The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:9
Behold I give of the synagogue of Satan . The true reading seems to be neither δίδωμι nor δέδωκα , but διδῶ , from the form διδόω , which is fairly common in classical Greek. The construction, ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς , the partitive genitive used as subject or object of a verb, is frequent in St. John's writings ( John 1:24 ; John 7:40 ; John 16:17 ; 2 John 1:4 ; comp. John 6:39 ; John 21:10 ). The Church of Smyrna was encouraged with a promise that their Jewish... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 3:8
I know thy works . Once more Christ's judgment is based upon intimate personal knowledge. A question arises whether the next sentence, introduced by "behold," should be parenthetical or not. It is possible, as in the Authorized Version and previous English versions, and also in the Vulgate, to avoid what is certainly an awkward parenthesis. On the other hand, it seems clear that in Revelation 3:1 and Revelation 3:15 ὅτι depends upon οἷδα , "I know thy works, that thou," and... read more