2:12 {11} And to the angel of the church in {d} Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
(11) The third passage is to the pastors of Pergamos. The introduction is taken from Re 1:16.
(d) Pergamos was the name of a famous city of old in Asia, where the kings of the Attalians were always resident.
2:12 THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS
The church in Pergamos. The farthest north of the Seven Churches, a city once the capital of the kingdom of Pergamos, which was great and flourishing when John Wrote. It still exists with about 14,000 population, of whom over 3,000 profess to be Christians.
He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. See Re 1:16.
2:12 The sword - With which I will cut off the impenitent, verse 16. Rev 2:16
2:12-17 The word of God is a sword, able to slay both sin and sinners. It turns and cuts every way; but the believer need not fear this sword; yet this confidence cannot be supported without steady obedience. As our Lord notices all the advantages and opportunities we have for duty in the places where we dwell, so he notices our temptations and discouragements from the same causes. In a situation of trials, the church of Pergamos had not denied the faith, either by open apostacy, or by giving way so as to avoid the cross. Christ commends their stedfastness, but reproves their sinful failures. A wrong view of gospel doctrine and Christian liberty, was a root of bitterness from which evil practices grew. Repentance is the duty of churches and bodies of men, as well as of particular persons; those who sin together, should repent together. Here is the promise of favour to those that overcome. The influences and comforts of the Spirit of Christ, come down from heaven into the soul, for its support. This is hidden from the rest of the world. The new name is the name of adoption; when the Holy Spirit shows his own work in the believer's soul, this new name and its real import are understood by him.
