The Letter to Smyrna

“Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last,(A) the one who was dead and came to life: I know your[a] affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.(B) 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil(C) is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days.(D) Be faithful to the point of death,(E) and I will give you the crown[b] of life.(F)

11 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:9 Other mss add works and
  2. 2:10 Or wreath

Message to Smyrna

“Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna:

These are the words of the one who is the first and the last, who died and came back to life: I know your hardship and poverty (though you are actually rich). I also know the hurtful things that have been spoken about you by those who say they are Jews (though they are not, but are really Satan’s synagogue). 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison in order to test you. You will suffer hardship for ten days. Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Those who emerge victorious won’t be hurt by the second death.

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