Die frühe Kirche
The Letter to the Church in Smyrna
Jesus' encouragement to the suffering church in Smyrna, called rich despite poverty, with a warning about trials and a promise of the crown of life for the faithful.
Offenbarung 2,8-11
8And 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:
Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ ⸀τῆς ἐν Σμύρνῃ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος, ὃς ἐγένετο νεκρὸς καὶ ἔζησεν·
9I know your affliction and your poverty—yet you are rich—and the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Οἶδά ⸀σου τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἶ, καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ.
10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to be tested, and you will suffer affliction for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
⸀μηδὲν φοβοῦ ἃ μέλλεις ⸀πάσχειν. ⸀ἰδοὺ μέλλει ⸀βάλλειν ὁ διάβολος ἐξ ὑμῶν εἰς φυλακὴν ἵνα πειρασθῆτε, καὶ ⸀ἕξετε θλῖψιν ἡμερῶν δέκα. γίνου πιστὸς ἄχρι θανάτου, καὶ δώσω σοι τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς.
11Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.
ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις. ὁ νικῶν οὐ μὴ ἀδικηθῇ ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου τοῦ δευτέρου.