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The message first to Smyrna sent Smyrna
John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 137, under Revelation 2:11.
WRITTEN BY
John Newton 1725–1807
PRINTED
1779 Olney Hymns · no. 137
METRE
Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 7 stanzas
WRITTEN ON
Revelation 2:11 the verse printed above it
The hymn, and the Scripture in it
All 7 stanzas as Newton printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.
SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes
AMONG THE SCRIPTURES
The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.
a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here
STANZA I
The message first to Smyrna sent
The message first to Smyrna sent,
A message full of grace;
To all the Savior’s flock is meant,
In every age and place.
No line of this stanza quotes a verse closely; it is the hymn's own confession.
Where Newton found it
Newton printed the hymn under Revelation 2:11. The line that comes closest to it is marked.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death. REVELATION 2:11 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ REVELATION 2
Hear what the holy Spirit saith Of all who overcome; “They shall escape the second death, The sinner’s aweful doom!” STANZA VII
Its place in the book
Book I of Olney Hymns walks through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, one hymn per passage: 141 hymns. This is number 137. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.
NO. 137 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN The message first to Smyrna sent
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