The phrase “synagogue of Satan” is found in two passages in the book of Revelation (Revelation 2:9 and 3:9). In both passages, Jesus is speaking to the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia and refers to Jewish opponents as belonging to the “synagogue of Satan.”
To understand this phrase, we first need to understand the context. In the first century AD, Christianity emerged from Judaism as a new religious movement. The first Christians were Jews who believed Jesus was the promised Messiah. As Christianity spread, tensions grew between Christian and non-Christian Jews. By the end of the first century, Christians and Jews had largely parted ways. There was animosity on both sides, with Jews persecuting Christians and Christians speaking poorly of Jews who rejected Jesus.
When Jesus refers to a “synagogue of Satan,” he is likely referring to local Jewish communities that were hostile to the church and persecuting Christians. The word “synagogue” refers to a Jewish house of worship and community center. By calling them a “synagogue of Satan,” Jesus is saying that they may claim to be serving God but are really doing the work of Satan by opposing the gospel.
Some key points about this phrase:
- It refers to specific Jewish communities that were persecuting Christians, not all Jews.
- It reflects the historic tensions between church and synagogue in the first century.
- It emphasizes that those who oppose the gospel align themselves with Satan, not God.
- It warns churches that they will face opposition from Jewish communities.
Jesus calls on the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia to remain faithful in the face of Jewish opposition and persecution. By using an emotionally charged term like “synagogue of Satan,” Jesus conveys the intensity of the conflict. But he calls believers to respond with faithfulness, not more animosity.
While this phrase reflects the historic situation of the early church, it has sometimes been used to promote anti-Semitism against Jews as a whole. However, it is important to understand that Jesus was critiquing specific opponents, not the Jewish people or Judaism as a whole. Christians should be careful to avoid misusing this phrase today.
In summary, the “synagogue of Satan” refers to local Jewish communities that were persecuting early Christians and opposing the gospel message. Jesus used this inflammatory rhetoric to convey the intensity of the conflict and to encourage faithfulness among believers facing opposition. Christians today should understand it in its limited historical context, not apply it broadly to all Jews or Judaism.
Interpreting the Phrase in Context
To properly interpret this phrase, we need to understand it in its full biblical context:
Revelation 2:9
“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”
Revelation 3:9
“Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.”
In both cases, Jesus refers to “those who say they are Jews and are not.” This suggests Jesus is not categorizing all Jews or even all non-Christian Jews as belonging to the “synagogue of Satan.” Rather, he has in view a specific subgroup of Jews who were slandering Christians and persecuting the church.
Jesus accuses these Jews of lying and calls their claim to be Jews into question. He actually implies they are not true Jews since they are persecuting those Jesus loves. So this phrase targets Jesus’ opponents in particular local Jewish communities, not Jews in general.
Historical Context of Tensions Between Jews and Christians
To better understand the meaning of this phrase, we need to examine the complex historical relationship between Jews and Christians in the first century AD:
- Christianity emerged from Second Temple Judaism in the first century AD. The earliest Christians were Jews who believed Jesus was the promised Messiah.
- As Christianity spread, it was perceived as a threat by Jewish religious leaders and tensions grew between church and synagogue.
- Jewish Christians were expelled from synagogues and persecuted by some Jews who rejected Jesus as Messiah.
- The destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70 caused a rupture between church and synagogue.
- As Christianity became predominantly Gentile, some church leaders began speaking negatively of Jews and Judaism.
- So there were hostile attitudes on both sides by the late first century when Revelation was written.
Jesus’ words reflect the emerging hostility and persecution Christians experienced from some Jews in this period. He is warning Christians to prepare for opposition from local Jewish communities.
A Rhetorical Device Highlighting Spiritual Conflict
The term “synagogue of Satan” is a rhetorical device Jesus uses to highlight the intense spiritual conflict:
- It’s an example of antithetical parallelism, a common poetic form in the Hebrew Bible and Jewish literature.
- It sharply contradicts “synagogue of God” to convey a stark spiritual contrast.
- The shocking imagery emphasizes the severity of the conflict between church and synagogue.
- It creates a sense of malice and danger to evoke a reaction in Jesus’ readers.
- Jesus intends to jar listeners and convey that their opponents are aligned with evil.
So this phase is a vivid metaphor meant to highlight the spiritual battle between the church and its Jewish opponents. It likely intends to rouse Christians in Smyrna and Philadelphia to renewed faithfulness when facing persecution and slander from local Jews.
A Warning to Faithful Churches
The context of Revelation indicates Jesus has two purposes in using this rhetoric:
- To commend the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia for remaining faithful despite Jewish opposition.
- To warn these churches that their Jewish opponents are being used by Satan to attack them.
It is a statement of spiritual reality – anyone who opposes the gospel aligns themselves with Satan against God. By using the inflammatory language, Jesus forewarns churches that local Jewish communities may well oppose them violently.
But he calls them to respond with patient endurance and faithfulness, not retaliation. Jesus promises protection to those who remain faithful through persecution.
Modern Misuse of the Phrase
While this phrase had a specific meaning in its original context, it has tragically been misused throughout church history as an excuse for anti-Semitism:
- Some church leaders took it out of context to promote animosity towards all Jews and Judaism.
- It has been used to justify discrimination, pogroms, apartheid and even the Holocaust.
- Its misuse has led to unspeakable acts of violence and hatred against Jewish communities.
However, a biblical understanding of the text makes clear that it refers only to specific opponents of the early church, not Jews as a whole. The church must categorically reject any anti-Semitic use of this passage.
Most mainstream theologians today emphasize that biblical critiques of some Jews should not be appliedgenerally. The church must relate to the Jewish people and Judaism with love and respect.
Principles for Application
When interpreting and applying the “synagogue of Satan” reference, Christians should be guided by several key principles:
- Understand the historical context – tensions between messianic Jews and non-Christian Jews in the first century.
- Do not apply it broadly to the Jewish people as a whole, either in the first century or today.
- Reject any use of this phrase to promote discrimination or violence against Jews.
- Remember that Judaism has a special place in God’s redemptive plan (Romans 9-11).
- Treat Jewish people and communities with love and respect as fellow humans made in God’s image.
If we keep these principles in mind, we can avoid misusing this rhetorically charged phrase in a way that perpetuates anti-Semitism. While meant to highlight spiritual conflict in the first century, it should never be used as a weapon against Jews, Judaism or Israel today.
Meaning for the Church Today
What positive application can churches today draw from this phrase?
- It reminds us that Satan can use religious persecution against believers.
- It calls Christians to prepare to face opposition from those hostile to the gospel.
- It encourages faithfulness during seasons of persecution and slander.
- It inspires patient endurance and spiritual resilience when confronted with animosity.
- It provides assurance of Christ’s protection for those who endure suffering for him.
While we should categorically reject any anti-Semitic misuse of this phrase, Jesus’ original intent can still encourage churches facing spiritual opposition today from whatever source.
Conclusion
The “synagogue of Satan” was a rhetorical phrase used by Jesus to refer to specific Jewish opponents of the early church in two first century contexts. It reflected historically tense relations between Jews and Christians at that time. This phrase has tragically been misused to promote anti-Semitism against Jews as a whole, which should be rejected entirely. When interpreted properly in context, this phrase can still provide encouragement to believers facing opposition and persecution today. While vigilant against misuse, the church can receive Jesus’ warning to these first century churches as inspiration to remain faithful through seasons of resistance and animosity from those opposed to the gospel message.