| Geneva Study Bible {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. People's New Testament 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. Wesley's Notes 2:12 The sword - With which I will cut off the impenitent, verse 16. Rev 2:16 Scofield Reference Notes Margin angel See Scofield Note: "Heb 1:4". Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 12. Trench prefers writing Pergamus, or rather, Pergamum, on the river Caicus. It was capital of Attalus the Second's kingdom, which was bequeathed by him to the Romans, 133 B.C. Famous for its library, founded by Eumenes (197-159), and destroyed by Caliph Omar. Parchment, that is, Pergamena charta, was here discovered for book purposes. Also famous for the magnificent temple of Ęsculapius, the healing god [Tacitus, Annals, 3.63]. he which hath the sharp sword with two edges-appropriate to His address having a twofold bearing, a searching power so as to convict and convert some (Re 2:13, 17), and to convict and condemn to punishment others (Re 2:14-16, especially Re 2:16; compare also see on [2675]Re 1:16). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 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. | 
