Christ’s opening words indicate that he was keenly aware of their works,
that is, how they lived day by day, and he complimented them for those works. Their being faithful required toil
and patient endurance,
which John himself exercised in the face of difficulty (see Revelation 1:9). The Christians of Ephesus could not “bear with those who are evil.” They “tested” them (presumably by listening) and concluded they were fake apostles.
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.