Revelation 22:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This passage of Scripture teaches us to remove nothing from the divine commandments and to add nothing to them. For example, John warns in his book: "If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the book of life" (Rev 22:18-19). See how forbidden it is for us to change anything in the divine commandments, since the first transgression was connected with this (Gen 3:2-3).

A fearful curse lies upon those who distort Divine Scripture. Their bold folly, evil disposition, and self-love will deprive them of the good things of the age to come. He warns us not to suffer the same fate. For this reason we must neither add nor subtract, but must honor the words of Scripture as more trustworthy and more glorious than Attic writings and dialectical syllogisms. For even in those works, if something is found not in accord with truth, people usually appeal to the testimony of the author of those writings. But the difference in greatness between what is renowned among us and among them is difficult even to imagine. I think it is greater than the difference between light and darkness.

This was said not because He forbids the interpretation of the words He spoke, but because around the time when the saint had this vision, the error of scholars and heretics began to appear and spread. Therefore, lest any error, by its customary and characteristic falsehood, add anything to His words or take anything from them, He seeks to confirm His statement by the testimony of His most blessed disciple. For this reason He decided to conclude His book with this command.

Solomon says, "Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar" (Prov 30:6). Here he also adds the terror of the plagues, so that he may not only move men by mentioning the power of his own authority, but also compel the idle and restrain the frivolous by threat.

This refers to falsifiers, not to those who speak in simplicity what they perceive, without distorting the prophecy in any way.

Saint Andrew says this simply: "Fearful is the curse upon those who distort the Divine Scriptures, because their folly is bold and able to cut off the presumptuous from the good things of the age to come."

Christianity is God’s teaching. It is God’s Revelation. As knowledge given to men by God, it must be received and held with the greatest reverence and obedience, as befits this greatest holy thing.

It can be received and held by humble faith alone, since it wholly surpasses human reason. It is that spiritual and mystical Book, the Book of the Knowledge of God, written and issued by God. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be excluded from it.

From this it is clear what a grave sin heresy is. It is the disturbance and rebellion of the creature against the Creator. It is the rebellion and disturbance of the most insignificant and limited being, man, against the all-perfect God.