Philadelphia
Philadelphia is an ancient city mentioned in the New Testament, located in the region of Asia Minor in modern-day Turkey. Known today as Alaşehir. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Philadelphia is one of the seven churches of Asia addressed by Christ in the book of Revelation. Listed in Revelation 1:11 and receiving its letter in Revelation 3:7-13, the church at Philadelphia receives one of the most encouraging messages among the seven. Christ, described as the one who holds the key of David, who opens and no one shuts, declares that He has set before the Philadelphian believers an open door that no one can shut. Though they have little strength, they have kept His word and not denied His name. Christ promises that those of the "synagogue of Satan" who oppose them will eventually acknowledge that God has loved the Philadelphian church. Remarkably, this congregation receives no rebuke whatsoever. Christ further promises to keep them from the hour of trial coming upon the whole world and assures overcomers that they will be made pillars in the temple of God, inscribed with God's name, the name of the New Jerusalem, and Christ's own new name. Philadelphia stands as a model of faithful perseverance amid weakness.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Philadelphia is identified with modern Alasehir in western Turkey, located in the Cogamus River valley at the foot of the Tmolus mountain range. The city was founded in the second century BC by Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamum. The region was prone to devastating earthquakes, including a major one in AD 17 that destroyed twelve cities in the area. Archaeological remains at Alasehir are limited compared to other cities of the seven churches, as continuous habitation has obscured ancient layers. Surviving remains include portions of a Byzantine basilica, city walls, and scattered architectural fragments. The modern town of approximately 45,000 people sits directly atop the ancient city, making extensive excavation challenging.
Verse Appearances (2)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →