I was reading more about Smyrna and how Christ opened his letter to that church. I read that Smyrna was the Greek translation for the Hebrew word for myrrh. It had many uses including being used as an embalming agent and was offered to Jesus at crucifixion for narcotic effects, but its good effects only came when crushed. Izmir also means myrrh. I also read some commentaries about Jesus opening the letter by referring to himself as the first and last and who was dead and is alive. The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Aleph and was depicted in ancient times as an oxen head. The last letter is Tav and was depicted as a cross. He could have used this opening to reassure them he was first and will be last and there is and will be no other God, and that he has experienced himself what they will go through, and once gone through nothing will ever be able to hurt them again.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 01:48:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015