Page 465 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

PERGA - PERGAMOS

“undefiled” (Ps. 119:1), “upright” (2 Sa. 22:24), that an actor speaking in a normal voice could be heard
“whole” (Le. 3:9). The other word is SHALEM, meaning on the topmost seat” (J. T. Marlin, The Seven Churches of
“complete; especially friendly” (Strong), and it is also Asia Minor). Its library, consisting of 200,000 volumes,
translated “full” (Ge. 15:16), “just” (Pr. 11:1), “made was exceeded in magnificence only by that of
ready” (1 Ki. 6:7), “peaceable” (Ge. 34:21), “quiet” (Na. Alexandria, Egypt, and eventually the emperor Mark
1:12), “whole” (De. 27:6). The chief Greek word Anthony gave it to the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. The
translated “perfect” in the N.T. is TELEIOS, meaning making of books on parchment (prepared animal’s
“complete, in various applications of labor, growth, skins) was invented here, the word “parchment” being
mental and moral character; completeness” (Strong). It derived from the name of the city. While visiting
is also translated “of full age” (He. 5:14), Pergamos I bought a sheet of sheepskin parchment
“consecrated” (He. 7:28), “finish” (Jn. 4:34), made in the region. The Pergamos mosaicists were
“fulfil” (Lk. 2:43). renowned. “The mosaicists of Pergamum seem to have
Some Examples of Bible Perfection. (1) Noah was been among the earliest artists who superimposed one
perfect because he walked in obedience to God’s colour on another to create an intermediate shade, such
revealed will (Ge. 6:9). (2) The sacrifices were to be as applying a translucent coat of red plaster to white
perfect, meaning without blemish (Le. 22:21). (3) Asa’s mosaic cubes to obtain a particular bright red. They
heart was perfect because he did not turn aside to idols were also known as the first who reduced the size of the
(2 Ch. 15:17). (4) Job was perfect before the Lord (Job mosaic cubes to the size of pin-heads. By using very
1:8), because he feared God and hated evil (Job 1:1). small mosaic cubes in graded shades of each colour they
(5) The law of God is perfect (Ps. 19:7). Here the word achieved gradual transitions of tone and shadow which
“perfect” is used in an absolute sense. (6) The believer gave their works the impression of painting” (Fatih
can be perfect in the sense of lacking nothing that he Cimak, Pergamum).
needs to do the will of God (Ja. 1:4). (7) The believer Pergamos was addicted to idolatry and its attending
can be perfect in the sense of being thoroughly sensuality. Most of the temples were located on the top
furnished unto all good works (2 Ti. 3:17). (8) The of the acropolis overlooking the city. There was a
believer is to prove the perfect will of God, meaning he beautiful grove called the Nicephorium in the midst of
is to seek to be separated from the world and to renew which were temples dedicated to Zeus (Jupiter or Jove),
the mind through God’s Word (Ro. 12:2). [See Dionysus, Athena, Diana, Apollo, Aphrodite, and Venus.
Justification, Sanctification.] The great altar of Zeus was 40 feet in height and was
PERGA (all earth, tower). Ac. 13:13. renowned as one of the wonders of the world. A large
PERGAMOS (elevated, fortified). The location of one frieze carved in marble depicts a mythical battle
of the seven churches in Asia Minor that was addressed between Greek gods (e.g., Zeus and Hercules) and
by the risen Christ in Revelation 2-3. See Revelation supernatural giants. It was “one of the greatest
2:12-17. Pergamos is located about 90 miles north of achievements in the field of sculpture” (Marlin). Today
Smyrna, and though it was some 15 miles from the sea, there are trees growing on the altar’s location.
the nearby river Caicus was navigable by small craft. In Significant parts of it were recovered in the 1870s by
John’s day the city had been built around the foot of the German archaeologists and it was reconstructed in the
hill while the city’s acropolis (high fortified city) was Berlin Museum. There were three temples in Pergamos
located on the summit. On the acropolis were palaces dedicated to Roman emperors. There was also a statue
and temples and government buildings. Pergamos was of Augustus in the Athena temple. The ruins of the
located at the crossroads of all the major roads of temple of Trajan are some of the most impressive I have
western Asia and was the district center of jurisdiction seen. Probably the most celebrated temple was
and of commerce. It was a banking city for the wealthy. dedicated to Asklepios (Asclepios or Aesculapius), a god
It was famous for its ointments, pottery, tapestries, and worshipped in the form of a serpent. Asklepios Soter
parchment. “The sumptuousness of the Attalic princes means “Asklepios the Saviour,” and this idol was called
had raised Pergamos to the rank of the first city in Asia “the god of Pergamos.” It was located in the plain at the
as regards splendor, and Pliny speaks of it as without a foot of the acropolis. The city’s coins depicted a rod
rival in the province” (McClintock and Strong). encircled by a serpent. They also depicted the god
It was a magnificent city of impressive, highly Asklepios as a bearded man holding a serpent-entwined
staff. In other depictions he was sitting in a chair with
ornamented palaces, public buildings, and pagan the serpent underneath and patients approaching him
temples, featuring fine marble, Corinthian and Ionic for healing. The serpent-entwined staff symbol was
columns, and splendid capitals. On the side of the adopted by the medical school that was associated with
acropolis was a large theater with 78 rows of seats and the temple, and it remains the symbol of medical
a capacity of 10,000, “whose acoustics were so perfect

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 465