Lesson Three

1. Background of Pergamum (2:12-17)

a. Seventy miles north from Smyrna

b. 3^rd Century Alexander the Great turned it into a major military fortress

c. key sights: circuit wall, temple of Athena, the great altar of Zeus, and a library of 200 thousand volumes

d. It became the major intellectual centre

e. Place that invented parchment paper from animal skin for writing

f. Leading religious centre of Asia, dedicating religious rights to Zeus (king of the gods and know there as “savior-god”), Athena (goddess of victory and patron of the city), Dionysus (patron god of the dynasty, symbolizing a bull), and Asclepios (god of healing, symbolized by a serpent).

g. It also became a medical centre

h. The great Altar of Zeus is 40 feet high

i. Centre of the imperial cult

j. Had a temple with royal priest and priestesses) It was the warden of imperial worship). This made it the leading city in the province.

k. Christians were persecuted in Pergamum due to primarily to the prevailing imperial cult. Emperor worship was linked to civic loyalty and patriotism. Christians due to their rejection of Roman gods, were atheists. But also they were accused of “hatred of the human race” because they refused to show political loyalty to the emperor and thus to Roman people.

l. The Jews were tolerated because they represented an ancient nation, where Christians had no nationality. The Christians had no background therefore their beliefs were labeled as mere superstition. They were hated for their exclusiveness and intolerance of the gods.

2. Good Deeds (2:13)

Three things Christ knows: The pagan world in which the lived, Their faithful witness, and Their endurance

i. Pagan World: Satan has hi habitation, his throne here. Throne in ancient world signifies authority and royal governance. This speaks of the presence of the imperial cult in Pergamum being the centre of it.

ii. Centered on faithfulness of the Pergamum believers. They hold fast to the name of Christ, meaning they are living Christ-like in character in such a way that people can see it on them. And in doing this, they have refused to renounce their faith. They have demonstrated divine preference in persecution.

iii. Antipas' witness and martyrdom

3. Weaknesses

a. Unlike Ephesus church the Pergamum church tolerated the Nicolaitan heresy. While Christians remained faithful, they were allowing a heretical movement to flourish in their midst, endangering the whole church. The problem was not external but internal. Some members of the congregation had apparently fallen into the Nicolaitan cult movement. Balaam was a Gentile prophet consulted by Balak king of Moab to curse the Israelites, but Balaam uttered only blessings. (Num 22-24).

b. the weaknesses of the Pergamum church hovered around members of the congregation falling into Nicolaitans movement. Members were adopting the "Nicolaitans" lifestyle.

c. Name Nicolaitans means "a conquest over the people" (NIKOS--a conquest; LAOS--people; TON--plural). It signifies climbing to the top of the ladder at others expense to champion and rule the world. It signifies seeking to be first and not to be last i.e. pyramid schemes.

d. Nicolaitans movement in the church had members who was on the quest for power of domination by any means necessary even if it means engaging in Balaam’s occult practices. This view welcomes syncretism into the church.

e. Also members also adopted Balaam philosophy of living. The name Balaam means "Lord of the people." This means to do what people want (anti-nominism). This welcomed liberalism philosophy the church i.e. priest are allowed to have mistresses and one can eat food of idols.

4. Ephesus vs Pergamum

a. Ephesus was strong in theology but weak in love; Pergamum was weak in theology but strong in love

b. Pergamum church feared to offend people of which the Ephesus church didn't mind doing that.

c. Pergamum did not want to upset the status quo in the church; did not want to preach against sin. It was a feel good church. It desired tranquility (avoid conflicts at all cost) rather than transparency (face conflicts to bring greater intimacy)

d. In the Pergamum church, it had a low level of accountability because they wanted people to feel accepted, but this was to their detriment.

5. Christ's Response

a. Christ used the sword to fight against those who are in the church that refuses to repent. Interesting that Jesus doesn't use the sword on our enemy the devil or the world, but he uses it on his church. This is because Jesus has to first judge the church before he judges the world. The world will be judge at the eschaton.

b. Jesus calls the church to repent by stop allowing the teachings to take root. He calls the church to stop trying to be "Mr. Nice Guy or Miss Nice Gal." He calls them to stop letting the sophisticated intellectuals of the world dictate how the church should run. They don't have any spiritual compass within them.