Revelation 2:7-10

2:7 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, ¹  I will permit ²  him to eat from the tree of life that is ³  in the paradise of God.’ ⁴ 

To the Church in Smyrna

2:8 “To ⁵  the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: ⁶ 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ⁷  the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but ⁸  came to life: 2:9 ‘I know the distress you are suffering ⁹  and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know ¹⁰  the slander against you ¹¹  by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue ¹²  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 ¹³  into prison so you may be tested, ¹⁴  and you will experience suffering ¹⁵  for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself. ¹⁶ 

[2:7]  ¹ tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.” The pendent dative is allowed to stand in the English translation because it is characteristic of the author’s style in Revelation.

[2:7]  ² tn Or “grant.”

[2:7]  ³ tn Or “stands.”

[2:7]  ⁴ tc The omission of “my” (μου, mou) after “God” (θεοῦ, qeou) is well attested, supported by א A C and the Andreas of Caesarea group of Byzantine mss (Ï^A). Its addition in 1611, the Ï^K group, latt, and others, seems to be evidence of a purposeful conforming of the text to 3:2 and the four occurrences of “my God” (θεοῦ μου) in 3:12.

[2:8]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

[2:8]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

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

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

[2:9]  ¹⁰ 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]  ¹¹ tn The words “against you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[2:9]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ tn Grk “is about to throw some of you,” but the force is causative in context.

[2:10]  ¹⁴ tn Or “tempted.”

[2:10]  ¹⁵ tn Or “experience persecution,” “will be in distress” (see L&N 22.2).

[2:10]  ¹⁶ 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.”