Revelation 2:15 kjv

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

Revelation 2:15 nkjv

Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Revelation 2:15 niv

Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Revelation 2:15 esv

So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Revelation 2:15 nlt

In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.

Revelation 2 verses

Revelation 2 15 Meaning

Revelation 2:15 states that the church in Pergamum also harbored individuals who held to "the teaching of Balaam." This doctrine led them to commit two primary sins: partaking in food sacrificed to idols and engaging in sexual immorality. The verse links this contemporary issue directly back to the Old Testament narrative of Balaam, who counselled King Balak to ensnare the Israelites into idolatry and fornication, thus causing them to stumble and fall away from God. It identifies a dangerous compromise within the church that mimics ancient apostasy, blending devotion to God with pagan practices.

Revelation 2 15 Context

Pergamum was a prominent city, serving as the capital of the Roman province of Asia. It was famously known as "Satan's throne" (Rev 2:13), possibly due to its significant imperial cult worship (hosting the first temple to Caesar Augustus in Asia) and numerous pagan temples dedicated to gods like Zeus and Asclepius. The church in Pergamum was commended for its steadfastness in faith even amidst such pervasive paganism and the martyrdom of Antipas (Rev 2:13). However, it faced an internal struggle, a "leaven" of compromise embodied by those holding the "teaching of Balaam." This internal threat mirrored the external persecution, creating a dual challenge to their faithfulness. The "teaching of Balaam" provided a theological justification for Christians to participate in civic or economic activities that inevitably involved idolatrous rituals or sexual immorality, blurring the lines between Christian fidelity and pagan social norms for convenience or profit.

Revelation 2 15 Word analysis

• So (οὕτως - houtōs): Signifies a continuation or comparison, linking the issue in Pergamum to the previous problem of the Nicolaitans in Ephesus, implying a similar spiritual danger, though potentially manifesting differently.
• have (ἔχεις - echeis) / hold (κρατοῦντας - kratountas): While echeis simply means "you have," kratountas (from krateō) implies a strong, firm grasp or adherence, suggesting these individuals actively maintained and possibly promoted this false teaching. It conveys conviction, not merely passive possession.
• the teaching (τὴν διδαχὴν - tēn didachēn): Refers to a specific doctrine, a set of principles or beliefs being promulgated, not just an individual’s casual error. This highlights the intellectual and theological dimension of the problem.
• of Balaam (Βαλαάμ - Balaam): A powerful prophetic figure in the Old Testament (Num 22-24, 31). His "teaching" refers not to his attempts to curse Israel, which God foiled, but to his later, cunning counsel (Num 31:16) that led Israel into idolatry and immorality. The issue is Balaam's method of spiritual seduction, not his prophecy.
• who kept teaching (ὃς ἐδίδαξεν - hos edidaxen): Reinforces the deliberate and ongoing nature of Balaam's counsel to Balak. It was an instruction or strategy given.
• Balak (Βαλάκ - Balak): King of Moab, who initially hired Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam’s counsel showed him how to subtly corrupt Israel from within, rather than by direct assault.
• to put a stumbling block (βαλεῖν σκάνδαλον - balein skandalon): Skandalon literally means "the trigger of a trap, a snare." Metaphorically, it means anything that causes someone to stumble morally, spiritually, or fall into sin. It implies an intentional placement of temptation or entrapment.
• before the sons of Israel (ἐνώπιον τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ - enōpion tōn huiōn Israēl): Refers to the original biblical account, grounding the warning in history to illuminate the present danger for the church.

Words-group Analysis:

• "the teaching of Balaam": This phrase represents a type of spiritual syncretism and compromise that allows for involvement in pagan practices. It implies a rationalization or justification for mixing Christian faith with ungodly cultural elements for gain, acceptance, or ease. This teaching subverted true faith by intellectual means, disguised as pragmatism.
• "to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel": This highlights the active and malicious intent behind such teaching—it deliberately leads people into transgression. It shifts the blame from external temptation to internal inducement and deception. This "stumbling block" manifested in two concrete ways.
• "to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality": These two acts were often inextricably linked in pagan cultic worship. Eating idol meat signified participation and allegiance to pagan gods or deities. Sexual immorality (porneia, a broad term including fornication, adultery, cultic prostitution, and all illicit sexual relations) was frequently part of idol worship rituals or pervasive in society. This duality underscores a holistic compromise of both spiritual fidelity (to the one true God) and moral purity (living by God's commands). These were not accidental sins but direct results of the accepted teaching.

Revelation 2 15 Bonus section

The consistent condemnation of "the teaching of Balaam" alongside "the deeds of the Nicolaitans" (or "teaching of the Nicolaitans" in Rev 2:15 in some manuscripts for comparison) suggests they represent a common thread of compromise that plagued the early churches. While possibly different groups or nuanced in their specific beliefs, their shared outcome—leading God's people into idolatry and sexual immorality—points to a universal spiritual temptation: the allure of assimilation with surrounding culture to avoid hardship, gain advantage, or simply to "fit in," at the cost of genuine devotion. Balaam's original motivation was monetary gain, highlighting how covetousness can fuel spiritual compromise and false teaching. The "stumbling block" concept implies a grave responsibility on those who, through their words or example, lead others into sin.

Revelation 2 15 Commentary

The message to Pergamum is a stark warning against internal compromise, even amidst external pressures. "The teaching of Balaam" represents a grave danger: a spiritual doctrine that legitimizes or rationalizes participation in unholy practices. Balaam’s historical strategy of subtly corrupting Israel through enticement into pagan revelry and illicit sex finds its parallel in the church.

In Pergamum’s context, this teaching likely manifested as pressure to join trade guilds, attend social feasts, or participate in public ceremonies, many of which had ties to idol worship. Eating meat sacrificed to idols, while seemingly mundane to some, implied allegiance to the deities these practices honored. Sexual immorality, whether cultic prostitution or broader illicit acts, often accompanied such feasts or was a general temptation in Roman society.

The "teaching of Balaam" is distinct from, but perhaps similar in effect to, "the deeds of the Nicolaitans" (Rev 2:6). Both appear to advocate a libertine or compromised approach to the faith, suggesting it's permissible to engage in certain aspects of the surrounding pagan culture. Such compromise, whether motivated by fear of persecution, social pressure, or economic advantage, fundamentally denies Christ's exclusive Lordship and diminishes the call to holiness.

The danger lies not only in the act of sin but in the teaching that enables it, making spiritual defection seem acceptable. This challenge urges believers to reject any doctrine that promotes unholy compromise with the world's systems or desires, always prioritizing absolute allegiance and purity to Christ. Practically, believers must discerningly evaluate influences that might lead them to compromise core biblical truths, such as integrity in business dealings that demand dishonesty or engaging in entertainment that promotes immoral behavior.