Robertson Word Pictures - Revelation 2:9 - 2:9

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Robertson Word Pictures - Revelation 2:9 - 2:9


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Thy tribulation and thy poverty (sou tēn thlipsin kai ptōcheian). Separate articles of same gender, emphasizing each item. The tribulation was probably persecution, which helped to intensify the poverty of the Christians (Jam 2:5; 1Co 1:26; 2Co 6:10; 2Co 8:2). In contrast with the wealthy church in Laodicea (Rev 3:17).

But thou art rich (alla plousios ei). Parenthesis to show the spiritual riches of this church in contrast with the spiritual poverty in Laodicea (Rev 3:17), this a rich poor church, that a poor rich church. Rich in grace toward God (Luk 12:21) and in good deeds (1Ti 6:18). Perhaps Jews and pagans had pillaged their property (Heb 10:34), poor as they already were.

Blasphemy (blasphēmian). Reviling believers in Christ. See Mar 7:22. The precise charge by these Jews is not indicated, but see Act 13:45.

Of them which say (ek tōn legontōn). “From those saying” (ek with the ablative plural of the present active articular participle of legō).

They are Jews (Ioudaious einai heautous). This is the accusative of general reference and the infinitive in indirect discourse after legō (Act 5:36; Act 8:9) even though legontōn is here ablative (cf. Rev 3:9), common idiom. These are actual Jews and only Jews, not Christians.

And they are not (kai ouk eisin). Another parenthesis like that in Rev 2:2. These are Jews in name only, not spiritual Jews (Gal 6:15., Rom 2:28).

A synagogue of Satan (sunagōgē tou Satanā). In Rev 3:9 again and note Rev 2:13, Rev 2:24, serving the devil (Joh 8:44) instead of the Lord (Num 16:3; Num 20:4).