SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:8
¶ Y escribe al ngel de la Iglesia de Esmirna: El primero y el postrero, que fue muerto, y vive, dice estas cosas:
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:8
Verse 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write , etc.] Of the city of Smyrna, (see Gill on Revelation 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, ( Acts 19:10). Some think the present angel or pastor of this church, was Polycarp, the disciple of John. Irenaeus f54 , 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 f55 : 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 f56 . According to the Apostolical Constitutions f57 , 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; (see Gill on Luke 10:1); 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 f58 . 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 f59 . 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, (see Gill on Revelation 1:8), (see Gill on Revelation 1:11), (see Gill on Revelation 1:17-18); 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-11 - Our Lord Jesus is the First, for by him were all things made; he wa before all things, with God, and is God himself. He is the Last, for he will be the Judge of all. As this First and Last, who was dead and i alive, is the believer's Brother and Friend, he must be rich in the deepest poverty, honourable amidst the lowest abasement, and happ under the heaviest tribulation, like the church of Smyrna. Many who ar rich as to this world, are poor as to the next; and some who are poor outwardly, are inwardly rich; rich in faith, in good works, rich i privileges, rich in gifts, rich in hope. Where there is spiritual plenty, outward poverty may be well borne; and when God's people ar made poor as to this life, for the sake of Christ and a goo conscience, he makes all up to them in spiritual riches. Christ arm against coming troubles. Fear none of these things; not only forbi slavish fear, but subdue it, furnishing the soul with strength an courage. It should be to try them, not to destroy them. Observe, the sureness of the reward; "I will give thee:" they shall have the rewar from Christ's own hand. Also, how suitable it is; "a crown of life: the life worn out in his service, or laid down in his cause, shall be rewarded with a much better life, which shall be eternal. The secon death is unspeakably worse than the first death, both in the agonies of it, and as it is eternal death: it is indeed awful to die, and to be always dying. If a man is kept from the second death and wrath to come he may patiently endure whatever he meets with in this world.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 τω 3588 αγγελω 32 της 3588 εκκλησιας 1577 σμυρναιων 4668 γραψον 1125 5657 ταδε 3592 λεγει 3004 5719 ο 3588 πρωτος 4413 και 2532 ο 3588 εσχατος 2078 ος 3739 εγενετο 1096 5633 νεκρος 3498 και 2532 εζησεν 2198 5656
Vincent's NT Word Studies
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 (egeneto nekrov). Lit., became dead.
Is alive (ezhsen). Lit., lived. Rev., properly, lived again; the word being used of restoration to life. See, for a similar usage, Matt. ix. 18; John v. 25.
