And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Parallel translations
- WEB “To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:
- BSB To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.
- NKJV “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
- NASB “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
- NLT “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
To Smyrna, Christ presents himself as the first and last who died and came to life. It matters because the church facing death is addressed by the one who conquered it.
Overview
Christ identifies himself with titles of his eternity and resurrection, fitting for a suffering, persecuted church. Smyrna receives no rebuke, only comfort and exhortation. The risen Lord who triumphed over death speaks directly to a congregation facing mortal danger.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Rev 1:17–18And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
- Rev 1:8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
- Rev 1:11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
- Rev 2:1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 2:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.