Bruce Longenecker's The Lost Letters Of Pergamum

The Lost Letters of Pergamum is a compilation of letters mainly between a fictional character, Antipas, and the Gospel/Acts of the Apostle writer, Luke. However, there are letters to other Christians and pagans of the first century. The book is a fictional book that is written in narrative form. Although this book is a work of fiction, “it does not mean these conversations did not take place (10).” These letters that have been found in the city of Pergamum were translated from their original language into English. They were scrolls and the letters make up the book.

The author, Bruce Longenecker, studied and received his doctorate of philosophy (PhD.) at the University of Durham. He gives us a small glimpse of what might have possibly

happened with those in Pergamum and their surrounding cities during the turn of the century. Longenecker places these letters in a logical order of events full of suspense throughout the book. He does this in order to keep the reader interested in the letters while important information is retained. The author takes these letters and turns them into a book that leaves the reader wanting more.
Throughout the book, the reader can see that the author’s intent is for the reader to be an eye-witness into what is taking place. The author lets the reader in closer by showing the details inside the conversations between the characters. He also shows the read what takes place in their daily lives. It’s as if he uses a microscope to draw the reader in to the letters and sticks them inside of the situation. For example, there are specific details given to the gladiator contests that contained humans being mauled to death by animals (178), the sickness of saints (151), and how the early church functioned is insightful. The contests of gladiators were the original reason that these letters started. These events end up pointing the reader to the larger story inside these small events.
The story begins during the first century. It happens within the ancient cities of Pergamum and Ephesus. The communication starts between a pagan and a Christian. This communication sets the stage for the reader. In this first letter, it begins with an invitation to a seasonal gladiator contest in Pergamum. Pergamum, along with Smyrna and Philadelphia, were known for their training of gladiators. Calpurinus, who is not happy about the events at all, receives the invitation to the contest. He wants to represent his city, Ephesus. Even though the book starts with this invitation to the gladiatorial contests from Antipas, there will be a lot of discovery. These discoveries will eventually lead him to his own martyrdom.
A twist in the story happens when the reader is presented with literature of Homer. Antipas requests for some literature, written by Homer, from the library of Theopholus, who is the father of Calpurnius. Since Antipas has been studying Alexandrian history, Calpurnius sends the copy of Homer. He does this by way of a servant. After receiving the copy, a shift takes place. This shift involves Antipas and Calpurnius’ meeting for the gladiatorial contest. Calpurinus’ brother’s son dies suddenly, so he has leave immediately from Ephesus to go to Caesarea. This unfortunate tragedy opens up the door for the Gospel writer Luke. Luke is a friend of Calpurnius as well as a close companion with Theopholuis. Luke begins to correspond with Antipas through letters. It does not take Luke very long to open the conversation with Antipas about Jesus Christ, a man from Nazareth.
The relationship between Antipas and Luke takes up the majority of the book. Luke writes numerous letters to Antipas. He introduces him to various people who call themselves Christians. These Christians are both men and women. They worship the God of Israel through this man who is fully human and fully divine. Luke describes Jesus as a man from “Galilee, who Antipas spent a lot of time there who he may find interesting to read about” (37). Luke also tells Antipas that “many of us who call themselves Christians believe this Jesus to be the Jewish messiah, or Christ, and the human incarnation of the most high God“ (37). This statement would have been difficult to accept having the background knowledge of how society viewed Christians at this time. The Christians were considered to be social outcasts. They supposedly proclaimed a different lord (41). No one with any significant social standing wanted to be remotely connected to them. Antipas, who is a pagan worshipper of the gods Zeus, Olympios, and Jupiter, is very unsure about these Christians. He does acknowledge that the monograph of Luke would be of interest for him to study. So, he agrees for Luke to send it.
Through their correspondence about the gladiator contests, as well as the wellbeing of their friend Calpurinus, Luke is able to tell Antipas more about these Christians and Jesus. Luke also tells of how “Nero clothed some of the Christians in skins of wild animals and set loose dogs on them, which promptly tore them to pieces (46).” This statement prompted investigation and questions from Antipas. Antipas was asking about what kind of people would give their lives for this a belief in a God, especially a man from Nazareth. Antipas comes to the conclusion that this “Jesus seems a curious figure (64).” Antipas cannot completely understand how Christians could place their trust in this one man while the gods of Rome were worshipped.
Luke and Antipas continue to grow in their relationship.

Antipas’ questions about Jesus and his followers become stronger than ever. Luke encourages Antipas to find some Christians and go to their meeting. Antipas and Rufinus (a leader/sponsor of the gladiatorial contest), arrive at the house of Kalandion, on the Lord’s Day. Antipas, who is asked to read Luke’s writings, is completely fascinated by his observations of the Christians. He makes a note that “the gatherers are very diverse with regard to their social statures, ethnic backgrounds, and civic positions (90).” It was clear that something was different about them. Antipas reported back to Luke saying, “I have never seen members of association act in that fashion (90).” The lives of Christians made a huge impression on this man with pagan roots. Even though Antipas had made note that his first impressions of the Christians was positive. Rufinus, on the other hand, was very skeptical and

superstitious.
As the letters continue, Antipas inquires about the man called Christ. He asks Luke of the meaning of different words used within his two volume monograph. These words included the “Son of Man”. Luke sends Antipas his reply to this, along with other meanings to his writings for the benefit of the other Christians meeting there inside the house of Kaladion. Antipas became a regular meeting attender. He brought both his servant and Rufinus into the home of Christians, where they would be encouraged to act upon what they had heard. Although Rufinus attends the meetings, he disagrees with the teachings with every fiber of his being. Rufinus does not believe that the teachings of this man from Nazareth mean he should be revered as Lord instead of the gods of Rome and the emperor.
Antipas is overwhelmed by the Christians’ love for others, their hospitality, and the family-like bond they have with each other.

Antipas was asked to serve by helping to oversee renovations to the temple Asklepion as well as the library in Pergamum. Antipas end up becoming closely connected to these particular Christians. He became particularly close to a girl named Nouna, who was kept by Demetrius and Diotis. Antipas and his companions made trips to other cities. On these journeys, Antipas sees other Christian people living out their faith. This is especially clear and present whenever Antipas is on the way home to Caesarea. He is accompanied by a man named Simon on the journey. Simon becomes very sick when he gives his place on a ship, to a woman and children, in order to keep them dry. Once they are in Antioch, Antipas and Simon look for other Christians. This is so Simon can receive some much needed care for his illness, and also that both can receive some much needed Christian

fellowship.
Antipas eventually returns to Pergamum. He finds the attacks on Christians have worsened since he left. Demetrius, one of Nouna’s caregivers, had been taken into custody and was being held for ransom (164). Demetrius receives the death sentence for not recanting the name of Jesus as Lord. Antipas made a plea on Demetrius’ behalf. He claims that he is the real reason for Demetrius’s rebellion. Antipas revealed to the emperor that he had financially supported Demetruius to care for the orphan girl, Nouna. This change of heart, and the desire to willingly give his life for another Christian, spoke volumes about how Luke’s two volume writings had changed the life of Antipas.
Antipas goes full circle from being a Roman pagan businessman to a lover of Christ, even to the point of giving his own life for Demetruis. The letters conclude with the martyrdom of Antipas on the day of the Pergamene gladiatorial games. Even as Antipas stood before the emperor of the city to announce his confession of Demitruis, Rufinus, turned his head as though Antipas never said a word. Antipas was placed in the dead carcass of a bull, chained tightly, and mauled to death by the wild animals. Antonious, a Pergamum nobleman, witnessed Antipas’s death, told Luke, “I saw no sorrow for the terrible events that had now befallen his friend Antipas; instead, the look on his [Rufinus] face seemed to say that justice had been done (178).”
In conclusion, the author does a wonderful job of placing the letters in a logical progression as the story unfolds. This goes from Antipas’s letter of invitation (19-20) to Antionius’s letter, to Luke sharing the new of Antipas’s death (173-180). The book gives great historical information to the reader. The author shows his expertise in New Testament studies by the specificity of cultural settings, historical contexts, and the early Christians struggles. The rich history and context of the first century is illustrated with various details, which will give the reader even more insight to the events of this era.