Philadelphia was founded by the Pergamene king Attalus II (159-138 BC), which is the newest of the Seven Churches’ cities. When the Romans attempted to turn Attalus against his brother Eumenes II, he remained loyal, thereby earning the nickname “Philadelphus” (Polybus 30:1-3; 31.1; 32.1). The name of the city reflects the love between these brothers. Philadephia was strategically situated along the imperial post road that ran from Rome through Troas, Pergamum, and Sardis through to Tarsus and the east. Another road running eastward was an “open door” to Phrygia (Revelation 3:8).

Filadelfia Ammia a Quadratus boli kresťanskí proroci, ktorí slúžili vo Filadelfii počas panovania Hadriana. Montanistické hnutie, ktoré začalo v neskorom 2C, malo svoje korene 10 km východne od Filadelfie v Ardabave. S jeho dvoma prorokmi Prisca a Maximilla, Montanus učil, že Paraclete (Svätý Duch) príde tesne pred druhým príchodom.