Kretzmann's Popular Commentary
Revelation 2:9
I know thy works and tribulation and poverty (but thou art rich), and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
I know thy works and tribulation and poverty (but thou art rich), and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Verse Revelation 2:9. _I KNOW THY WORKS_] As he had spoken to the preceding Church, so he speaks to this: I know all that ye have _done_, and all that ye have _suffered_. The _tribulation_ here mentio...
I KNOW THY WORKS - The uniform method of introducing these epistles, implying a most intimate acquaintance with all that pertained to the church. See the notes on Revelation 2:2. AND TRIBULATION - Thi...
II. THE THINGS WHICH ARE, THE SEVEN CHURCH MESSAGES, AND THEIR PROPHETIC MEANING CHAPTER 2 _ 1. Ephesus: The post-apostolic period (Revelation 2:1)_ 2. Smyrna: The period of persecution (Revelati...
REVELATION 2:1 TO REVELATION 3:22. THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. These letters are addressed to individual churches, but their messages are intended for the Church as a whole. In every letter the...
THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA. Smyrna was situated about 35 miles N. of Ephesus, and from a commercial point of view was its most serious rival in Asia. We have no information about the church at...
_Smyrna_ appears first in sacred writ in this connection, and we know nothing of the previous history of the church. The letter to it speaks only words of praise. The city of Smyrna still exists as th...
THE LETTER TO EPHESUS (Revelation 2:1-7)...
And to the angel of the Church in Smyrna, write: These things says the first and the last, who passed through death, and who came to life again. I know the affliction and the poverty you endure--you...
WORKS, AND. The texts omit. POVERTY. See App-127. JEWS. Only here, and Revelation 3:9 in Rev. THE. a. SYNAGOGUE. App-120. SATAN. See App-19....
_thy works, and_ Should be omitted. _poverty_ Perhaps the effect of the persecution, Jewish converts being, as in Hebrews 10:34, deprived of their property when put out of the synagogue on their conv...
ΠΤΩΧΕΊΑΝ. Means no more than poverty: πενία, the Greek word for ordinary poverty is unknown to the New Testament, and πένης only occurs once in a quotation from the LXX. (where πτωχεία is a synonym of...
THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA...
_LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA REVELATION 2:8-11:_ In that day Smyrna was a beautiful and proud city. It was a center of learning and culture. To this church Jesus described Himself as, "the first an...
ΟΊΔΑ (G1492) perf. _ind. act._ знать, Def. perf. со _знач. praes._ ΘΛΪ́ΨΙΣ (G2347) давление, проблема, тягота (_см._ Revelation 1:9). ΠΤΩΧΕΊΑ (G4432) бедность, предельная нищета (_см._...
DISCOURSE: 2485 EPISTLE TO SMYRNA Revelation 2:9. I know thy works and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the...
DISCOURSE: 2484 EPISTLE TO SMYRNA Revelation 2:8. _Unto the angel of the Church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works_. SMYRNA was...
AND POVERTY (_BUT THOU ART RICH_)_;_ &C.— "I know the humble opinion thou hast of thyself, and thy poverty in temporal respects; but thou art rich in grace, and in all its genuine effects, and art dai...
Strauss-' Comments SECTION 5 Text Revelation 2:8-11 8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again 9 I know thy tribulation...
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. THY WORKS, AND - so 'Alep...
__ The Prophetic Section 20 The vision is figurative. The explanation is literal. _ It must not be further "explained_ ". The seven stars are seven messengers. The seven lamp stands are seven eccles...
THE EPISTLES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (REVELATION 2:1 TO REVELATION 3:22) Since 'seven' is the perfect number, the 'seven churches' represent all the Churches of the province of Asia. At the same time, t...
WORKS, AND] RV omits. RICH] i.e. spiritually: cp. Matthew 6:19; James 2:5. BLASPHEMY] RM 'calumny,' i.e. which thou sufferest. SAY THEY ARE JEWS] i.e. they are Jews in name only: cp. Revelation 3:9;...
FROM NOW TO THE END OF TIME REVELATION _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 2 LETTERS TO THE 7 *CHURCHES - REVELATION 2:1-3 TO THE *CHURCH IN EPHESUS - REVELATION 2:1-7...
I KNOW THY WORKS. — Some would omit the word “works;” but the phrase “I know thy works” is admitted to be genuine in five out of the seven epistles; and it certainly seems natural to conclude that it...
CHAPTER II THE CHURCH ON THE FIELD OF HISTORY. Revelation 2:1; Revelation 3:1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, He th...
The message (shortest of the seven) to the Christians in Smyrna, “one of the first stars in the brilliant belt of the cities of Asia Minor” (Mommsen), a wealthy and privileged seaport, and like Sardis...
“BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH” Revelation 2:8 This epistle has a new pathos and significance if we connect it with “the blessed Polycarp,” who almost certainly was the angel or chief minister of the c...
The next movement in the Book consists of the unveiling of the Lord in His relation with the Asian churches, and therefore with His Church. It is impossible in such brief notes as these necessarily ar...
TO THE PERSECUTED CHURCH Smyrna was located 40 miles to the north of Ephesus. It was a town originally founded by Alexander the Great. It was the home of the olympic games and there was a large librar...
(7) I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. (7) The proposition...
To the Angel of the church of Smyrna. To St. Polycarp, or some bishop there before him. No reprehension is given to this bishop, or to his church, but a commendation for suffering in poverty and tribu...
(8) And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; (9) I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) a...
That God should have chosen John to be the instrument of communicating the closing volume of the New Testament is worthy of our consideration. It is not a new thing for God thus to set out the stronge...
The Church in Smyrna Sometimes We're Like the Battered Fighter: He heard his trainer say between rounds, "Champ, you're doing great! He ain't laid a glove on you!" The champ says, "Well, you better k...
The first great fact is, that the assembly in this world is subject to judgment, and to have its whole existence and place before God as light-bearer in the world set aside; secondly, that God will do...
I KNOW THY WORKS,.... Good works, as before in Revelation 2:2; AND TRIBULATION; this is Christ's legacy to his people, and which lies in their way to heaven; and never was the way of any to heaven mo...
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and _I know_ the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but _are_ the synagogue of Satan. Ver. 9. _I know thy work...
_And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna_ “Smyrna was the nearest city to Ephesus, and for that reason probably was addressed in the second place. It is situated on lower ground than the ancient ci...
BUT THOU ART RICH; spiritually rich, notwithstanding thy deep poverty in temporal things. Here, as in all the epistles, the angel of the church represents the church itself, and what is said to him is...
THE ADDRESS TO EPHESUS (vv. 1-7) Each local assembly is addressed on the basis of its responsibility as a testimony for God. Each of these assemblies actually existed and were functioning as assembl...
SMYRNA (VERSES 8-11) The City Thirty five miles north of Ephesus was another harbor city of 200,000 people. It was known as a most beautiful city. Smyrna was a wealthy, prosperous and proud city. Th...
8-11 Our Lord Jesus is the First, for by him were all things made; he was before all things, with God, and is God himself. He is the Last, for he will be the Judge of all. As this First and Last, who...
I KNOW THY WORKS, AND TRIBULATION: though the term _know_ doth not necessarily signify approbation, yet, both as to the church of Ephesus and Smyrna, the particular works mentioned assure us, that God...
Instructions of Commodianus I cannot comprehend all things in a little treatise; the curiosity of the learned men shall find my name in this.[22] Recognitions of Clement V For in God's estimation h...
Revelation 2:9 know G1492 (G5758) your G4675 works G2041 G2532 tribulation G2347 and G2532 poverty G4432 but...
‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (although you are rich) and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.' Smyrna is a suffering church. They are...
MESSAGES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (REVELATION 2:1 TO REVELATION 3:22). The Son of Man now gives John messages to the seven churches. Each of them follows a general pattern. Firstly an introduction based...
Revelation 2:9. The first words of the address to the church, as given in the Authorised Version, ‘I know thy works,' are to be omitted both here and in Revelation 2:13, the salutation to the church a...
THY TRIBULATION AND THY POVERTY (σου την θλιψιν κα πτωχειαν). Separate articles of same gender, emphasizing each item. The tribulation was probably persecution, which helped to intensify the poverty...
CONTENTS: Message to Ephesus concerning things «which are.» Their first love left. Message to Pergamos concerning false doctrines. Message to Smyrna concerning persecutions. Message to Thyatira concer...
_Epistle the first._ Revelation 2:1. _The angel of the church of Ephesus,_ or the messenger of Christ; for the apostles, and apostolic men, while they remained in any church, were always regarded as t...
I KNOW YOUR TROUBLES. Being a Christian at that time often meant losing your job, and hardship followed. The Lord tells those believers that they must not let themselves fall into self-pity. They are...
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 2:1 Revelation 2:1 consists of seven “letters” or royal edicts. Each follows a pattern: (1) The royal author describes himself in terms from ch....
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 2:8 The church in _Smyrna_ is encouraged to remain faithful as they endure persecution. Roman Smyrna (modern Izmir) was a harbor city. It was known for its temple to the...
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 2:9 YOUR POVERTY (BUT YOU ARE RICH). Materially poor, the Smyrnan believers were spiritually rich (compare James 2:5)....
2. SMYRNA. Vs. 8-11. Smyrna is still a city. It has been called "the beautiful," "the Paris of the Levant." This church receives commendation. It had some trials and met them. "I know the blasphemy of...
_CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ Revelation 2:8. WAS DEAD AND LIVED AGAIN (R.V.).—Both the death and the return to life are assigned to a past time. The appropriateness of this presentation of Christ...
EXPOSITION REVELATION 3:1 _The epistles to the seven Churches. _Once more we have to consider rival interpretations. Of these we may safely set aside all those which make the seven letters to be pict...
2 SMYRNA: THE PERSECUTED CHURCH Background: Smyrna had an excellent harbor and still does today. It is a beautiful seacoast resort town in Turkey called Izmir. The city is the oldest of the seven and...
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (Revelation 2:1); So the desc...
1 Thessalonians 3:4; 1 Timothy 1:13; 1 Timothy 6:18; 2 Corinthians 6:10;...
Thy works and. Omit. Tribulation [θ λ ι ψ ι ν]. See on Matthew 13:21. Referring to the persecutions of Jewish and heathen oppressors. See on Smyrna, verse 8. Poverty [π τ ω χ ε ι α ν]. Because, like a...
THE CHURCHES AT EPHESUS AND SMYRNA Revelation 2:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS In the second and third Chapter s of the Book of Revelation, God has recorded for us His messages to the seven Churches of Asia....
I know thy affliction and poverty — A poor prerogative in the eyes of the world! The angel at Philadelphia likewise had in their sight but "a little strength." And yet these two were the most honourab...