Revelation 2:8

Smyrna. Lying a little north of Ephesus, on a gulf of the same name. The original city was destroyed about B. C. 627, and was deserted and in ruins for four hundred years. Alexander the Great contemplated its restoration, and his design was carried out after his death. The new city was built a short distance south of the ancient one, and became the finest in Asia Minor, being known as the glory of Asia. It was one of the cities which claimed the honor of being Homer's birthplace. A splendid temple was erected by the Smyrnaeans to his memory, and a cave in the neighborhood of the city was shown where he was said to have composed his poems. Smyrna's fine harbor made it a commercial center; but it was also distinguished for its schools of rhetoric and philosophy. Polycarp was the first bishop of its church, which suffered much from persecution, and he was said to have suffered martyrdom in the stadium of the city, A. D. 166. It is argued with some plausibility that Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna at the time of the composition of Revelation, and was the person addressed here. This question, however, is bound up with that of the date of composition (see Trench, " Epistles to the Seven Churches "). The city was a seat of the worship of Cybele the Mother of the gods, and of Dionysus or Bacchus.

Was dead [ε γ ε ν ε τ ο ν ε κ ρ ο ς]. Lit., became dead.

Is alive [ε ζ η σ ε ν]. Lit., lived. Rev., properly, lived again; the word being used of restoration to life. See, for a similar usage, Matthew 9:18; John 5:25.