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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Revelation 2:13 - 2:13
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Where (pou - hopou). Pou is interrogative adverb used here in an indirect question as in Joh 1:39. Hopou is relative adverb referring to pou. Satan’s throne (ho thronos tou Satanā). Satan not simply resided in Pergamum, but his “throne” or seat of power of king or judge (Mat 19:28; Luk 1:32, Luk 1:52). The symbol of Asklepios was the serpent as it is of Satan (Rev 12:9; Rev 20:2). There was, besides, a great throne altar to Zeus cut on the Acropolis rock, symbol of “rampant paganism” (Swete) and the new Caesar-worship with the recent martyrdom of Antipas made Pergamum indeed a very throne of Satan.
Holdest fast my name (krateis to onoma sou). Present active indicative of krateō, “dost keep on holding,” as in Rev 2:25, Rev 3:11. This church refused to say Kurios Kaisar (Martyrd. Polyc. 8f.) and continued to say Kurios Iēsous (1Co 12:3). They stood true against the emperor-worship.
Didst not deny (ouk ērnēsō). First aorist middle second person singular of arneomai. Reference to a specific incident not known to us.
My faith (tēn pistin mou). Objective genitive, “thy faith in me.”
Of Antipas (Antipas). Indeclinable in this form. It is possible that Antipa (genitive) was really written, though unimportant as the nominative follows in apposition. Nothing is really known of this early martyr in Pergamum before the writing of the Apocalypse. One legend is that he was burnt to death in a brazen bull. Other martyrs followed him at Pergamum (Agathonice, Attalus, Carpus, Polybus).
My witness (ho martus mou). Nominative in apposition with a genitive as in Rev 1:5 (with ablative), common solecism in the Apocalypse. “Witness” as Jesus had said they should be (Act 1:8) and Stephen was (Act 22:20) and others were (Rev 17:6). The word later (by third century) took on the modern meaning of martyr.
My faithful one (ho pistos mou). Nominative also, with mou also. Jesus gives Antipas his own title (Swete) as in Rev 1:5; Rev 3:14. Faithful unto death.
Was killed (apektanthē). First aorist passive indicative of apokteinō, this passive form common in the Apocalypse (Rev 2:13; Rev 6:11; Rev 9:5, Rev 9:15, Rev 9:18, Rev 9:20; Rev 11:13;Rev 13:10; Rev 19:21).
Among you (par humin). By your side. Proof of the throne of Satan, “where Satan dwells” (hopou ho Satanās katoikei), repeated for emphasis.