<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/9f515a94-ae94-4782-8d3d-ccfb98891a6f/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213606.jpg" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/9f515a94-ae94-4782-8d3d-ccfb98891a6f/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213606.jpg" width="40px" /> Pergamon, an ancient city from the first century, was part of the Roman province of Asia, now in modern-day Turkey. It is one of the seven churches that John the Apostle addresses in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. These churches, all located in Asia Minor, are believed to represent the entire body of Christ and provide a prophetic view of the church age, with each church also representing a specific period in church history.
Pergamon, the third church in the sequence, is often seen as a symbol of the early Christian church's battle against false teachings and persecution. The city was a major cultural and learning hub, renowned for its library, which was second only to Alexandria's in Egypt. It also served as the Roman province of Asia's capital for a time, underscoring its political importance.
In the context of Pergamon, the "gift of the ear" represents the need for the church to listen to and discern the truth of the gospel amid false teachings and persecution, and to faithfully transmit and preserve this truth for future generations. This act of preservation is a powerful reminder of the importance of the Word of God and the need to listen to, understand, and obey it. It's a call to faithfulness and obedience that echoes the central message of the Shema and the biblical significance of the city of Pergamon.
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Pergamum, an ancient city from the first century, was part of the Roman province of Asia, now in modern-day Turkey.
Significance in the First Century: Pergamum, a major cultural and learning hub, was renowned for its library, second only to Alexandria's in Egypt. It also served as the Roman province of Asia's capital for a time, underscoring its political importance.
Biblical Significance: Pergamum, one of the seven churches John the Apostle addresses in Revelation, is often seen as a symbol of the early Christian church's battle against false teachings and persecution.
Link to the genius of the Didasko: The didasko, or teaching, in Pergamum, is akin to the Ear of Adam's gift of the ear. This gift was not just about the physical act of hearing, but the capacity to listen to, discern, and understand the divine revelations of God. It's a call to remember and obey the Word of God, much like the Shema, the central tenet of the Jewish faith that begins with "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."
Pergamum, the third of seven communities mentioned in Rev 2-3 whose guardian angel Entolas stood against the doctrinal errors that plagued the first and subsequent centuries within the City of faith allowing the NT ecclesia to recover stability and flight controls over the millennia down to present day orthodoxy by preserving inerrancy as a principal tenet of faith without which “the people perish” (Prov 29:18) but happy is he who keeps the law. Thus is fulfilled the mandate in Malachi 4:4 to “remember the law of Moses” with attendant benefits (see verses 5 and 6) and gospel adjustments.
In the context of Pergamum, this gift of the ear takes on a profound significance in the face of the city's challenges. It represents the need for the church to listen to and discern the truth of the gospel amid false teachings and persecution, and to faithfully transmit and preserve this truth for future generations.
Preservation of the Hebrew Scriptures: The accurate transmission and preservation of the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Old Testament, is a testament to the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the faithfulness of those who heeded the call to listen to and obey God's Word. The Scriptures have been meticulously preserved over the centuries, with scribes going to great lengths to ensure that every letter and word was copied accurately.
This act of preservation is a powerful reminder of the importance of the Word of God and the need to listen to, understand, and obey it. It's a call to faithfulness and obedience that echoes the central message of the Shema and the biblical significance of the city of Pergamum.
