Revelation 2:14 Meaning and Explanation
“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Lord rebukes Pergamos for tolerating those who follow the teaching of Balaam, which led people into idolatry and immorality.
What Does Revelation 2:14 Mean?
Now comes the correction. Some in Pergamos held to the "doctrine of Balaam," recalling the account in Numbers where Balaam taught Balak to lure Israel into sin through idol-feasts and immorality when he could not curse them outright. The same compromise had crept into the church.
Faithfulness under outward persecution can be undone by inward compromise. Pergamos resisted the sword but tolerated the seduction. The old strategy of Balaam still works: what force cannot destroy, enticement may corrupt. The Lord names the danger plainly, for a church that endures threats from without must also guard the purity of its life within. Tolerated sin is no small thing in His sight.
Revelation 2:14 in the Original Language
didache (διδαχή), 'doctrine' -- teaching or instruction, the content passed on to shape belief and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 2:14
What does Revelation 2:14 mean?
The Lord rebukes Pergamos for tolerating those who follow the teaching of Balaam, which led people into idolatry and immorality.