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Rev_3:7-13. The epistle to the church at Philadelphia.
Philadelphia in Lydia, named after its founder, King Attalus Philadelphia of Pergamos, lay thirteen hours south-east of Sardis, likewise at the foot of Tmolus. The present Alah Schahr, a not entirely unimportant town, inhabited by Turks and Christians, contains many ruins of ancient Phil.
Of the Christian church at Phil., this Apoc. epistle contains the first trace. A Christian prophetess, Ammia, was mentioned at Phila.[1395] According to the Apostolic Constitutions, vii. 46, Peter installed there the first bishop, Demetrius. Many expositors[1396] have regarded a bishop Quadratus[1397] the receiver of the Apocalyptic message. The apologist Quadratus was bishop of Athens.[1398]
The church, like that at Smyrna (Rev_2:9), was exposed to the hostility of the Jews; but, although by no means of imposing importance on account of its extent or other external relations, it had confessed the name of the Lord Jesus with patient fidelity (Rev_3:8): among the promises imparted to this church is, accordingly, that also of true victory over the hostile Jews, who in all humility were to seek a share in the salvation discerned in the church (Rev_3:9). This relation to Judaism is testified also by the entire mode of conception and expression of the epistle, which with especial definiteness supports itself upon the divine foundation of the O. T., so that, in opposition to false Judaism as the synagogue of Satan, the Church of Jesus Christ appears the more distinctly as the true people of God.
[1395] Cf. Euseb., H. E., v. 17.
[1396] Cf. N. de Lyra.
[1397] Perhaps according to Eusebius as above. Cf. 3:37.
[1398] H. E., iv. 12.