ACC ~ Revelation 2 v9

YOU PERSEVERE THROUGH SLANDER. VICTORINUS OF PETOVIUM: The next letter shows the following manner of life and habit of another group. And so he says, “I know you that you are poor and labor, but you are rich.” For he knows that for such persons there are hidden riches with him. [And he knows] the slander of the Jews, whom he denies that they are Jews, but rather a synagogue of Satan, for they are gathered together by the antichrist. That they might persevere even to death, he says to them: “Whoever will persevere, will not be harmed by the second death,” that is, he will not be punished in hell. COMMENTARY OF THE APOCALYPSE 2.2.

RICH IN FAITH AND BLESSINGS. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: He praises the works of his church, for through many tribulations she contends for the kingdom. He indicates expressly the grace of poverty, because [the church] despises very much the things of the present time, so that she might acquire future things. “But you are rich.” You are rich in faith and are filled with an abundance of blessings. “And you are slandered by those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” For the church often sustains much insult from those who claim that they confess God, but do not confess him. Rather, their congregation is bound to the devil as its source. For that reason, he exhorts his church not to fear those who kill the body, but afterward have nothing which they can do. TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.9.

SOME SAY THEY ARE JEWS BUT ARE NOT. OECUMENIUS: “I know your tribulation and your poverty”—indeed, you do not speak, as do the wicked Jews, who say, “Why have we fasted, and you did not notice it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you paid no heed?” But “you are rich,” he says, since you have Christ as a wealthy patron, although indeed for us he became poor, “taking the form of a slave.”“and the blasphemy” of those falsely called “Jews.” Judah means “confession,” and Israel means “those who spiritually see God.” Therefore, those who are true Jews and the spiritual Israel would be those who confess Christ. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is the circumcision which is outward and physical” pleasing to God, as Paul says, “rather, he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and the circumcision is a matter of the heart,” not of the flesh. For that reason, those who have remained Jews in unbelief are a blasphemous synagogue, under the leadership of Satan. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.8-11.

RICH IN THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: In the things of the flesh you have tribulation and poverty, which you endure for my sake, being beaten by unbelievers and being deprived of present goods. But in the things of the Spirit you are rich, for you have the “hidden treasure in the field” of your heart. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.9.

FALSE CHRISTIANS ALSO INHABIT THE CHURCH: TYCONIUS: He speaks to every church that is poor in spirit yet possesses all things, as the apostle says, “as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” “And you are slandered by those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Here certainly it is shown that he was not speaking only to a special church, for it was not only at Smyrna where there were or are Jews who slander. However, it is possible that there is a double meaning of “Jews” here, either those who are openly Jews outside or those who are Jews within [the church], that is, false Christians. For religiosity is characteristic of the Jews, as the apostle says, “He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal.” And again he says, “We are the circumcision who worship God in spirit, and put no confidence in the flesh.” Nor ought we ourselves to abandon those [in the church] when they are even called a synagogue of Satan. For we know that the Lord has presented us with an example of longsuffering by tolerating Judas even unto the end. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.9.

Rev