Revelation 2:12 - To the Church in Pergamum

To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
The term "angel" here is often interpreted as the spiritual leader or messenger of the church in Pergamum. Pergamum was a significant city in Asia Minor, known for its cultural and religious influence, including temples dedicated to various gods and the imperial cult. This setting highlights the spiritual challenges faced by the church amidst pagan practices.

These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword:
The "sharp, double-edged sword" symbolizes the power and authority of Christ's word, as seen in Hebrews 4:12, where the word of God is described as living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. This imagery emphasizes judgment and discernment, indicating Christ's ability to penetrate and judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The sword also represents Christ's authority over the church and His ability to protect and purify it from false teachings and practices.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Angel of the Church in Pergamum
This refers to the spiritual messenger or leader of the church in Pergamum, a city known for its cultural and religious diversity, including pagan worship.

2. The Church in Pergamum
A Christian community located in Pergamum, a city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), known for its intellectual and religious significance, including the worship of various deities.

3. The One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword
This is a reference to Jesus Christ, emphasizing His authority and the power of His word, which is described as a sharp, double-edged sword.

Teaching Points

The Authority of Christ
Jesus is depicted as holding a sharp, double-edged sword, symbolizing His ultimate authority and the power of His word to judge and discern truth from falsehood.

The Importance of Spiritual Discernment
In a city like Pergamum, known for its diverse beliefs, the church is reminded of the need for discernment, relying on the truth of Christ's word to navigate cultural and spiritual challenges.

The Power of God's Word
Believers are encouraged to wield the word of God as a sword, using it to defend against spiritual deception and to uphold truth in their lives.

Faithfulness in a Challenging Environment
The church in Pergamum is called to remain faithful amidst a culture of idolatry and opposition, a reminder for Christians today to stand firm in their faith regardless of societal pressures.

(12) Pergamos.--Unlike Ephesus and Smyrna, Pergamos was not distinguished as a commercial city. Its importance was due to other causes. A striking coneshaped hill rose from the plain which bordered the northern banks of the Caicus. The hill was considered sacred. Its value as a strong natural fortress was early recognised, and it was used as a keep and treasury where local chieftains deposited their wealth. Its greatness as a city dated from Eumenes II., who was given by the Romans a large surrounding territory, and who fixed Pergamos as his royal residence. Under his auspices a splendid city--rich in public buildings, temples, art galleries, and with a library which rivalled that of Alexandria--rose into being. It has been described as a city of temples, "a sort of union of a pagan cathedral city, an university town, and a royal residence." It retained its splendour even after it passed by bequest to the Roman Republic, and was declared by Pliny to be a city unrivalled in the province of Asia.

Sharp sword with two edges.--See Note on Revelation 1:16. The appropriateness of this language to the state of the church in Pergamos will best appear afterwards. (See Note on Revelation 2:15-16.)

Verses 12-17. - The epistle to the Church at Pergamum. Verse 12. - Pergamum is the usual form both in Greek and Latin writers; "Pergamus" is very rare. And if Πέργαμος were right here, why "Pergamos" any more than "Ephesos"? The city lies north of Smyrna, in Mysia Major, or the right bank of the Caicus. Pergamum is first mentioned by Xenophon, and becomes important and magnificent under Attalus, the friend of the Romans (B.C. 241-197), and his son Eumenes (B.C. 196-159). Its library was second only to that of Alexandria; but Mark Antony took it to Egypt and gave it to Cleopatra. Parchment gets its name from Pergamum, and Galen the physician was born there. Pliny writes of "longe clarissimum Asiae Pergamum" - a description which probably has reference to its buildings. It still exists under the slightly changed name of Bergamah, or Bergma; and its ruins still tell of the magnificent public edifices which have caused it to be described as a "city of temples," and again as "a sort of union of a pagan cathedral city, a university town, and a royal residence." Its idolatrous rites were frequent and various, and the contamination which they spread is manifest from this epistle. The sharp two-edged sword (see notes on Revelation 1:16 and Revelation 2:13). How much this weapon is needed is shown by the evils protested against. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

To the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

angel
ἀγγέλῳ (angelō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

of the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

church
ἐκκλησίας (ekklēsias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1577: From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

Pergamum
Περγάμῳ (Pergamō)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4010: Pergamum, an important city of the Roman province Asia. From purgos; fortified; Pergamus, a place in Asia Minor.

write:
γράψον (grapson)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

These [are]
Τάδε (Tade)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3592: This here, this, that, he, she, it.

the words
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

of the [One who]
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

holds
ἔχων (echōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sharp,
ὀξεῖαν (oxeian)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3691: (a) sharp, (b) swift, eager. Probably akin to the base of akmen; keen; by analogy, rapid.

double-edged
δίστομον (distomon)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1366: (lit: twain-mouthed; hence: of a sword, as a drinker of blood), two-edged. From dis and stoma; double-edged.

sword.
ῥομφαίαν (rhomphaian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4501: A sword, scimitar; fig: war, piercing grief. Probably of foreign origin; a sabre, i.e. A long and broad cutlass.

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