Pergamum: The Compromising Church

As we look at the problems of the seven local churches in Revelation 2-3, Pergamos is considered by most as the compromising church. The editors of the NKJV have given it this name, as have many others. It is important to carefully note what the problems were with this church and what the Lord thought about them.

Their Jesus

These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword (Revelation 2:12)

The way that Christ identifies Himself to this church is as the one who holds the sharp two-edged sword. The symbolism of the sword here is discernment and judgment. We are required to be discerning because our Lord is also discerning.

It was a good-looking church.

I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. (Revelation 2:13)

There were a lot of good things to say about this church. There were extensive gospel works going on. They stood in a place where there was spiritual opposition. The Temple of Asclepius was in Pergamum and there was a fervent Roman paganism in the place that opposed Christianity. This was a church that took a stand against paganism and false doctrine—so much so that one of their members had become a martyr.

It is important to note that compromising churches can look like churches that are taking a good stand. There was no doubt a true level of genuine spirituality in this church. It would have been a congregation that would be highly admired today by both fundamentalists and conservative evangelicals alike.

Their fellowship was their problem.

But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Revelation 2:14-15)

The problem was their fellowship. They maintained fellowship with those who held the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Balaam taught the children of Israel to sin by encouraging marriages with the Canaanites which led to idolatry in Israel.

There is significant debate regarding what the doctrine of the Nicolaitans was. Early church fathers seem to indicate that these were people who claimed to be followers of the deacon Nicholas. Some claim that he justified sexual immorality as an acceptable part of Christianity—or some people twisted his words to make it seem that he taught such. One early false teacher named Carpacrates went so far as to say that having everything in common in the church should extend to wives as well. This immorality in the name of Christianity brought all of Christianity into disrepute with the Romans and was used as an excuse for persecution.

The manifestation of the compromise here is that the church at Pergamum tolerated those in their membership who were involved in sexual immorality (and excused it) and idolatry.

What’s wrong with eating meat offered to idols? After all, Paul said it did not matter! Well, that is not exactly the case. Paul made the case that there was nothing magical or corrupting in meat that was offered to idols. But the reason that it was condemned universally in the early church was that eating meat offered to idols was seen by the pagan world as an act of worship. It affirmed and supported pagan Gods and paganism. It was a denial of the Lord.

Failure to separate from sin is sin.

Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. (Revelation 2:16)

Failure to separate from immorality and false doctrine was a sin. Christ commanded the church at Pergamum to repent. Repentance is reserved for sin, not just poor judgment. Failure to separate from immorality and false teaching will result in the direct opposition of Christ Himself against the church that claims His name.

It’s not that we cannot rub shoulders with sinners in this world. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 says clearly that we would have to go out of the world altogether to avoid daily contact. What we cannot do is affirm someone as a brother who continues in false teaching or immorality (or the other sins mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:11). These would include sexual sin of all types, money-grubbing, false doctrine and worship (idolatry), being an abuser (physically and verbally), drunkenness (and addictions), and extortion. The church at Pergamum was openly tolerating in its membership two of these (sexual sin and false doctrine).

I know. I see some fundamentalists roll their eyes when we start to talk about biblical separation from false teaching. But this is an important topic. It was important enough for our Lord to represent it here in Revelation 2. If we do not talk about it, generations will grow up not understanding it and churches will eventually find themselves being opposed by the very Christ they think they are serving.

---

Listen to the audio version of this post here, or search for our podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other providers.