in the stadium of the city, a.v. 166. It is argued with some plausibility that Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna at the time of the composition of the Apocalypse, and was the person ad- dressed here. This question, however, is bound up with that of the date of composition (see Trench, “ Epistles to the Seven Churches”). The city was a seat of the worship of Cybele the Mother of the gods, and of Dionysus or Bacchus.
Was dead (éyéveto vexpos). Lit., became dead.
Is alive (€ycev). Lit., dived. Rev., properly, lived again ; the word being used of restoration to life. See, for a similar usage, Matt. ix. 18; John v. 25.
9. Thy works and. Omit.
Tribulation (Srtfuv). See on Matt. xiii. 21. Referring to the persecutions of Jewish and heathen oppressors. See on Smyrna, ver. 8,
Poverty (7rwyelav). Because, like all the other early Christ- ian churches, the majority of its members were of the poorer classes, and also, perhaps, with reference to their robbery by persecutors. See on poor, Matt. v. 3.
Rich. In faith and grace. Compare Jas. ii. 5,7; 1 Tim. vi, 17; 18; Eake x11. 21 :* Matt, x1x. 21,
Blasphemy (Sracdnulav). See on Mark vii. 22. Not prim- arily direct blasphemy against God, but reviling at believers.
Jews. Literally. Not Christians, as in Philip. iii. 3; Rom. ii. 28, 29. Actually Jews by birth, but not spiritually. The title is not given them by the Spirit, nor by the seer, but by themselves; and none would use that title except such as were Jews by birth and by religion. The enmity of the Jews against Christians is a familiar fact to all readers of the book of Acts; and it is a matter of history that their malignity was especially displayed toward the Church of Smyrna. In the circular letter