Letter to Pergamum: Fidelity and False Teaching
Revelation 2:12-17
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Rev.2.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αγγελω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- Περγαμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εκκλησιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- γραψον·Ταδε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ρομφαιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- διστομον: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οξειαν·: ADJ,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Rev.1.16 (verbal): The risen Lord is described as having 'a sharp two-edged sword' proceeding from his mouth — the exact verbal image echoed in Rev 2:12.
- Rev.2.16 (quotation): Within the Pergamum letter the sword-from-the-mouth motif recurs: 'I will come… and will fight them with the sword of my mouth' — an immediate application of the image.
- Rev.19.15 (verbal): The final-judgment portrait of Christ likewise depicts 'a sharp sword' coming from his mouth to strike the nations, reiterating the same martial/word imagery.
- Heb.4.12 (thematic): Describes God's word as 'sharper than any two-edged sword,' thematically linking the sword-image to the penetrating, judging power of God's word.
- Isa.11.4 (allusion): The prophetic motif of judgment 'by the breath/lips of his mouth' (LXX and MT parallels) provides an Old Testament background for the idea of a decisive act issuing from the Lord's mouth.
Alternative generated candidates
- To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: Thus says he who has the sharp two-edged sword:
- To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: Thus says he who has the sharp two-edged sword:
Rev.2.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Οιδα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- που: ADV
- κατοικεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- οπου: ADV,rel
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θρονος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Σατανα: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- κρατεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ηρνησω: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πιστιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- ημεραις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- Αντιπας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μαρτυς: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πιστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- απεκτανθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- παρ᾽υμιν: PREP,dat,pl,2
- οπου: ADV,rel
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Σατανας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κατοικει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Revelation 1:5 (verbal): Uses the same phrase 'the faithful witness' (ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστός); connects Antipas as a martyr-witness to the Lord Jesus, who is himself the faithful witness.
- Revelation 2:9 (structural): Same Johannine polemical language about hostile, satanic influence in a local church—'synagogue of Satan'—echoing the idea of Satanic presence among believers' opponents.
- Revelation 3:9 (structural): Parallel promise/judgment language about those identified with 'the synagogue of Satan' and the presence of Satanic authority within a city or community, reinforcing the motif of Satanic locality.
- Matthew 10:32–33 (thematic): Contrast/parallel on confession and denial: Christ commends public confession and warns against denial; Rev 2:13 praises the church for not denying faith even under threat and martyrdom.
- Acts 7:54–60 (thematic): Stephen's martyrdom as an early Christian 'witness' (martyr) who is faithful unto death—a precedent for Antipas described as 'my faithful witness' put to death in the city.
Alternative generated candidates
- I know where you dwell—where Satan's throne is—and you hold fast my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
- I know where you dwell—where the throne of Satan is. Yet you hold fast my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed among you—where Satan dwells.
Rev.2.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλα: CONJ
- εχω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- κατα: PREP
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- ολιγα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- οτι: CONJ
- εχεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- εκει: ADV
- κρατουντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- διδαχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Βαλααμ: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εδιδασκεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Βαλακ: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- βαλειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- σκανδαλον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ενωπιον: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- υιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- Ισραηλ: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- φαγειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- ειδωλοθυτα: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- πορνευσαι·: VERB,aor,act,inf
Parallels
- Numbers 31:16 (allusion): Explicit OT attribution that Balaam taught Balak to cause Israel to sin at Peor — the same charge Revelation levels against those holding Balaam's teaching.
- Numbers 25:1-3 (thematic): Narrative of Israel's sexual immorality and worship of Baal‑peor, the historical event behind the accusation about eating idol food and sexual sin.
- Acts 15:20 (verbal): Jerusalem council injunction to 'abstain from things polluted by idols and from sexual immorality' — echoes Revelation's pairing of idol‑meat and sexual sin.
- 1 Corinthians 10:7-8,20 (thematic): Paul links Israel's Peor episode (sexual immorality) with idolatry and warns that food sacrificed to idols involves participation in demonic powers — thematically tied to Revelation's charge.
- 2 Peter 2:15-16 (allusion): Peter condemns false teachers who 'follow the way of Balaam' for profit and recalls Balaam's error (and rebuke), using Balaam as a paradigmatic example of corrupting influence.
Alternative generated candidates
- But I have a few things against you: you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to practice sexual immorality.
- But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
Rev.2.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουτως: ADV
- εχεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- κρατουντας: PART,pres,act,acc,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- διδαχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Νικολαιτων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ομοιως: ADV
Parallels
- Revelation 2:6 (verbal): Also mentions the Nicolaitans—both verses link the local church's situation to the same sect and echo language about their teaching and practices.
- Revelation 2:14 (verbal): Close parallel in structure and theme: verse 14 speaks of those holding the teaching of Balaam, while 2:15 names the Nicolaitans—Revelation pairs these false-teaching figures across the messages.
- Revelation 2:20 (thematic): Continues the book’s concern with tolerated false teaching and sexual/idolatrous compromise (the Jezebel figure), showing a recurring pattern of censured teachers leading the church astray.
- Numbers 31:16 (allusion): OT background for the Balaam motif: this verse accuses Balaam's counsel of causing Israel to sin with Midianite women—source material for Revelation’s condemnation of teachers who entice immorality.
- 2 Peter 2:15 (thematic): Peter condemns false teachers 'following the way of Balaam' who loved gain—uses Balaam as a typological example of corrupt teaching and moral failure, paralleling Revelation’s use of Balaam/Nicolaitan imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- So also you have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
- So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which I hate.
Rev.2.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μετανοησον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ουν·ει: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- μη: PART
- ερχομαι: VERB,pres,mid/dep,ind,1,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- ταχυ: ADV
- και: CONJ
- πολεμησω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- μετ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ρομφαια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- στοματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Revelation 1:16 (verbal): Same imagery: a sharp, two-edged sword proceeding from the mouth of the exalted Christ (sword-from-mouth motif used to symbolize eschatological judgment).
- Revelation 19:15 (structural): Parallel eschatological judgment scene where a sword goes out of Christ’s mouth to strike the nations — the same mode of divine combat and swift coming asserted in 2:16.
- Isaiah 11:4 (allusion): Ancient prophetic antecedent: the ruler judges 'with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall strike the wicked,' providing a background for the motif of judgment issuing from speech.
- Hebrews 4:12 (thematic): Conceptual parallel: the word of God is living and sharper than any two-edged sword, linking divine speech/word with incisive, judgmental power like the 'sword of the mouth.'
Alternative generated candidates
- Repent therefore; or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
- Repent therefore; or else I will come to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev.2.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ακουσατω: VERB,aor,act,imp,3,sg
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- εκκλησιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- νικωντι: PART,pres,act,dat,sg,m
- δωσω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- μαννα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κεκρυμμενου: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- δωσω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ψηφον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- λευκην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ψηφον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- καινον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- γεγραμμενον: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,sg,n
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- οιδεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λαμβανων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Exodus 16:4,16-18 (verbal): Manna originates in Exodus—God provides bread from heaven. Revelation's promise of 'hidden manna' echoes the Exodus manna motif and language of heavenly provision.
- John 6:31-35,48-51 (thematic): Jesus interprets the manna tradition in Christological terms as 'bread of life.' Revelation's hidden manna alludes to this reinterpretation linking heavenly bread with eschatological/Christological nourishment.
- Revelation 3:12 (verbal): A closely related promise in Revelation: the conqueror will have God's name written on him and receive Christ's 'new name.' Both verses use the motif of a new/divine name written on the faithful.
- Isaiah 62:2 (allusion): Isaiah speaks of being given 'a new name' by the LORD. Revelation's 'new name' motif echoes prophetic language about divine renaming as a mark of restoration and identity.
- Matthew 13:11 (thematic): Jesus tells the disciples that the 'secrets of the kingdom' are given to them but hidden from others. Revelation's clause that no one knows the name except the recipient parallels the NT theme of mysteries/secret revelations granted to the faithful.
Alternative generated candidates
- He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written that no one knows but the one who receives it.
- He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except the one who receives it.
To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: Thus says he who has the sharp, two-edged sword:
I know your works and where you dwell—where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith, even in the days when Antipas my faithful witness was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have there those who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat things sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Repent; otherwise I will come to you quickly and will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except the one who receives it.