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Smyrna

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: S By: George A. Morrish

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Smyrna

Ancient city in the west of Asia Minor, about forty miles north of Ephesus. No mention is made of Paul having visited the city; but we know an assembly was gathered there by its being one of the seven churches in Asia, to which addresses were sent through the apostle John. See REVELATION 2. History calls Polycarp the first bishop of Smyrna, and it was there he suffered martyrdom. Christian writers have often pointed out in connection with the allusion to “the synagogue of Satan” in Revelation 2:9⁹I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9), the eagerness with which the Jews sought to aid in the martyrdom of Polycarp.

It was of old an important city, and modern Smyrna is a large town, and many of its inhabitants are professedly Christian (Rev. 1:11¹¹Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11); Rev. 2:8⁸And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; (Revelation 2:8)). The name means “myrrh.”

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Concise Bible Dictionary: S

• Sin Offering

• Sin, Original

• Sin, Wilderness of

• Sina, Sinai

• Smyrna