Pergamum

Biblical Text

Pergamum appears twice in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 1:11 it is named as one of the seven churches of Asia to which John is to send the revelation he received. Revelation 2:12-17 contains the letter addressed to this church.

The letter contains the following elements:

• Sender: Christ identifies himself as "he which hath the sharp sword with two edges."
• Commendation: Although the church dwelt "where Satan's seat is," it held fast to Christ's name. It did not deny the faith even when Antipas, "my faithful martyr," was slain.
• Rebuke: Within the church were those who held the doctrine of Balaam and those who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Balaam is described as the one "who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."
• Exhortation and promise: The church is urged to repent. To him that overcometh, Christ promises the "hidden manna" and "a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

Background

The biblical name (Pergamos in the KJV) renders the Greek place name Pergamon. The city corresponds to the area near present-day Bergama in western Türkiye. Built on a high hill, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon, ruled by the Attalid dynasty, in the third and second centuries BC. After the kingdom passed to Rome in 133 BC, the city became part of the Roman province of Asia.

Pergamum was a center of religion and learning:

• It had the Great Altar of Zeus.
• It had a temple of Asclepius, the god of healing.
• A temple for the worship of the Roman emperor is also known to have been established there at an early date.
• It had a large library.
• The English word "parchment," a writing material made from animal skin, is said to derive from the city's name.

Significance in Scripture as a Whole

The letter to Pergamum draws on the Old Testament account of Balaam to warn the church. In Numbers 22–25 and 31:16, Balaam is portrayed as one who, after failing to curse Israel, led Israel through the Moabite women into the idolatry of Baal-peor. In the New Testament, 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 1:11 also cite Balaam as an example of one who leads others astray.

The hidden manna recalls the manna of the wilderness. This promise is read as heavenly food set in contrast to the temptation to eat things sacrificed to idols.

Interpretation and Issues

Satan's seat The text does not specify what "Satan's seat" is. Scholars have proposed the Great Altar of Zeus, emperor worship, the cult of Asclepius with its serpent symbol, and the city's standing as a center of Roman rule. No single identification has been settled.

The white stone The white stone has likewise been interpreted in several ways. Proposals include a stone used to signify acquittal in a trial, a token of admission to a feast, and an amulet inscribed with a name.

Traditions about Antipas According to one account, Antipas was the bishop of Pergamum and was martyred inside a bronze bull. This is a later tradition and does not appear in the biblical text.

Ways of reading the seven churches One interpretation reads the seven churches as seven periods of church history; this reading appears in some dispensationalist interpretations. Such interpretations often associate Pergamum with the period around the fourth century, when the church allied itself with state power. In this connection, the "-gamum" in the name is sometimes explained as meaning "marriage," but this is not an accepted account of the place name's etymology. Many commentators regard the seven churches as actual first-century congregations and read their messages as applicable to the church in every age.

In Korean Churches

The church in Pergamum is frequently discussed in sermon series that treat the seven churches of Revelation 2–3 in order. In such sermons the passage is mainly presented as a warning against compromise with the world. Pergamum is also commonly included in pilgrimage itineraries visiting the sites of the seven churches in Türkiye.