Teks -- Revelation 2:10 (NET)

2:10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown into prison so you may be tested, and you will experience suffering for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rev 2:10 - Fear not

Fear not ( mē phobou ).

As in Rev 1:17. Worse things are about to come than poverty and blasphemy, perhaps prison and death, for the devil "is about to cast"(mellei ballein ), "is going to cast."

Robertson: Rev 2:10 - Some of you

Some of you ( ex humōn ).

Without tinas (some) before ex humōn , a common idiom as in Rev 3:9; Rev 11:19; Luk 11:49.

Robertson: Rev 2:10 - That ye may be tried

That ye may be tried ( hina peirasthēte ).

Purpose clause with hina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of peirazō . John himself is in exile. Peter and John had often been in prison together. James the brother of John, Paul, and Peter had all suffered martyrdom. In Rev 3:10 a general persecution is outlined by peirasmos .

Robertson: Rev 2:10 - Ye shall have

Ye shall have ( hexete ).

Future active, but some MSS. read echēte (present active subjunctive with hina, "that ye may have").

Robertson: Rev 2:10 - Tribulation ten days

Tribulation ten days ( thlipsin hēmerōn deka ).

"Tribulation of ten days"(or "within ten days"). It is unwise to seek a literal meaning for ten days. Even ten days of suffering might seem an eternity while they lasted.

Robertson: Rev 2:10 - Be thou faithful

Be thou faithful ( ginou pistos ).

"Keep on becoming faithful"(present middle imperative of ginomai ), "keep on proving faithful unto death"(Heb 12:4) as the martyrs have done (Jesus most of all).

Robertson: Rev 2:10 - The crown of life

The crown of life ( ton stephanon tēs zōēs ).

See this very image in Jam 1:12, a familiar metaphor in the games at Smyrna and elsewhere in which the prize was a garland. See also Rev 3:11. The crown consists in life (Rev 2:7). See Paul’ s use of stephanos in 1Co 9:25; 2Ti 4:8.

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - Fear not

Fear not ( υηδὲν φοβοῦ )

Lit., fear nothing . For the verb, see on Luk 1:50.

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - Behold

Behold ( ἰδοὺ δὴ )

The particle δὴ for certain , which is not rendered, gives a quality of assurance to the prediction.

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - The Devil

The Devil ( διάβολος )

See on Mat 4:1. The persecution of the Christians is thus traced to the direct agency of Satan, and not to the offended passions or prejudices of men. Trench observes: " There is nothing more remarkable in the records which have come down to us of the early persecutions, than the sense which the confessors and martyrs and those who afterwards narrate their sufferings and their triumphs entertain and utter, that these great fights of affliction through which they were called to pass, were the immediate work of the Devil."

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - Shall cast

Shall cast ( μέλλει βαλεῖν )

Rev., rightly, is about to cast .

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - Prison

Prison ( φυλακὴν )

See on Act 5:21.

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - May be tried

May be tried ( πειρασθήτε )

Tempted. See on 1Pe 1:7.

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - Tribulation ten days

Tribulation ten days ( θλῖψιν ἡμερῶν δέκα )

Lit., a tribulation of ten days .

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - Be thou

Be thou ( γίνον )

The exact force of the word cannot be given by a corresponding word in English. Lit., " become thou ." There is to be a succession of trials demanding an increase in the power and a variety in the direction of faith. With reference to these trials, faithfulness is to be not only existent but becoming , developing with new strength and into new applications.

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - Unto death

Unto death ( ἄχρι θανάτου )

Not faithful until the time of death, but faithful up to a measure which will endure death for Christ's sake. " It is an intensive , not an extensive term."

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - A crown

A crown ( τὸν στέφανον )

Rev., rightly, " the crown." See on 1Pe 5:4; see on Jam 1:12. Crown is used with a variety of words: crown of righteousness (2Ti 4:8); glory (1Pe 5:4); beauty Isa 62:3, Sept., A.V., glory ); pride (Isa 28:1); rejoicing (1Th 2:19).

Vincent: Rev 2:10 - Of life

Of life ( τῆς ζωῆς )

The full phrase is the crown of the life: i.e., the crown which consists in life eternal. The image is not taken from the Greek games, although Smyrna contained a temple of Olympian Jupiter, and Olympian games were celebrated there. It is the diadem of royalty rather than the garland of victory, though more commonly used in the latter sense. It is not likely that John would use an image from the games, since there was the most violent prejudice against them on the part of Jewish Christians; a prejudice which, on occasions of their celebration, provoked the special ferocity of the pagans against what they regarded as the unpatriotic and unsocial character of Christ's disciples. It was at the demand of the people assembled in the stadium that Polycarp was given up to death. Moreover, it is doubtful whether any symbol in Revelation is taken from heathenism. The imagery is Jewish.

Wesley: Rev 2:10

The first and last words of this verse are particularly directed to the minister; whence we may gather, that his suffering and the affliction of the church were at the same time, and of the same continuance.

Wesley: Rev 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou art about to suffer

Probably by means of the false Jews.

Wesley: Rev 2:10 - Behold

This intimates the nearness of the affliction. Perhaps the ten days began on the very day that the Revelation was read at Smyrna, or at least very soon after.

Wesley: Rev 2:10 - The devil

Who sets all persecutors to work; and these more particularly.

Wesley: Rev 2:10 - Is about to cast some of you

Christians at Smyrna; where, in the first ages, the blood of many martyrs was shed. Into prison, that ye may be tried - To your unspeakable advantage, 1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:14.

Wesley: Rev 2:10 - And ye shall have affliction

Either in your own persons, or by sympathizing with your brethren.

Wesley: Rev 2:10 - Ten days

(Literally taken) in the end of Domitian's persecution, which was stopped by the edict of the emperor Nerva.

Wesley: Rev 2:10 - Be thou faithful

Our Lord does not say, "till I come," as in the other letters, but unto death - Signifying that the angel of this church should quickly after seal his testimony with his blood; fifty years before the martyrdom of Polycarp, for whom some have mistaken him.

Wesley: Rev 2:10 - And I will give thee the crown of life

The peculiar reward of them who are faithful unto death.

JFB: Rev 2:10 - Fear none, &c.

The oldest manuscripts read, "Fear not those things," &c. "The Captain of our salvation never keeps back what those who faithfully witness for Him may have to bear for His name's sake; never entices recruits by the promise they shall find all things easy and pleasant there" [TRENCH].

JFB: Rev 2:10 - devil

"the accuser." He acted, through Jewish accusers against Christ and His people. The conflict of the latter was not with mere flesh and blood, but with the rulers of the darkness of this world.

JFB: Rev 2:10 - tried

With temptation by "the devil." The same event is often both a temptation from the devil, and a trial from God--God sifting and winnowing the man to separate his chaff from his wheat, the devil sifting him in the hope that nothing but chaff will be found in him [TRENCH].

JFB: Rev 2:10 - ten days

Not the ten persecutions from Nero to Diocletian. LYRA explains ten years on the year-day principle. The shortness of the duration of the persecution is evidently made the ground of consolation. The time of trial shall be short, the duration of your joy shall be for ever. Compare the use of "ten days" for a short time, Gen 24:55; Num 11:19. Ten is the number of the world powers hostile to the Church; compare the ten horns of the beast, Rev 13:1.

JFB: Rev 2:10 - unto death

So as even to endure death for My sake.

JFB: Rev 2:10 - crown of life

Jam 1:12; 2Ti 4:8, "crown of righteousness"; 1Pe 5:4, "crown of glory." The crown is the garland, the mark of a conqueror, or of one rejoicing, or at a feast; but diadem is the mark of a KING.

Clarke: Rev 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer - This may be addressed particularly to Polycarp, if he was at that time the bishop of this Church. He had much to suffer; and was at last burnt alive at Smyrna, about the year of our Lord 166. We have a very ancient account of his martyrdom, which has been translated by Cave, and is worthy of the reader’ s perusal. That account states that the Jews were particularly active in this martyrdom, and brought the fagots, etc., by which he was consumed. Such persons must indeed have been of the synagogue of Satan

Clarke: Rev 2:10 - Ten days

Ten days - As the days in this book are what is commonly called prophetic days, each answering to a year, the ten years of tribulation may denote ten years of persecution; and this was precisely the duration of the persecution under Diocletian, during which all the Asiatic Churches were grievously afflicted. Others understand the expression as implying frequency and abundance, as it does in other parts of Scripture. Gen 31:7, Gen 31:41 : Thou hast changed my wages Ten Times; i.e. thou hast frequently changed my wages Num 14:22 : Those men have tempted me now these Ten Times; i.e. they have frequently and grievously tempted and sinned against me. Neh 4:12 : The Jews that dwelt by them came and said unto us Ten Times, i.e. they were frequently coming and informing us, that our adversaries intended to attack us, Job 19:3; These Ten Times have ye reproached me; i.e. ye have loaded me with continual reproaches. Dan 1:20 : In all matters of wisdom, he found them Ten Times better than all the magicians; i.e. the king frequently consulted Daniel and his companions, and found them more abundantly informed and wise than all his counsellors

Some think the shortness of the affliction is here intended, and that the ten days are to be understood as in Terence, Heaut., Act v., scen. 1, ver. 36, Decem dierum vis mi est familia . "I have enjoyed my family but a short time.

Clarke: Rev 2:10 - Be thou faithful unto death

Be thou faithful unto death - Be firm, hold fast the faith, confess Christ to the last, and at all hazards, and thou shalt have a crown of life - thou shalt be crowned with life, have an eternal happy existence, though thou suffer a temporal death. It is said of Polycarp that when brought before the judge, and commanded to abjure and blaspheme Christ, he firmly answered, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never did me wrong, how then can I blaspheme my king who hath saved me?"He was then adjudged to the flames, and suffered cheerfully for Christ his Lord and Master.

Defender: Rev 2:10 - ten days

It should be kept in mind that these letters to the churches had universal relevance as well as immediate applications to the particular churches addressed. Consequently the "ten days" must suggest a general Biblical principle which was intended to sustain any group of Christians facing persecution. The only other Biblical reference to "ten days" is in Dan 1:12, Dan 1:14, Dan 1:15. There, Daniel experienced "ten days" of testing, but then God blessed him with seventy years of vital ministry. Just so, if we endure our "ten days" of tribulation, even unto death if need be, God will give us a "crown of life" for eternity (see note on Jam 1:15)."

TSK: Rev 2:10 - Fear // shalt // the devil // ye shall // ten days // be thou // a crown

Fear : Mat 10:22

shalt : Dan 3:16-18; Mat 10:28; Luk 12:4-7

the devil : Rev 12:9-11, Rev 13:2, Rev 13:7, Rev 13:15-17; Luk 21:12; Joh 13:2, Joh 13:27; Eph 2:2, Eph 6:12; 1Pe 5:8

ye shall : Rev 2:9

ten days : Hab 2:3; 1Pe 1:6, 1Pe 1:7

be thou : Rev 12:11; Mat 10:22, Mat 24:13; Mar 8:35, Mar 13:13; Luk 21:16-19; Joh 12:25; Act 20:24, Act 21:13; 2Ti 4:7, 2Ti 4:8

a crown : Rev 3:11; Jam 1:12; 1Pe 5:4

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rev 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer // Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison // That ye may be tried // And ye shall have tribulation ten days // Be thou faithful unto death // and I will give thee a crown of life

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer thou art like to suffer yet sharper things than thou hast suffered, the persecutions are but begun; but pluck up a good courage, fear not your enemies, Mat 10:28 .

Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison you shall be cast into prison, by Jews and pagans, who are the devil’ s instruments, and execute his malice against you; which should both encourage you, that your fight is with the common enemy of mankind, and teach you to pity and pray for your persecutors, who are but the devil’ s instruments, whose hearts he hath filled with malice against you.

That ye may be tried that your faith, love, patience, obedience, may be tried.

And ye shall have tribulation ten days: interpreters are divided about these ten days, what space of time is meant by them; some think the whole time of the ten persecutions, but they lasted above two hundred years; others will have them the ten years of Trajan’ s persecution, from the year 99 to 109. Others observe, that in ten days are two hundred and forty hours, which make up the number of years from 85, when the second persecution began, (under which John at this time was), to 325, when all the persecutions ceased. But to let these fancies go: it is either a certain number put for an uncertain; or, it signifies many days; as in Gen 31:42 , Thou hast changed my wages ten times, that is, many times; so 2Sa 19:43 Job 19:3 . Or else it signifies a little time, as in Gen 24:55 Amo 5:3 6:9 . If we understand this epistle as only concerning the church of Smyrna at that time, it may signify a small time. If we understand it prophetically, describing the state of all churches, till the pagan persecution ceased, (which was more than two hundred and forty years), ten days signifies a long time.

Be thou faithful unto death hold fast to thy profession of faith and holiness to the end of thy life here,

and I will give thee a crown of life and I will give thee eternal life and salvation, which shall be a great reward. It is called a crown of righteousness, 2Ti 4:8 .

PBC: Rev 2:10 - And ye shall have tribulation ten days. // Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

See WebbSr: FAITHFULNESS

They can take courage because of the help from the Lord. He is a very present help in time of trouble. The work of Satan can gain no ground because the Lord is our help. They can take courage because Jesus tells us " If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."{Joh 15:19} As we read throughout the book of Acts, we find this persecution taking place in the lives of Stephen, Peter, Paul, and numerous other named men. John is on the isle of Patmos because of persecution, " that ye may be true."

" And ye shall have tribulation ten days."

This seems to be figurative, although the term is used throughout Scripture as time periods in the events of God’s people. The number " ten" is used many, many times, and is a biblical number. As we observe its usage in the passage under consideration, it seems to comes as an encouragement to God’s people. There is a limit set by God as to the length of persecution before He intervenes for them in a positive way. Paul encourages the church through his own persecutions and suffering: " We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed."{2Co 4:8-9} God has been specific in many things recorded in Scripture concerning the persecution of His people. Israel would be in captivity four hundred years. At the end of that time He would bring them out with a strong arm. They would be in Babylonish captivity for seventy years. Following that, Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt. God was faithful to honor his word and these things came to pass as it was spoken. Daniel spoke about the coming of the Messiah, " And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."{Da 2:44} Paul verifies this in the Galatian letter, " But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."{Ga 4:4-5} God’s time schedule concerning His dealings with His people is always precise.

"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

Though some of them would not survive this tribulation and persecution, there was a great consolation given them: " a crown of life" awaited them. They believed God, " and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."{Heb 11:6} Hear the words of James, " Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."{Jas 1:12} There seems to be no rebuke to this church. We find mentioned at the ending of the Philadelphia letter; " hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." This " crown of life" indicates that God does recognize and reward His people here in this life for faithfulness and patience.— Eld. Charles Taylor

Haydock: Rev 2:8-11 - To the Angel of the church of Smyrna // Poverty // Thou art blasphemed // You shall have tribulation ten days

To the Angel of the church of Smyrna. To St. Polycarp, or some bishop there before him. No reprehension is given to this bishop, or to his church, but a commendation for suffering in poverty and tribulation, when they were rich in grace. (Witham) ---

Poverty. He was poor in temporal things, but rich in grace and merits. ---

Thou art blasphemed by those false teachers, who call themselves Jews and Israelites, and the chosen people of God, waiting for the coming of the Messias, but are not to be looked upon as such; having refused to own their true Messias, Jesus Christ, they are the Synagogue of Satan, the greatest enemies of the true faith. ---

You shall have tribulation ten days, which several here understand for a long time, others for a short time, ten times being used in both senses. (Witham) ---

The first death is that of the body, the second of the soul. (Ven. Bede)

Gill: Rev 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer // Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison // that ye may be tried // and ye shall have tribulation ten days // Be thou faithful unto death // and I will give thee a crown of life

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer,.... God's people undergo sufferings of various sorts, as the Christians of those times did, scourgings, imprisonment, confiscation of goods, and death itself in various shapes; and these are certain, they shall suffer them; they are all known beforehand to Christ, and he sometimes gives his people previous notice of them, nor should they indulge a slavish fear about them. It is reported of Polycarp, bishop of this church at Smyrna, in a letter written by the church itself ⁿ that three days before he suffered, he dreamed his pillow, on which he laid his head, was on fire; upon which, awaking, he said to those that were by him, that he should be burnt for Christ; and when he came to suffer, as he was led along, a voice was heard by the bystanders, Polycarp, be strong, and play the man,

Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison; which has been the lot of many of the saints, and was of some, even of the faithful ministers of the word in this interval; in which Satan had an hand, instigating their enemies to prevent and stop the progress of the Gospel, and deter others both from preaching and professing it: the end was in the permission of it,

that ye may be tried; that their graces might be tried, their faith, love, zeal, courage, faithfulness, and constancy. Suffering times are trying times, whether men are real Christians or not; whether they have the true grace of God or not; and whether the principles they hold are right and true, and are worth, and will bear suffering for:

and ye shall have tribulation ten days: meaning it may be the ten persecutions under the Roman emperors; the "first" was under Nero, in the year 64 or 66; the "second" was under Domitian, about the year 93; the "third" was under Trojan, in the year 104; the "fourth" was under Hadrian, in the year 125; the "fifth" was under Marcus Antoninus, in the year 151; the "sixth" was under Septimius Severus, in the year 197; the "seventh" was under Maximinus, in the years 235, 236, 237; the "eighth" was under Decius, in the year 250; the "ninth" was under Valerianus, in the year 257; and the "tenth" was under Dioclesian, in the year 303. Austin ^o reckons the ten persecutions thus: the first by Nero, the second by Domitian, the third by Trojan, the fourth by Antoninus, the fifth by Severus, the sixth by Maximus, the seventh by Decius, the eighth by Valerianus, the ninth by Aurelianus, the tenth by Dioclesian and Maximianus. Others, inasmuch as Nero's persecution was before this vision, reckon the ten persecutions thus: Domitian, Trojan, M. Antoninus, Verus and Lucius, Severus, Maximinus, Decius, Valerianus, Aurelianus, Dioclesianus, Licinius: the Dioclesian persecution lasted ten years almost throughout: and some think that this last persecution, which held ten years, is here particularly meant, and not without some good reason; since it is usual in prophetic writings, and in this book of the Revelation, to put days for years; so that these ten days may be the ten years the last persecution held, and at which time the period of this church state ended, and that of Pergamos took place,

Be thou faithful unto death: which is an address to the ministers in this interval, to be faithful in preaching the pure and unmixed Gospel of Christ; in a constant administration of the ordinances, as they were delivered; in watching over the souls of men under their care, reproving, exhorting, &c. with all longsuffering; continuing in the discharge of duty, though in continual danger of death, and though it issued in it. And also to the churches and the members of them, to continue believing in Christ, professing his name, striving for his Gospel, attending on his ordinances, and following him whithersoever he went; though this should expose them to sufferings, even unto death, which it became them cheerfully to undergo: and to which they are encouraged by what follows,

and I will give thee a crown of life; which may refer not only to eternal life, which is so called, Jam 1:12; because of the glory of that state, and its everlasting continuance, and is in the possession and gift of Christ; but to the deliverance of the Christians from persecution, by Constantine; who coming to the imperial crown, that became not only a crown of glory to him, but of life to the church, and was as life from the dead unto the saints: to dead men is promised a crown of life, in allusion to the Gentiles, who crowned their dead ^p,