Revelation 2:8

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:

Revelation 2:11

2:11 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers ⁵  will in no way be harmed by the second death.’

Revelation 3:14

To the Church in Laodicea

3:14 “To ⁶  the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: ⁷ 

“This is the solemn pronouncement of ⁸  the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator ⁹  of God’s creation:

Revelation 22:16

22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!” ¹⁰ 

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

[2:11]  ⁵ tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.”

[3:14]  ⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.

[3:14]  ¹⁰ tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

[3:14]  ¹¹ tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.

[3:14]  ¹² tn Or “the beginning of God’s creation”; or “the ruler of God’s creation.” From a linguistic standpoint all three meanings for ἀρχή (arch) are possible. The term is well attested in both LXX (Gen 40:13, 21; 41:13) and intertestamental Jewish literature (2 Macc 4:10, 50) as meaning “ruler, authority” (BDAG 138 s.v. 6). Some have connected this passage to Paul’s statements in Col 1:15, 18 which describe Christ as ἀρχή and πρωτότοκος (prwtotoko"; e.g., see R. H. Mounce, Revelation [NICNT], 124) but the term ἀρχή has been understood as either “beginning” or “ruler” in that passage as well. The most compelling connection is to be found in the prologue to John’s Gospel (1:2-4) where the λόγος (logos) is said to be “in the beginning (ἀρχή) with God,” a temporal reference connected with creation, and then v. 3 states that “all things were made through him.” The connection with the original creation suggests the meaning “originator” for ἀρχή here. BDAG 138 s.v. 3 gives the meaning “the first cause” for the word in Rev 3:14, a term that is too philosophical for the general reader, so the translation “originator” was used instead. BDAG also notes, “but the mng. beginning = ‘first created’ is linguistically probable (s. above 1b and Job 40:19; also CBurney, Christ as the ᾿Αρχή of Creation: JTS 27, 1926, 160-77).” Such a meaning is unlikely here, however, since the connections described above are much more probable.

[22:16]  ¹³ tn On this expression BDAG 892 s.v. πρωϊνός states, “early, belonging to the morning ὁ ἀστὴρ ὁ πρ. the morning star, Venus Rv 2:28; 22:16.”