Revelation 2:14

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G235} I have {G2192} a few things {G3641} against {G2596} thee {G4675}, because {G3754} thou hast {G2192} there {G1563} them that hold {G2902} the doctrine {G1322} of Balaam {G903}, who {G3739} taught {G1722}{G1321} Balac {G904} to cast {G906} a stumblingblock {G4625} before {G1799} the children {G5207} of Israel {G2474}, to eat {G5315} things sacrificed unto idols {G1494}, and {G2532} to commit fornication {G4203}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people who hold to the teaching of Bil‘am, who taught Balak to set a trap for the people of Isra’el, so that they would eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and commit sexual sin.

Berean Standard Bible

But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

American Standard Version

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The message to the church in Pergamos reveals Christ's commendation for their steadfastness in a city dominated by pagan worship and imperial cult, yet it swiftly pivots to a severe rebuke. The primary issue is the church's tolerance of individuals who propagate the "doctrine of Balaam," a teaching that subtly leads believers into spiritual compromise through participation in idolatrous practices and sexual immorality, mirroring the Old Testament prophet's counsel to Balak against Israel. This highlights the critical need for discernment and purity within the Christian community, even amidst external pressures.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of the second of seven letters dictated by the resurrected Christ to specific churches in Asia Minor, found in [Revelation chapters 2-3](/revelation/2 "Revelation 2-3 - Letters to the Seven Churches"). Each letter follows a similar pattern: an address to the church, a self-description of Christ, commendation, criticism (if any), exhortation, a call to hear what the Spirit says, and a promise to the overcomer. In the case of Pergamos, the preceding verse, [Revelation 2:13](/revelation/2-13 "Revelation 2:13 - Pergamos's Faithfulness"), commends them for holding fast to Christ's name even in "Satan's seat" and enduring the martyrdom of Antipas. [Revelation 2:14](/revelation/2-14 "Revelation 2:14 - The Doctrine of Balaam") then introduces the crucial "but I have a few things against thee," signaling the internal compromise that undermines their external faithfulness. The subsequent verse, [Revelation 2:15](/revelation/2-15 "Revelation 2:15 - The Nicolaitans"), notes that they also had those who held "the doctrine of the Nicolaitans," suggesting a similar or related problem of moral and spiritual laxity.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Pergamos was a prominent city, the capital of the Roman province of Asia, renowned for its intellectual and religious significance. It was a center of various pagan cults, most notably the worship of Asclepius (god of healing, symbolized by a serpent), and was home to the first temple dedicated to the Roman imperial cult (to Caesar Augustus in 29 BC), making it a hub of emperor worship. This strong pagan presence, coupled with the city's political and religious authority, likely contributed to Christ's description of it as "Satan's seat" ([Revelation 2:13](/revelation/2-13 "Revelation 2:13 - Satan's Seat in Pergamos")). For Christians living in Pergamos, daily life presented constant temptations to compromise, as participation in civic life, trade guilds, and social events often involved rituals or meals dedicated to idols. The specific sins mentioned—eating things sacrificed to idols and fornication—were often intertwined with pagan feasts and temple prostitution, making the church's tolerance of such practices a direct affront to Christian holiness and exclusivity in worship.
* **Key Themes:** The central themes embedded in [Revelation 2:14](/revelation/2-14 "Revelation 2:14 - The Doctrine of Balaam") revolve around **spiritual purity versus compromise**. The "doctrine of Balaam" serves as a powerful symbol of **false teaching** that does not directly attack Christ but subtly leads believers into sin through enticement and moral laxity, rather than overt persecution. This highlights the ongoing biblical theme of **discernment**, where believers are called to distinguish between truth and error, and to reject anything that leads to **idolatry** or **sexual immorality**. The passage also underscores the importance of **church discipline** and the responsibility of the community to guard its holiness and protect its members from spiritual stumblingblocks. This aligns with the broader biblical call for God's people to be **set apart** from the world and dedicated exclusively to Him, as seen in the Old Testament warnings against assimilation with pagan nations and the New Testament emphasis on living a life worthy of the gospel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **doctrine (Greek, _didachḗ'_):** From the verb "to teach," this word refers to instruction, whether the act of teaching or the content that is taught. In this context, it signifies a specific body of teaching or influence that was being held and propagated within the church at Pergamos. The fact that it is called the "doctrine of Balaam" immediately connects it to a historical precedent of leading God's people astray.
* **stumblingblock (Greek, _skándalon'_):** This term originally referred to the bait-stick of a trap, or an obstacle that causes one to trip or fall. Figuratively, it denotes anything that causes someone to stumble into sin, to fall from faith, or to be offended. Balaam's counsel was precisely this—a snare designed to lead the Israelites into spiritual and moral transgression, resulting in divine judgment.
* **things sacrificed unto idols (Greek, _eidōlóthyton'_):** This compound word literally means "image-sacrifice" or "idol-sacrifice." It refers specifically to meat or food that had been offered to pagan deities as part of a ritual or feast. For early Christians, consuming such food was often seen as an act of participation in idolatry, or at least a compromise of their exclusive allegiance to Christ, particularly when done in a context that implied worship or fellowship with pagan practices.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But I have a few things against thee,"**: This opening phrase signals a shift from commendation to criticism, indicating that despite their faithfulness in other areas, there was a serious internal flaw that Christ found unacceptable. It underscores the Lord's intimate knowledge of each church's spiritual condition.
* **"because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,"**: The core problem is identified: the church at Pergamos was tolerating or allowing individuals within its fellowship who adhered to and perhaps promoted a teaching or influence akin to that of Balaam. This implies a failure of discernment and discipline on the part of the church leadership or community.
* **"who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel,"**: This clause provides the historical and theological basis for understanding the "doctrine of Balaam." It alludes to the Old Testament account in [Numbers chapters 22-25](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22 - Balaam and Balak") and [Numbers 31:16](/numbers/31-16 "Numbers 31:16 - Balaam's Counsel"), where Balaam, unable to curse Israel directly, advised Balak, the king of Moab, to entice the Israelites into sin. This counsel involved setting a "stumblingblock"—a snare or trap—that would lead God's people into transgression.
* **"to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."**: These are the specific outcomes of Balaam's doctrine, both in the Old Testament narrative and in the context of the Pergamos church. "Eating things sacrificed unto idols" refers to participation in pagan feasts, which implied allegiance to other gods or at least a compromise of exclusive worship of God. "Fornication" (sexual immorality) was often intertwined with pagan religious practices, particularly temple prostitution, and symbolized spiritual unfaithfulness to God, mirroring Israel's spiritual adultery in the Old Testament.

#### Literary Devices
The verse makes significant use of **Allusion**, directly referencing the Old Testament narrative of Balaam and Balak from [Revelation 22-25](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22 - Balaam and Balak") and [Numbers 31:16](/numbers/31-16 "Numbers 31:16 - Balaam's Counsel"). This allusion serves as a powerful **metaphor** for the subtle yet destructive nature of false teaching. The "doctrine of Balaam" is not a literal re-enactment but a symbolic representation of any teaching or influence that entices God's people into spiritual compromise, particularly through idolatry and sexual immorality, rather than through direct persecution. The term "**stumblingblock**" (Greek: *skandalon*) functions as a vivid **metaphor** for anything that causes spiritual downfall or leads to sin, emphasizing the deceptive and dangerous nature of the false teaching. Furthermore, there is a clear **juxtaposition** between the commendation of the Pergamos church's faithfulness in [Revelation 2:13](/revelation/2-13 "Revelation 2:13 - Pergamos's Faithfulness") and the immediate, sharp criticism in [Revelation 2:14](/revelation/2-14 "Revelation 2:14 - The Doctrine of Balaam"), highlighting the complex reality of a church that is strong in some areas but dangerously weak in others.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The "doctrine of Balaam" represents a recurring danger to God's people: the temptation to compromise with the world's values and practices, often through subtle enticements rather than overt opposition. Just as Balaam sought to undermine Israel's relationship with God by leading them into idolatry and immorality, false teachers and worldly influences today can subtly erode the church's purity and devotion to Christ. This passage underscores the importance of maintaining an exclusive allegiance to God, rejecting any teaching or lifestyle that encourages participation in practices contrary to His holiness. It also highlights the corporate responsibility of the church to exercise discernment and discipline, ensuring that its members are not led astray by doctrines that promote spiritual adultery or defilement. The Lord's rebuke to Pergamos serves as a timeless warning against tolerating sin within the community, emphasizing that internal corruption can be as destructive, if not more so, than external persecution.

* [Numbers 31:16](/numbers/31-16 "Balaam's Counsel to Israel")
* [Acts 15:29](/acts/15-29 "Apostolic Decree on Idol Food and Fornication")
* [1 Corinthians 8:9](/1_corinthians/8-9 "Do Not Cause a Brother to Stumble")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 2:14 serves as a profound warning to believers and churches across all ages. It challenges us to examine not only our outward faithfulness but also the subtle compromises we might be tolerating within our hearts and communities. The "doctrine of Balaam" is a timeless archetype for any teaching or influence that encourages spiritual laxity, moral relativism, or the blending of Christian truth with worldly values. It reminds us that the enemy often seeks to defeat us not through direct assault, but by enticing us to lower our standards, to participate in seemingly harmless activities that subtly defile, or to embrace philosophies that undermine our exclusive devotion to Christ. For the church today, this means diligently guarding the purity of the gospel, exercising discernment regarding cultural trends, and being vigilant against teachings that normalize sin or diminish the call to holiness. Individually, it calls us to a radical commitment to Christ, refusing to allow any "stumblingblock" to lead us into idolatry (whether of material possessions, success, or self) or any form of spiritual or physical immorality. Our faithfulness is measured not just by what we endure, but by what we refuse to tolerate.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what subtle ways might "Balaam-like" doctrines or influences manifest within contemporary Christian communities, leading to compromise?**
* **What are some modern-day "stumblingblocks" that tempt believers to "eat things sacrificed to idols" (i.e., participate in worldly practices that compromise faith) or "commit fornication" (i.e., engage in spiritual or physical immorality)?**
* **How can individual believers cultivate greater spiritual discernment to identify and resist these subtle forms of false teaching and worldly enticement?**
* **What is the responsibility of church leadership and members in confronting and addressing internal compromises that threaten the purity and witness of the body of Christ?**

### FAQ
**What exactly was the "doctrine of Balaam" in the Old Testament context?**

Answer: The "doctrine of Balaam" refers to the counsel Balaam gave to Balak, king of Moab, after he was unable to curse Israel directly. As recorded in [Numbers 22-25](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22 - Balaam and Balak") and explicitly stated in [Numbers 31:16](/numbers/31-16 "Numbers 31:16 - Balaam's Counsel"), Balaam advised Balak to entice the Israelite men to commit sexual immorality with Moabite women and participate in their idolatrous feasts. This strategy was highly effective, leading to a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites ([Numbers 25:9](/numbers/25-9 "Numbers 25:9 - The Plague on Israel")). In the context of [Revelation 2:14](/revelation/2-14 "Revelation 2:14 - The Doctrine of Balaam"), the "doctrine of Balaam" symbolizes any teaching or influence that encourages God's people to compromise their faith through spiritual or physical immorality and participation in idolatrous practices, rather than through direct persecution.

**Why are "eating things sacrificed to idols" and "fornication" linked as outcomes of this doctrine?**

Answer: These two practices were frequently intertwined in the pagan religious and social life of the ancient world. Pagan feasts often involved the consumption of meat that had been offered to idols, and these gatherings could easily devolve into sexual immorality, including temple prostitution, which was a common feature of many pagan cults. For early Christians, participation in such activities was a direct violation of their exclusive allegiance to God and a compromise of their moral purity. The apostolic decree in [Acts 15:29](/acts/15-29 "Acts 15:29 - Apostolic Decree") specifically warned against "things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication," indicating the early church's clear stance on these issues. Spiritually, "fornication" can also symbolize spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry, where the people of God turn away from Him to pursue other "lovers" or gods, as often depicted in Old Testament prophetic literature (e.g., [Hosea 1-3](/hosea/1 "Hosea 1 - Hosea's Marriage to Gomer")). Thus, the linking of these two sins highlights both the literal moral compromise and the deeper spiritual infidelity they represent.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Lord's rebuke to Pergamos for tolerating the "doctrine of Balaam" finds its ultimate resolution and fulfillment in Christ. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of purity and truth, the very standard against which all doctrines and practices are measured. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), and His atoning sacrifice provides the means for believers to be cleansed from both idolatry and fornication, enabling them to live a life of holiness. Unlike Balaam, who sought to lead God's people astray for gain, Christ, the [Good Shepherd](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - Jesus the Good Shepherd"), actively protects His flock from wolves in sheep's clothing ([Matthew 7:15](/matthew/7-15 "Matthew 7:15 - Beware of False Prophets")) and false teachings that would cause them to stumble. His call to the church in Pergamos to repent is a call to return to Him as their sole object of worship and devotion. Furthermore, Christ's future judgment, described with the [sharp two-edged sword](/revelation/1-16 "Revelation 1:16 - The Sword from Christ's Mouth") from His mouth, signifies His authority to cut away all compromise and impurity within His church, ensuring that His bride will ultimately be [without spot or wrinkle](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - Christ's Church without Spot or Wrinkle"), holy and blameless before Him. Through His Spirit, believers are empowered to discern truth from error and to live lives that reflect His unblemished holiness, overcoming the temptations to compromise that the "doctrine of Balaam" represents.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Numbers 31:16

Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Revelation 2:20

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Numbers 25:1

¶ And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

Numbers 25:3

And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Acts 15:29

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Jude 1:11

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.