Revelation 2:8
in Revelation 2To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again:
KJV
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
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This verse in Revelation 2
Commentary
8 notes on this verseAnd to the angel of the church in Smyrna write. He suggests to this church to endure persecution, to which the name also agrees. For Smyrna means myrrh, which signifies the mortification of the flesh.
This site's exposition
the First and the Last
on Revelation 2:8-9
Smyrna hears from the First and the Last, who died and returned to life, the title of 1:17-18 given to a church facing death. Christ knows your affliction and your poverty yet counts the church rich, and He names local accusers who falsely claim to be Jews.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
First, meaning that the Lord calls Himself by the essence of the Godhead [τῆς θεότητος]; Last, indeed, meaning, by the incarnation and the economy with the flesh. He who is said to have died and came to life again; he who is said to have …
The Medieval Church1 voice
These things says the first and the last, who was dead and came to life. Who both created all things and restored all things by dying. A fitting preface for urging patience.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write,.... Of the city of Smyrna; see Gill on Rev 1:11. That there was a church of Christ here is not to be doubted, though by whom it was founded is not certain; very likely by the Apostle Paul, who was in those parts, and by whose means all Asia heard the Gospel of Christ, Act 19:10. Some think the present angel or pastor of this church, was Polycarp, the disciple of John. Irenaeus (f), who knew him, says he was appointed bishop of Smyrna by the apostles.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Unto the angel - This was probably the famous Polycarp. See below. These things saith the first and the last - He who is eternal; from whom all things come, and to whom all things must return. Which was dead, for the redemption of the world; and is alive to die no more for ever, his glorified humanity being enthroned at the Father’s right hand.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
TERTULLIAN [The Prescription against Heretics, 32], and IRENÆUS, who had talked with POLYCARP in youth, tell us POLYCARP was consecrated bishop of Smyrna by St. John. the first . . . the last . . . was dead . . . is alive--The attributes of Christ most calculated to comfort the Church of Smyrna under its persecutions; resumed from Re 1:17, 18.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write - On the meaning of the word “angel,” see the notes on Rev 1:20. These things saith the first and the last - See the notes on Rev 1:8, Rev 1:17. Which was dead, and is alive - See the notes on Rev 1:18. The idea is, that he is a Living Saviour; and there was a propriety in referring to that fact here from the nature of the promise which he was about to make to the church at Smyrna: “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death,” Rev 2:11. As he had himself triumphed over death in all its forms, and was now alive forever, it was appropriate that he should promise to his true friends the same protection from the second death. He who was wholly beyond the reach of death could give the assurance that they who put their trust in him should come off victorious.
The words behind it
20 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῷ | to | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγγέλῳ | angelo | angel | G32 → | 175 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Σμύρνῃ | smurne | Smyrna | G4667 → | |
| ἐκκλησίας | ekklesias | church | G1577 → | 113 times |
| γράψον· | grapson | do write: | G1125 → | 189 times |
| τάδε | tade | These things | G3592 → | 10 times |
| λέγει | legei | says | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρῶτος | protos | First | G4413 → | 152 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔσχατος, | eschatos | Last, | G2078 → | 52 times |
| ὃς | hos | who | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἐγένετο | egeneto | became | G1096 → | 667 times |
| νεκρὸς | nekros | dead | G3498 → | 128 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔζησεν· | ezesen | came to life; | G2198 → | 139 times |
ΚαὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῷto the
toG3588 →19766 times
ἀγγέλῳangel
angeloG32 →175 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ΣμύρνῃSmyrna
smurneG4667 →
ἐκκλησίαςchurch
ekklesiasG1577 →113 times
γράψον·do write:
grapsonG1125 →189 times
τάδεThese things
tadeG3592 →10 times
λέγειsays
legeiG3004 →1325 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
πρῶτοςFirst
protosG4413 →152 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἔσχατος,Last,
eschatosG2078 →52 times
ὃςwho
hosG3739 →1405 times
ἐγένετοbecame
egenetoG1096 →667 times
νεκρὸςdead
nekrosG3498 →128 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔζησεν·came to life;
ezesenG2198 →139 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 1:8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.
it leads to
- Isaiah 44:6
Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.
- Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
- Isaiah 48:12
Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the first, and I am the last.
- Isaiah 43:10
“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed,…
- Revelation 21:6
And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.
- Isaiah 44:6
Through
Revelation 2:1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
it leads to
- Revelation 1:20
This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands…
- Revelation 3:14
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 1:16
He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
- Revelation 1:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
On this chapter
About Revelation
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation.