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Read the Bible

King James Version

Revelation 2:8

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Angel of the Churches;   Church;   Jesus Continued;   Persecution;   Smyrna;   Scofield Reference Index - Life;   Satan;   Thompson Chain Reference - Angels;   The Topic Concordance - Endurance;   Faith/faithfulness;   Giving and Gifts;   Jesus Christ;   Knowledge;   Life;   Resurrection;   Righteousness;   Suffering;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Titles and Names of Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Angel;   Smyrna;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Asia;   Smyrna;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Patience of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - A;   Smyrna;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Revelation of John, the;   Smyrna;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Letter Form and Function;   Revelation, the Book of;   Smyrna;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Asia;   Magi;   Nicolas;   Smyrna;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Alpha and Omega;   Alpha and Omega (2);   Angels;   Ascension of Isaiah;   First and Last ;   Smyrna ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Sepharvaim;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Smyrna;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Smyr'na;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Smyrna;   Synagogue;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - First;   Revelation of John:;   Smyrna;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last,
King James Version (1611)
And vnto the Angel of the Church in Smyrna, write, These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is aliue,
English Standard Version
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
New American Standard Bible
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
New Century Version
"Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna: "The One who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again, says this:
THE MESSAGE
Write this to Smyrna, to the Angel of the church. The Beginning and Ending, the First and Final One, the Once Dead and Then Come Alive, speaks:
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
Berean Standard Bible
To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.
Contemporary English Version
This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: I am the first and the last. I died, but now I am alive! Listen to what I say.
Complete Jewish Bible
"To the angel of the Messianic Community in Smyrna, write: ‘Here is the message from the First and the Last, who died and came alive again:
Darby Translation
And to the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: These things says the first and the last, who became dead, and lived:
Easy-to-Read Version
"Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna: "Here is a message from the one who is the First and the Last, the one who died and came to life again.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And vnto the Angel of the Church of the Smyrnians write, These things saith he that is first, and last, which was dead and is aliue.
George Lamsa Translation
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things says the first and the last, which was dead and is alive:
Good News Translation
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: "This is the message from the one who is the first and the last, who died and lived again.
Lexham English Bible
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: "This is what the first and the last says, who was dead and came to life:
Literal Translation
And to the angel of the assembly of Smyrna, write: These things says the First and the Last, Who became dead, and lived:
Amplified Bible
"And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God] who died and came to life [again]:
American Standard Version
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again:
Bible in Basic English
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna say: These things says the first and the last, who was dead and is living:
Hebrew Names Version
"To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: "The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:
International Standard Version
"To the messengerangel
">[fn] of the church in Smyrna, write:Revelation 1:8,17-18;">[xr] 'The first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says this:
Etheridge Translation
And to the angel of the church which is in Smurna, write: These saith the First and the Last, who was dead, and liveth.
Murdock Translation
And to the angel of the church which is at Smyrna, write: These things saith the First and the Last, he who was dead, and liveth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And vnto the Angel of the Churche of Smyrna, write: These thynges sayth he that is first and the last, which was dead, and is alyue.
English Revised Version
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and lived again:
World English Bible
"To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: "The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write, These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead and is alive.
Weymouth's New Testament
"To the minister of the Church at Smyrna write as follows: "`This is what the First and the Last says--He who died and has returned to life.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And to the aungel of the chirche of Smyrma write thou, These thingis seith the firste and the laste, that was deed, and lyueth.
Update Bible Version
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things says the first and the last, who became dead, and lived [again]:
Webster's Bible Translation
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna, write; These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive;
New English Translation
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but came to life:
New King James Version
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, "These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
New Living Translation
"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:
New Life Bible
"Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Smyrna: ‘The One Who is First and Last, the One Who died and came to life again, says this:
New Revised Standard
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life:
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, unto the messenger of the assembly, in Smyrna, write: - These things, saith the first and the last, who became dead, and lived:
Douay-Rheims Bible
And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead and is alive:
Revised Standard Version
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And vnto the angell of the congregacion of Smyrna wryte: These thynges sayth he that is fyrst and the laste which was deed and is alive.
Young's Literal Translation
`And to the messenger of the assembly of the Smyrneans write: These things saith the First and the Last, who did become dead and did live;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And vnto the angell of the congregacion of Smyrna wryte: These thinges saith he that is fyrst, and the last, which was deed, and is aliue:
Mace New Testament (1729)
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna, write, "THESE things saith the first and last, who was dead, and is alive."
Simplified Cowboy Version
"To the angel of the outfit in Smyrna, write these words:

Contextual Overview

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) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the angel: Revelation 2:1

the first: Revelation 1:8, Revelation 1:11, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 1:18

Reciprocal: Exodus 23:21 - my name Deuteronomy 32:39 - even I 1 Kings 18:18 - in that ye have Psalms 93:2 - thou Isaiah 41:4 - I the Lord Isaiah 41:27 - first Isaiah 44:6 - I am the first Isaiah 48:12 - I am he Ezekiel 44:15 - the sons Micah 5:2 - whose Luke 24:5 - the living John 1:1 - the beginning John 1:15 - he was John 8:58 - Before Romans 1:7 - To all 1 Corinthians 3:14 - General 2 Corinthians 3:3 - the epistle Galatians 1:1 - raised Philippians 1:1 - the bishops Colossians 1:17 - he 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - and are Hebrews 1:11 - thou Hebrews 12:2 - the author 1 John 1:1 - That which Revelation 1:4 - to the Revelation 1:20 - The seven stars Revelation 19:9 - Write

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord , and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Genesis 13:10
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord , like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
2 Kings 19:12
Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar?
Isaiah 51:3
For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord ; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Ezekiel 27:23
Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants.
Ezekiel 28:13
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Ezekiel 31:16
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write,.... Of the city of Smyrna, :-. 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, Acts 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. Here he suffered martyrdom, and was buried: the large amphitheatre, in which he was put to death, is still to be seen, and his sepulchre is yet preserved in this place g: a very famous epistle, sent by this church at Smyrna to the churches at Pontus, giving an account of the martyrdom of Polycarp, and others, is extant in Eusebius h. According to the Apostolical Constitutions i, the first bishops of Smyrna were Aristo Strataeas and Aristo the second, and Apelles, of whom mention is made in Romans 16:10; and who is reckoned among the seventy disciples; Romans 16:10- :; and is said to be bishop of Smyrna before Polycarp; who succeeded Polycarp, I do not find; but it is said there was a church at Smyrna in the "third" century; and so there was in the beginning of the "fourth", since there was a bishop from hence in the council at Nice: and in the "fifth" century, mention is made of several bishops of this place; as of Cyrus, a native of Constantinople; and Protherius, who, it is thought, succeeded him, and was present in the synod at Chalcedon; and Aethericus, who assisted at three synods in this century, at Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon: and in the "sixth" century, there was a bishop of Smyrna in the fifth synod held at Rome and Constantinople: and even in the "eighth" century, one Antony, a monk, supplied the place of the bishop of Smyrna in the Nicene synod k. The Turks have in this place now thirteen mosques, the Jews two synagogues, and of the Christians there are two churches belonging to the Greeks, and one to the Armenians l. This church, and its pastor, represent the state of the church under the persecutions of the Roman emperors. Smyrna signifies "myrrh", which being bitter of taste, is expressive of the bitter afflictions, and persecutions, and deaths, the people of God in this interval endured; and yet, as myrrh is of a sweet smell, so were those saints, in their sufferings for Christ, exceeding grateful and well pleasing to him; wherefore nothing is said by way of complaint to this church; not that she was without fault, but it was proper to use her tenderly in her afflicted state: and, as Dr. More observes, as myrrh was used in the embalming of dead bodies, it may point to the many deaths and martyrdoms of the saints in this period, whereby their names and memories are perpetuated and eternized.

These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive. Of these characters of Christ, Romans 16:10- :,

Romans 16:10- :,

Romans 16:10- :,

Romans 16:10- :; and they are very appropriately mentioned, to encourage the saints under their sufferings of death; since Christ, who is the eternal God, had in human nature tasted of the bitterness of death for them, and was risen again; suggesting, that though they were called to undergo the bitterest deaths for his sake, they should be raised again as he was, and live with him for ever. The Ethiopic version reads, "thus saith the holy Spirit"; but it cannot be said of him that "he was dead".

f Adv. Haeres. l. 3. c. 3. g Vid. Smith. Notitia septem Eccles. Asiae, p. 164, 165. h Hist. Eccles. l. 4. c. 15. i L. 7. c. 46. k Hist. Eccles. Magdeburg. cent. 3. c. p. 2. cent. 4. c. 2. p. 3. cent. 5. c. 2. p. 3. c. 10. p. 595, 596. cent. 6. c. 2. p. 4. cent. 8. c. 2. p. 4. l Smith. Notitia, p. 167.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write - On the meaning of the word “angel,” see the notes on Revelation 1:20.

These things saith the first and the last - See the notes on Revelation 1:8, Revelation 1:17.

Which was dead, and is alive - See the notes on Revelation 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,” Revelation 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

The Epistle to the Church at Smyrna.

Verse Revelation 2:8. 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.


 
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