church in Smyrna

E19789

The church in Smyrna was an early Christian congregation in the ancient city of Smyrna, praised in the New Testament’s Book of Revelation for its faithfulness amid persecution.

Aliases (2)

Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian congregation
New Testament church
early Christian church
addressedBy Jesus Christ (in the Book of Revelation)
associatedWith Polycarp of Smyrna
associatedWithTheme faithfulness unto death
suffering and perseverance
cityNowKnownAs İzmir
commemoratedIn Christian martyrology traditions
commendedFor not receiving any rebuke in Revelation
contrastedWith church in Laodicea (which is rebuked)
doctrinalOrientation proto-orthodox Christianity
encouragedTo remain faithful unto death
experiences poverty in a material sense
faced persecution
slander from opponents
geographicalContext Aegean coast of Asia Minor
groupedWith church in Ephesus
church in Laodicea
church in Pergamum
church in Philadelphia
church in Sardis
church in Thyatira
historicalSetting Roman Empire
identifiedAs “rich” in a spiritual sense
knownFor martyrdoms of its members
steadfastness under Roman persecution
languageContext Greek-speaking Christian community
liturgicalUse example of a faithful suffering church in Christian preaching
locatedIn Asia Minor
Roman province of Asia
Smyrna
mentionedIn Book of Revelation
Revelation 2:8–11
messageIntroducedWith “These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and came to life again”
oneOf Seven churches of Asia
praisedFor endurance in persecution
faithfulness
spiritual riches despite material poverty
promised crown of life
not to be hurt by the second death
receives angelic message in Revelation
religion Christianity
scripturalGenreOfMessage apocalyptic prophecy
timePeriod 1st century AD
traditionallyLinkedTo Apostle John
warnedAbout imprisonment
tribulation of ten days

Referenced by (3)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Book of Revelation
addresses
Polycarp of Smyrna ("Smyrnaean church")
associatedWith
Seven Churches of Asia ("Church of Smyrna")
hasMember

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