Chapter
Verse

Revelation 2:14

ESV But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
NIV Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.
NASB But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
CSB But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
NLT 'But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.
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.

What does Revelation 2:14 mean?

This verse records Jesus' rebuke of the church at Pergamum. Some members of the church followed the example of Balaam by introducing moral corruption into the church. When Israel traveled through the desert, King Balak offered Balaam a handsome fee to curse Israel. Balaam soon discovered, however, that he could not command God to curse His people. When Balak offered more money, Balaam tried to change God's mind, but God commanded him to bless Israel. Then Balaam advised King Balak to draw Israel into intermarriage with heathen women and to commit idolatry (Numbers 22—25).

The Church as the bride of Christ should be pure and devoted to Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:25–28; Philippians 2:14–15). Unfortunately, it seems some members of the church at Pergamum succumbed to Balaam's sins by marrying unbelievers and engaging in idolatry. The Bible clearly prohibits the marriage of a believer and an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14) and commands believers to avoid idolatry. In 1 John 5:21, the apostle John instructed: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."
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