Wahyu 2:8-11

To the Church in Smyrna

2:8 “To ¹  the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: ² 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ³  the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but ⁴  came to life: 2:9 ‘I know the distress you are suffering ⁵  and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know ⁶  the slander against you ⁷  by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue ⁸  of Satan. 2:10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown ⁹  into prison so you may be tested, ¹⁰  and you will experience suffering ¹¹  for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself. ¹²  2:11 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers ¹³  will in no way be harmed by the second death.’

[2:8]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

[2:8]  ² tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

[2:8]  ³ tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

[2:8]  sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.

[2:8]  ⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present between these two phrases.

[2:9]  ⁵ tn Or “know your suffering.” This could refer to suffering or distress caused by persecution (see L&N 22.2).

[2:9]  ⁶ 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.

[2:9]  ⁷ tn The words “against you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[2:9]  ⁸ 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).

[2:10]  ⁹ tn Grk “is about to throw some of you,” but the force is causative in context.

[2:10]  ¹⁰ tn Or “tempted.”

[2:10]  ¹¹ tn Or “experience persecution,” “will be in distress” (see L&N 22.2).

[2:10]  ¹² tn Grk “crown of life,” with the genitive “of life” (τῆς ζωῆς, th" zwh") functioning in apposition to “crown” (στέφανον, stefanon): “the crown that consists of life.”

[2:11]  ¹³ tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.”