Smyrna was particularly beautiful and strategically situated
geographically and so vied with Ephesus for the distinction of being the most
important city in Asia. It had an excellent harbor and was therefore a center
for trade in its own right. It was evident that this city was built according
to a comprehensive plan; therefore one of the few such cities in the first
century.
Its outstanding distinction, however, was that it was one of
the first cities to engage in the worship of the emperor. It had a longstanding
loyalty to Rome even before Rome became a world power. Smyrna was the first
city to build a temple dedicated to Dea Roma. It also had a separate temple
dedicated to the emperor Tiberius. This fierce loyalty to the imperial cult
along with a large Jewish population, which was actively hostile to Christianity,
made the Christian witness in Smyrna a particularly difficult challenge. The
church in Smyrna is celebrated in church history, however, with being resolute
in its commitment to Christ. Many martyrs are connected to the church, the
most famous was the church father Polycarp (69-155 ce) who was burned and
then stabbed to death.
The letter is the second in the series and as all the others,
is intended to be read by all the other recipients. It has the standard elements
of the first century letters, except that it has the variations common to
all of these letters, of having recipients named first instead of the sender
and having the address being to the essential Spirit i.e. the “angel”
of the church. The designation drawn from the vision is that He is the one
who is “first and last who was dead and lived again.” It seems
that the absolute power and the indomitable life of the risen Christ are being
emphasized.
The letter’s content gives a clear indication that the
recipient’s difficult circumstances are fully understood. These Christians,
however, should fearlessly and unflinchingly remain faithful even in the face
of more difficulties to come and possible death. The continual urging of the
Spirit, in partnership with the resurrected Christ, is followed by the promise
of the overcomers’ reward in terms of ultimate apocalyptic thought.
The resurrected Christ finds no fault with this congregation in His review
which is noteworthy. This state of affairs is found also in the letter to
the church in Philadelphia and may point to literary symmetry.
A basic human need is for fortitude under intense pressure.
The text indicates that the social environment is hostile and cruel. The situation
is not going to change, rather it will worsen. The challenge these conditions
present to fidelity to Christ is obvious.
God addresses the essential ethos of this church in these difficult
circumstances of systemic emperor worship and an antagonistic Jewish population
by means of the risen Christ who has himself faced the ultimate threat—death,
and is now alive again. The risen Christ has “been there done that”
and speaks to the church from the position of victory. The ultimate authority
of the risen Christ and His encouragement/command bolsters this church against
capitulation to fear and cowardice.
The text then elicits a human response: Confidence in the power
of God which removes fear of mere human institutional persecution such as
that threatened by the imperial cult. However, outside forces threaten to
diminish Christians’ faithfulness and exclusive loyalty to Christ. It
is met with courage and fortitude. This is born out of a settled trust in
the indomitable Christ, who is unconditional and unafraid of consequences.
(For the full manuscript of this sermon
go to www.preachersmagazine.org and click on “Sermons.”)
The resurrected Christ, with the credentials of having overcome
all His institutional enemies (the Roman Empire and the contemporary Jewish
elite) can muster against Him, including His very crucifixion, is triumphant
over death. Christ infuses His followers in Smyrna, who are also faced with
deadly institutionalized oppression and opposition, with fortitude and courage
backed by the promise of reward—the kind reserved for a victorious champion.
Christians who are being coerced by societal pressure to compromise
their faith are encouraged to draw on the presence and power of the resurrected
Christ. With this power they can be resolute and unconditionally faithful
to Him. The Spirit identifies this attitude as being characteristic of members
of the true Church.
