SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:9
Yo s tus obras, y tu tribulacin, y tu pobreza (pero t eres rico), y s la blasfemia de los que se dicen ser Judíos, y no lo son; mas son la sinagoga de Satans.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 2:9
Verse 9. I know thy works] As he had spoken to the preceding Church, so he speaks to this: I know all that ye have done, and all that ye have suffered. The tribulation here mentioned must mean persecution, either from the Jews, the heathens, or from the heretics, who, because of their flesh-pampering doctrines might have had many partisans at Smyrna. And poverty] Stripped probably of all their temporal possessions, because of their attachment to the Gospel.
But thou art rich] Rich in faith, and heir of the kingdom of Christ.
The blasphemy of them which say they are Jews] There were persons there who professed Judaism, and had a synagogue in the place, and professed to worship the true God; but they had no genuine religion, and they served the devil rather than God. They applied a sacred name to an unholy thing: and this is one meaning of the word blasphemy in this book.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. I know thy works , etc.] Good works, as before in ( Revelation 2:2); and tribulation ; this is Christ's legacy to his people, and which lies in their way to heaven; and never was the way of any to heaven more strewed with it than was the way of the saints in this period. But Christ took notice of it, and of them in it; he knew their souls in adversity, and remarked their patience under it, and their constancy, and close adherence to him: and poverty ; which was true in a literal sense, through the spoiling of their goods, to which they were exposed for the profession of Christ: nothing is more contemptible among men than poverty, yet Christ takes notice of it, and owns his people in it; for this poverty came not by sin, but by sufferings for his sake: but thou art rich ; they were rich, in faith, and heirs of a kingdom, though poor in this world; they were rich with the riches of Christ, with the blessings of the covenant, with the graces of the Spirit, and in good works; they were kings and priests unto God, had a kingdom of grace here, and a right to the kingdom of glory hereafter; and were heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. And [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not ; who asserted themselves to be the true Israel of God, Jews that were so inwardly, regenerate persons, or truly Christians; for the Christians, baptized persons f60 , were by the Heathens called Jews; but these were not, they professed Christianity in words, but in works denied it; they were men of bad principles and practices, and both blasphemed the ways and doctrines of Christ themselves, and caused them to be blasphemed by others also; they were false Christians, nominal professors, and shunned persecution for the Gospel; who were not what they would be thought to be: these were the broachers of heresies in this period of time, in which there was a multitude of them, and which chiefly respected the doctrine of the Trinity, and the person of Christ; and they were introducers of Pagan and Jewish rites into the church, and were men of flagitious lives and conversations, and paved the way for the man of sin: but [are] the synagogue of Satan : were the children of the devil, imitated him, and were influenced by him, and were the forerunners of antichrist, whose coming was after the working of Satan.
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
οιδα 1492 5758 σου 4675 τα 3588 εργα 2041 και 2532 την 3588 θλιψιν 2347 και 2532 την 3588 πτωχειαν 4432 πλουσιος 4145 δε 1161 ει 1488 5748 και 2532 την 3588 βλασφημιαν 988 των 3588 λεγοντων 3004 5723 ιουδαιους 2453 ειναι 1511 5750 εαυτους 1438 και 2532 ουκ 3756 εισιν 1526 5748 αλλα 235 συναγωγη 4864 του 3588 σατανα 4567
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. Thy works and. Omit.Tribulation (qliyin). See on Matt. xiii. 21. Referring to the persecutions of Jewish and heathen oppressors. See on Smyrna, verse 8. Poverty (ptwceian). Because, like all the other early Christian churches, the majority of its members were of the poorer classes, and also, perhaps, with reference to their robbery by persecutors. See on poor, Matt. v. 3. Rich. In faith and grace. Compare Jas. ii. 6, 7; 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18; Luke xii. 21; Matt. xix. 21.
Blasphemy (blasfhmian). See on Mark vii. 22. Not primarily direct blasphemy against God, but reviling at believers.
Jews. Literally. Not Christians, as in Philip. iii. 3; Rom. ii. 28, 29. Actually Jews by birth, but not spiritually. The title is not given them by the Spirit, nor by the seer, but by themselves; and none would use that title except such as were Jews by birth and by religion. The enmity of the Jews against Christians is a familiar fact to all readers of the book of Acts; and it is a matter of history that their malignity was especially displayed toward the Church of Smyrna. In the circular letter addressed by the Church of Smyrna to the churches in the Christian world, it is related that Jews joined with heathen in clamoring that Polycarp should be cast to the lions or burned alive, and were foremost wJv eqov aujtoiv (as was their wont) in bringing logs for the pile, and in the endeavor to prevent the remains of the martyr from being delivered to his Christian associates for burial.
Synagogue of Satan. For synagogue, see on assembly, Jas. ii. 2, the only passage in which the word is used for a Christian assembly. This fact goes to support the literal explanation of the term Jews. For Satan, see on Luke x. 18. For John's use of the expression the Jews, see on John i. 19. The use of the word here in an honorable sense, so different from John's custom, has been urged against his authorship of Revelation. But John here only quotes the word, and, further, employs it without the article.
