Revelation 2:8-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8

The metropolitan, setting out from Ephesus to visit the Churches of Asia, would naturally go first to Smyrna. It ranked as one of the most beautiful cities in Asia; but its magnificence must at times have seemed poor compensation for the neglect of the architect, who, in planning the city for Antigonus and Lysimachus, omitted the drains. In time of floods the streets became open sewers. For its fidelity to Rome against Mithridates, it received exceptional privileges, but suffered heavily when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

The epistle to the Church at Smyrna. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

Smyrna: words of cheer from a reigning Saviour to a suffering Church. In some respects this letter awakens more interest in the Church to which it was addressed than any other of the seven. Out of the seven Churches, two only are unrebuked. Of these two, Smyrna is one. It is a poor Church, but Jesus calls it rich. It is beset with opposition, but it has the Lord for its Advocate, and is addressed by him in words of cheer and of hope. Not only, however, is this Church interesting to us on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

The epistle to the Church at Smyrna. This city was situated in the same district of Asia Minor, some forty miles to the north of Ephesus, in which all these seven Churches were, at the mouth of a considerable river, in a most beautiful bay. The lands lying round were very fertile, bearing grapes in abundance, as befitted the city where the god Bacchus was the deity most honoured by the people. The city itself was large, beautiful, populous, wealthy. It was called, "The lovely one;" "The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

(2) The epistle to the Church in Smyrna : the Church exposed to suffering. The dark shades of coming sorrow gather about a Church already distinguished by tribulation and poverty and rude reviling. "The devil is about to cast some of you into prison;" so saith he "which was dead, and lived again." Even death in bitterness of persecuting violence will fall upon some. The All-seeing One discerns the coming storm, and cheers his faithful people to stand firm in the day of their suffering, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

The words of Christ to the congregation at Smyrna. "And unto the angel of the Church in Smyrna," etc. This letter is addressed to the Church at Smyrna. "Smyrna is not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture, so that we have no means of ascertaining when, and by whom, the Christian faith was first planted there. We may, however, conjecture that that great commercial city did not escape attention either by St. Paul or his associates in missionary effort during his three years' stay at Ephesus?... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:9

I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty . "Thy works" has been inserted here and in Revelation 2:13 in order to make the opening of all seven epistles alike. The uncials A, C, P, and the Vulgate, Coptic, and AE thiopic Versions omit the words in each place. The Sinaiticus inserts them here and omits them in Revelation 2:13 , where they are plainly awkward in construction. Like all wealthy cities, Smyrna showed the extremes of wealth and poverty side by side. It would be among the poor... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:10

Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer . We must bring out the difference between "to be about to" ( μέλλειν ), in the first two clauses, and the simple future ( ἔξετε ) in the third; compare "I will show him how many things he must suffer for my Name's sake" ( Acts 9:16 ). The devil, who inspires the "synagogue of Satan," is to be allowed to afflict them, as he afflicted Job. (For "behold," see note on verse 22.) The expression, "some of you" ( ἐξ ὑμῶν ), is an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:10

The severe law of Christ. "Be thou faithful," etc. Beneath the city of Rome there is a long succession of subterranean streets and galleries, quarried from the rocky strata of the soil. These are now opened, and strangers may visit them. They are remarkable; they are even wonderful; they are the most astonishing cemeteries in the world. They are called the Catacombs; they are the burial places of the martyrs of the young Christian faith. The inscriptions over innumerable tombs are to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:11

He that hath an ear (see on Revelation 2:7 ). Shall not be hurt of the second death ; more literally, shall in no wise be injured at the hands of the second death. The negative is the strongest form; the injury seems to be of the nature of a wrong, and the second death is regarded as the source of the wrong ( οὐ μὴ ἀδικηθῇ ἐκ ). In Revelation 20:6 "the second death" is almost personified, as here: "Over these the second death has no authority." The phrase is peculiar to this... read more

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