then it not only separates the goods of charity from faith, but also omits them. From these things it may now appear, that by, "Thou hast left thy first charity," is signified that they do not hold the goods of life in the first place, which nevertheless is, and has been done in the beginning of every church.
82. (Vers. 4.) "Sed habeo adversus te, quod charitatem tuam primam reliqueris," significat quod hoc sit contra illos, quod primo loco non habeant bona vitae, ut tamen factum est et fit in principio omnis Ecclesiae. - Hoc dicitur ad Ecclesiam (Ephesinam), quia per eam intelliguntur illi in Ecclesia, qui primario seu primo loco spectant vera doctrinae, et non bona vitae (73) cum tamen bona vitae primo loco, hoc est primario, spectanda sunt, nam quantum homo in bonis vitae est, tantum realiter in veris doctrinae est, non autem vicissim; causa est, quia bona vitae aperiunt interiora mentis, quibus apertis apparent vera in sua luce, ex qua non solum intelliguntur, sed etiam amantur: aliter cum doctrinalia primario seu primo loco spectantur; tunc quidem sciri possunt vera, sed non interius videri, et ex spirituali affectione amari; sed hoc illustratum videatur supra (17). Omnis Ecclesia, dum inchoat, primo loco spectat bona vitae, et secundo vera doctrinae; sed sicut Ecclesia declinat, incipit illa spectare vera doctrinae primo loco, et bona vitae secundo; et tandem in fine spectat solam fidem, et tunc bona charitatis non solum separat a fide, sed etiam omittit. Ex his nunc constare potest, quod per "quod charitatem tuam primam reliqueris," significetur quod primo loco non habeant bona vitae, ut tamen factum est et fit principio omnis Ecclesiae.