Revelation 2:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The next epistle reveals another way of life and the customs of another group. In brief He says: "I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, but you will be rich." For He knows that hidden riches are prepared by Him for such people. He also knows the blasphemy from the Jews, whom He does not acknowledge as Jews, but as a synagogue of Satan, because they are gathered together by the Antichrist. To the first of these He says that they must be faithful even unto death, and whoever is faithful will not be harmed by the second death (Rev 2:11). Victorinus holds that in the last days the Jews will enter into a secret conspiracy with the Antichrist.

"I know your tribulations and your bodily poverty," which you endure for My sake, wounded by the unbelieving and deprived of possessions. Yet spiritually you are rich, for you have the treasure hidden in the field of your heart. "And the blasphemy of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." I know also the evil blasphemies of the synagogue of Satan, for they are not what they are called. "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly... but he who is one inwardly" (Rom 2:28-29). Judah means confession and repentance.

He praises the deeds of His Church, because she has overcome many temptations and reached the Kingdom. He commends the beauty of poverty, because the Church rejects many present things in order to acquire the future.

"Yet thou art rich," filled with faith and full of the abundance of grace. "And the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan."

For the Church often receives many insults from those who claim to confess God, yet do not confess Him. Their assembly is joined to the devil as to its source.

Therefore the Lord exhorts His Church not to fear those who kill the body, and after that are unable to do anything more (Lk 12:4).

"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty." Do not speak after the apostate Jews: "Why have we fasted, and Thou dost not see? Why have we humbled our souls, and Thou dost not know?" (Isa 58:3).

"Yet thou art rich," the author continues, because in rich patrons thou hast Christ, even though He humbled Himself in poverty by taking the form of a servant for our sake (Phil 2:7).

Thou hast also the blasphemy of counterfeit Jews. The name Judah is translated as confession.

Therefore those who confess Christ can become true Jews and spiritual Israel, for Israel means those who behold God.

The angel of the Church of Smyrna receives neither condemnation nor threats of punishment, but only praise, consolation, and promise. Therefore one may think that there were few bad Christians in Smyrna.

Polycarp, a disciple of John, was bishop there, and in old age he died a martyr's death. The Church of Smyrna is the second Church and represents the Church of the times of martyrdom.

This Church began soon after Christ's Ascension with the protomartyr Stephen, and ends around the middle of the fourth century, between 320 and 330.

To this Church the Lord declares Himself to be the First and the Last, who died and now lives. The One for whom Christians die first died for them.

What did the Lord command to be written to the angel of the Church of Smyrna? Rev 2:8-11.

He commanded that it be written that the affliction for Christ's name and the poverty of the Smyrnean Christians, in the earthly sense, are known to the Lord. Their slander and reviling from the Jews are likewise known to Him.

He also wrote that persecutions from the devil and tribulation for ten days await the Smyrneans. Yet they must be faithful unto death, in order to receive the crown of life and be delivered from the second death.

"And ye shall have tribulation ten days" (Rev 2:10). The definite number ten is plainly taken here instead of an indefinite one, in the sense of the duration of the persecutions awaiting the Church of Smyrna.

In the epistle to the Church of Smyrna and her bishop, who together had to be faithful unto death, Christ consoles the suffering Smyrneans concerning the fate awaiting them.

He points to His power, since He holds the beginning and end of all things in His authority. He also points to the fact that He Himself underwent death and now lives.

The Lord then says that the Smyrnean Christians belong to the poorest class of society in wealthy and splendid Smyrna. Yet their spiritual wealth is well known to the Lord: their firmness in faith and virtue.

The Lord also consoles the suffering by saying that the blasphemies brought against them by those still calling themselves by the glorious name of Jews are well known to Him.