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To the Church in Smyrna

“To[a] the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following:[b]

“This is the solemn pronouncement of[c] the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but[d] came to life: ‘I know the distress you are suffering[e] and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know[f] the slander against you[g] by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue[h] of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown[i] into prison so you may be tested,[j] and you will experience suffering[k] for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself.[l] 11 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers[m] will in no way be harmed by the second death.’

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
  2. Revelation 2:8 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
  3. Revelation 2:8 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
  4. Revelation 2:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present between these two phrases.
  5. Revelation 2:9 tn Or “know your suffering.” This could refer to suffering or distress caused by persecution (see L&N 22.2).
  6. Revelation 2:9 tn Because of the length and complexity of this Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the phrase “I also know” to link this English sentence back to “I know” at the beginning of the verse.
  7. Revelation 2:9 tn The words “against you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
  8. Revelation 2:9 sn A synagogue was a place for Jewish prayer and worship, with recognized leadership (e.g., Mt 4:23, Mk 1:21, Lk 4:15, Jn 6:59).
  9. Revelation 2:10 tn Grk “is about to throw some of you,” but the force is causative in context.
  10. Revelation 2:10 tn Or “tempted.”
  11. Revelation 2:10 tn Or “experience persecution,” “will be in distress” (see L&N 22.2).
  12. Revelation 2:10 tn Grk “crown of life,” with the genitive “of life” (τῆς ζωῆς, tēs zōēs) functioning in apposition to “crown” (στέφανον, stephanon): “the crown that consists of life.”
  13. Revelation 2:11 tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.”

· kai To the ho angel angelos of the ho church ekklēsia in en Smyrna Smyrna write graphō: The ho one who is the First prōtos and kai the ho Last eschatos, who hos died ginomai nekros and kai came to life zaō, has legō this hode to say legō: I know oida your sy · ho affliction thlipsis and kai your ho poverty ptōcheia ( but alla you are eimi rich plousios), and kai the ho slander blasphēmia against you by ek those ho who call legō themselves heautou Jews Ioudaios and kai are eimi not ou, but alla are a synagogue synagōgē of ho Satan Satanas. 10 Do not mēdeis fear phobeomai what hos you are about mellō to suffer paschō. The ho devil diabolos is about mellō to throw ballō some of ek you hymeis into eis prison phylakē so that hina you may be tested peirazō, and kai you will have echō affliction thlipsis for ten deka days hēmera. Be ginomai faithful pistos until achri death thanatos, and kai I will give didōmi you sy the ho crown stephanos of ho life zōē. 11 He ho who has echō an ear ous, let him hear akouō what tis the ho Spirit pneuma is saying legō to the ho churches ekklēsia. The ho one who conquers nikaō will not ou mē be harmed adikeō by ek the ho second deuteros death thanatos. · ho

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