The only mention of the Nicolaitans in the Bible is in Revelation 2:15:
"So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,
which thing I hate." (KJV)
We know very little about the Nicolaitans and their doctrine. Below
I've gathered some information that will give some insight in the
matter. Please keep in mind that much of this is speculation, since
the actual history of the Nicolaitans and their doctrine is uncertain.
"We don't really know much of what the Nicolaitans taught other than
what is stated in the book of Revelation. Some have seen in the term
Nicolaitan is a compound of nikao (to conquer, or overcome) and laos
(people) and have understood this group as 'conquering the people' in
some sense. However, it seems more likely that these people were
followers of a man named Nicolaus. This could also be a reference to
the Nicolas who was one of the original deacons of Acts 6 who might
have later went astray. In early church writings the Nicolaitans are
mentioned briefly by Irenaeus and Eusebius. Whatever the doctrine of
the Nicolaitans was, the Lord said that he hated it (Rev. 2:15), but
there is really no way to be sure of what they taught."
Apostolic: Who Were the Nicolaitans?
http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/nicolaitans.htm
"Surprisingly little of substance is known concerning the Nicolaitans
only mentioned in Scripture in the book of Revelation. The Lord
commends the Ephesian church for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans,
whereas He has against the church in Pergamos, those who hold to the
Nicolaitan teachings which He hates.
There are two main views concerning the identity of the Nicolaitans.
The first view holds that they are an early cult which followed or
perverted the teachings of Nicolas, one of the seven men chosen by the
congregation in Acts 6:5. The second view discounts this historical
witness in favor of understanding the designation 'Nicolaitan' as
denoting the error of their practice which asserted authority over the
people in an unnatural distinction between clergy and laity (and which
continues to be a distortion of biblical teaching to our own time)."
Spirit and Truth: Nicolaitans
http://www.spiritandtruth.org/teaching/Book_of_Revelation/commentary/htm/topics/nicolaitans.htm
"We may wonder who were these ?Nicolaitans?, and what was their
doctrine which was so hateful?... the offence of the Nicolaitans,
which the Church of Ephesus is congratulated for hating (Revelation
2.6), is ?to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit
fornication? (Revelation 2.14).
Putting it into the context of the Graeco-Roman world of the first
century AD, we can see fairly easily what was happening. Some of the
early Christians, from Gentile backgrounds or from Jewish families
assimilating into such a background, thought that it would help to
spread the Gospel if they took an ?ecumenical? attitude towards pagan
religious observance and were easy-going in matters of sexual
morality."
Trushare: Who were Nicolaitans?
http://trushare.com/88sep02/SE02LANS.htm
"Who the Nicolaitans were remains a subject of scholarly inquiry. But
there is evidence linking them to early Gnosticism.
Since the term Nicolaitan may be linked linguistically to the Hebrew
word for Balaam, it is likely that the reference is to eating food
sacrificed to idols, and to immorality: in other words, to the works
of the flesh."
Word of Righteousness: The Deeds and Doctrine of the Nicolaitans
http://www.wor.org/Books/d/The%20_deeds_and_doctrine_of_the_nicola.htm
"Irenaeus identifies the Nicolaitans as a Gnostic sect: 'John, the
disciple of the Lord, preaches this faith (the deity of Christ), and
seeks, by the proclamation of the Gospel, to remove that error which
by Cerinthus had been disseminated among men, and a long time
previously by those termed Nicolaitans, who are an offset of that
'knowledge' falsely so called, that he might confound them, and
persuade them that there is but one God, who made all things by His
Word'... There is also historical evidence of a Gnostic sect called
Nitolaitans a century or so later.
The doctrine of the Nicolaitans appears to have been a form of
antinomianism. (Antinomianism: A belief that is based upon a
recognition of the mercy of God as the ground of salvation, but it
makes the fatal mistake that man can freely partake in sin because the
Law of God is no longer binding. It held the truth on the gratuitous
reckoning of righteousness; but supposed that a mere intellectual
'belief' in this truth had a saving power."
Word of Truth Radio
http://www.wordoftruthradio.com/questions/38.html
If you'd like to learn more about the Nicolaitans, here are some
interesting articles:
Christian Churches of God: The Nicolaitans
http://www.ccg.org/english/s/p202.html
Meat in Due Season: The Nicolaitans
http://www.meatindueseason.org/newbold/or/harlot/harlot9.html
Bible Tools: Topical Study on 'Nicolaitans'
http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/CGG/ID/2094
A Voice in the Wilderness: Further document excerpts regarding Nicolaitans
http://www.a-voice.org/library/nicolait.htm
Latter Rain: Nicolaitans
http://latter-rain.com/escha/nicola.htm
Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: "doctrine" + "nicolaitans"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=doctrine+nicolaitans
Thanks for an interesting question. If anything I've said is unclear,
or if a link doesn't work for you, please request clarification; I'll
be glad to offer further assistance before you rate my answer.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |
