Philadelphia — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

1. City of the Decapolis, not specifically mentioned in any NT writing. It was located on the plateau about 25 miles (40.2 kilometers) east of the Jordan River. In 63 BC Palestine came under Roman domination. Pompey, the Roman general who conquered the region, reorganized the territory. He established a league of 10 self-governing cities or city-states. Most of these were located on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Philadelphia was the southernmost, and Damascus the northernmost, of the 10. In the Gospels this territory is referred to as the Decapolis.

2. City in western Asia Minor. It was one of the seven Asian cities to which the author of the book of Revelation addressed letters, mentioned in 1:11 and 3:7-13.

Show passage in OET: REV 1:11

OET-RV REV 1:11

11 that said, “Write down what you see here on a scroll and send it to the seven assemblies of believers—to the cities of Efesos, Smurna, Pergamos, Thuateira, Sardeis, Filadelfeia, and to Laodikeia.”

OET-LV REV 1:11

11 saying:
What you _are _seeing, write in a_scroll, and send to _the seven assemblies:
to Efesos, and to Smurna, and to Pergamos, and to Thuateira, and to Sardeis, and to Filadelfeia, and to Laodikeia.

Show passage in OET: REV 3:7–13

OET-RV REV 3:7

7 To the assembly’s messenger in Filadelfeia write:
¶ The holy one, the true one, the one having King David’s key to the city, the one who opens doors no one can shut, and who shuts doors no one can open, says:

OET-RV REV 3:8

8 “I know everything you’ve been doing. Listen, I have placed an opened door in front of you that no one can shut. You aren’t very strong, yet you’ve obeyed my instructions and you haven’t disowned knowing me.

OET-RV REV 3:9

9 Listen, I’ll give those people from Satan’s synagogue (the ones who say that they’re believing Yehudim (Jews), but they’re not—they’re lying), I’ll make them so that they will come and bow down in front of you, and then they’ll know that I love you.

OET-RV REV 3:10

10 Because you followed my instructions about persevering, I will spare you from the time of trouble that all of humanity will soon experience (which will test everyone living on the earth).

OET-RV REV 3:11

11 I’ll come quickly. Hold firmly to what you have so that no one can take away your crown.

OET-RV REV 3:12

12 Anyone who’s an overcomer, I’ll make them a pillar in my god’s temple and they’ll never leave it again. I will write my god’s name on them, and the name of my god’s city (the new Yerushalem (Jerusalem) which will come down out of heaven from my god), and my new name.

OET-RV REV 3:13

13 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen to what God’s spirit is saying to the assemblies.”

OET-LV REV 3:7

7 And to _the messenger of _the in Filadelfeia assembly write:
These things is _saying the true one, the holy one, which having the key of _Dawid/(Dāvid), the one opening _up and no _one will _be _shutting, and shutting and no _one is _opening _up:

OET-LV REV 3:8

8 I _have _known of _you the works.
Behold, I _have _given before you a_door having _been _opened _up, which no _one is _able to _shut it, because little you _are _having power, and _yet you _kept of _me the message, and not you _disowned the name of _me.

OET-LV REV 3:9

9 Behold, I _may _be _giving those of the synagogue of_ the _Satan/(Sāţān), the ones saying themselves Youdaiōns to _be, and not they _are, but they _are _lying, see, I _will _be _making them that they _will _be _coming and will _be _prostrating before the feet of _you, and they _may _know that I loved you.

OET-LV REV 3:10

10 Because you _kept the message of _the endurance of _me, also _I you will _be _keeping out _of the hour of _the of _trial which going to _be _coming on the inhabited _world whole, to _test the ones dwelling on the earth.

OET-LV REV 3:11

11 I _am _coming quickly, be _taking _hold _of what you _are _having, in _order _that no _one may _take the crown of _you.

OET-LV REV 3:12

12 The one overcoming, I _will _be _making him a_pillar in the temple of _the god of _me, and out by _no _means not he _may _come _out anymore, and I _will _be _writing on him the name of _the god of _me, and the name of _the city of _the god of _me, the new Hierousalaʸm/(Yərūshālayim), the one coming _down out _of the heaven from the god of _me, and the name of _me the new.

OET-LV REV 3:13

13 The one having an_ear, him _let _hear what the spirit is _saying to _the assemblies.

Jump to OET REV 1:11 section.

Jump to OET REV 3:7–13 section.

This city was founded about 140 BC by Attalus II of the city of Pergamum. Attalus II was also known as “Philadelphus”; the name of the city was derived from this royal nickname. He intended that it would serve as a center for the spread of Greek culture throughout the region, especially to the people of Phrygia. Situated on a fertile plain, it was rich with vineyards and wine production. Asian Philadelphia was heavily damaged by an earthquake in the year AD 17. For the purpose of rebuilding, it was granted disaster aid by the Roman emperor Tiberius.

When John wrote from Patmos near the end of the first century, the churches of western Asia were undergoing persecution. The church in Philadelphia was one of them. This church was enduring the persecution faithfully, and the letter to it (Rv 3:7-13) contains no words of reproach or warning. Instead, Jesus gave them encouragement and precious promises.

Some years later, the Christian bishop and martyr Ignatius of Antioch also wrote a letter to the church in Philadelphia. He expressed appreciation for his recent visit with them, and encouraged them in Christian unity.