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But you do have this going for you:[a] You hate what the Nicolaitans[b] practice[c]—practices I also hate. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers,[d] I will permit[e] him to eat from the tree of life that is[f] in the paradise of God.’[g]

To the Church in Smyrna

“To[h] the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following:[i]

“This is the solemn pronouncement of[j] the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but[k] came to life:

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:6 tn Grk “But you do have this.” The words “going for you” are supplied to complete the English idiom; other phrases like “in your favor” (NIV) or “to your credit” (NRSV) could also be supplied.
  2. Revelation 2:6 sn The Nicolaitans were a sect that apparently taught that Christians could engage in immoral behavior with impunity. They are also mentioned in 2:15. They are sometimes associated with Nicolaus, one of the seven original deacons in the church in Jerusalem according to Acts 6:5. The early church father Irenaeus connected them to Nicolaus and further described them as an immoral Gnostic sect (Adv. Haer. 1.26.3; 3.11.1). It is unclear however if the association of the Nicolaitans with the Nicolaus of Acts 6:5 is correct as this view may have arisen based on simple name identification rather than a real historical connection. It is also possible that the group adopted the name of Nicolaus to give them credibility (Eusebius, Eccl. Hist. 3.29.1).
  3. Revelation 2:6 tn The expression τὰ ἔργα τῶν Νικολαϊτῶν (ta erga tōn Nikolaitōn) has been translated as a subjective genitive.
  4. Revelation 2:7 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.
  5. Revelation 2:7 tn Or “grant.”
  6. Revelation 2:7 tn Or “stands.”
  7. Revelation 2:7 tc The omission of “my” (μου, mou) after “God” (θεοῦ, theou) is well attested, supported by א A C and the Andreas of Caesarea group of Byzantine mss (MA). Its addition in 1611, the MK 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.
  8. Revelation 2:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
  9. Revelation 2:8 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
  10. Revelation 2:8 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
  11. Revelation 2:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present between these two phrases.

But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,(A) which I also hate.

Whoever has ears, let them hear(B) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(C) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,(D) which is in the paradise(E) of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna(F) write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,(G) who died and came to life again.(H)

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