Identity and Doctrine of the Nicolaitans

The Nicolaitans were a sect mentioned in the Book of Revelation, specifically in messages to the churches in Ephesus and Pergamum, whose "deeds" and "doctrine" were strongly condemned ^{[1, 2]}. The church in Ephesus was praised for hating their deeds (Revelation 2:6), while the church in Pergamum was rebuked for tolerating those who held their doctrine (Revelation 2:15) ^{[2, 8]}.

While not much is definitively known about the Nicolaitans, early church fathers and later commentators connect them to practices of idolatry and sexual immorality ^{[5, 6, 9]}. They are often associated with those who held the "doctrine of Balaam" (Revelation 2:14), suggesting a parallel between the Old Testament prophet who led Israel into sin and the Nicolaitans who encouraged similar transgressions ^{[1, 2, 8]}. These practices included eating food sacrificed to idols and engaging in fornication, which directly opposed the decrees of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:20, 29 ^{[1, 9]}.

Several early Christian writers, including Irenaeus and Tertullian, identified the Nicolaitans as followers of Nicolas, one of the seven deacons mentioned in Acts 6:5 ^{[4, 5]}. However, this connection is debated. Clement of Alexandria and Epiphanius also discuss Nicolas, with some traditions suggesting that Nicolas himself was misinterpreted or that his followers deviated from his original teachings ^{[4, 6]}. For instance, John Gill notes that Nicolas of Antioch was said to have lived faithfully with his wife, implying that the Nicolaitan practices were a distortion rather than a direct continuation of his example ^[6]. Hippolytus also mentions the Nicolaitans in the context of various heresies, though without elaborating on their specific doctrines beyond their name ^[3].

The doctrines attributed to the Nicolaitans by various commentators include the teaching that adultery and fornication were indifferent matters, that eating meats offered to idols was lawful, and even the community of wives ^{[5, 6]}. Adam Clarke suggests they were a sect of Gnostics who mixed pagan rites with Christian ceremonies ^[5]. This "false freedom or licentiousness" was seen as an abuse of the doctrine of grace, akin to the errors described in 2 Peter 2:15, 16, 19 ^[2].

The condemnation of the Nicolaitans in Revelation highlights a significant concern within the early church regarding moral purity and adherence to apostolic teaching. The contrast between Ephesus, which hated their deeds, and Pergamum, which tolerated their doctrine, underscores the importance of both rejecting sinful practices and opposing false teachings ^{[2, 8]}. The reference to the "doctrine of Balaam" further emphasizes the deceptive nature of their teachings, which led believers into spiritual and moral compromise ^{[1, 2]}. Some later interpretations, such as John Gill's, even connect the Nicolaitan doctrines to practices that emerged in the medieval church, like forbidding marriage to priests and promoting celibacy, which he viewed as leading to "uncleanness and abominable lusts" ^[7].

Sources

Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Nicolaitans — (followers of Nicolas), a sect mentioned in (Revelation 2:6,15) whose deeds were strongly condemned. They may have been identical with those who held the doctrine of Balaam. They seem to have held that it was lawful to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication, in opposition to the decree of the Church rendered in (Acts 15:20,29) The teachers of the Church branded them with a name which expressed their true character. The men who did and taught such things were followers of Balaam. (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11) They, like the false prophet of”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Nicolaitanes — The church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:6) is commended for hating the "deeds" of the Nicolaitanes, and the church of Pergamos is blamed for having them who hold their "doctrines" (15). They were seemingly a class of professing Christians, who sought to introduce into the church a false freedom or licentiousness, thus abusing Paul's doctrine of grace (comp. 2 Pet. 2:15, 16, 19), and were probably identical with those who held the doctrine of Baalam (q.v.), Rev. 2:14.”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — CHAP. XXIV.--THE MELCHISEDECIANS; THE NICOLAITANS.: While, however, different questions have arisen among them, a certain (heretic), who himself also was styled Theodotus, and who was by trade a banker,(1) attempted to establish (the doctrine), that a certain Melchisedec constitutes the greatest power, and that this one is greater than Christ. And they allege that Christ happens to be according to the likeness (of this Melchisedec). And they themselves, similarly with those who have been previously spoken of as adherents of Theodotus, assert th”
Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 2:6: But--How graciously, after necessary censure, He returns to praise for our consolation, and as an example to us, that we would show, when we reprove, we have more pleasure in praising than in fault-finding. hatest the deeds--We should hate men's evil deeds, not hate the men themselves. Nicolaitanes--IRENÃ†US [Against Heresies, 1.26.3] and TERTULLIAN [Prescription against Heretics, 46] make these followers of Nicolas, one of the seven (honorably mentioned, Act 6:3, Act 6:5). They (CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA [Miscellanies, 2.20 3.4] and EPIPHANIUS [Her”
Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 2:6: The deeds of the Nicolaitanes - These were, as is commonly supposed, a sect of the Gnostics, who taught the most impure doctrines, and followed the most impure practices. They are also supposed to have derived their origin from Nicolas, one of the seven deacons mentioned Act 6:5 (note). The Nicolaitanes taught the community of wives, that adultery and fornication were things indifferent, that eating meats offered to idols was quite lawful; and mixed several pagan rites with the Christian ceremonies. Augustine, Irenaeus, Clemens Alexandrinus, and Tertullian, have ”
Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 2:6: But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans,.... Though these Christians had left their first love, yet they bore an hatred to the filthy and impure practices of some men, who were called "Nicolaitans"; who committed fornication, adultery, and all uncleanness, and had their wives in common, and also ate things offered to idols; who were so called, as some think (c), from Nicolas of Antioch, one of the seven deacons in Act 6:5; though as to Nicolas himself, it is said (d), that he lived with his own lawful married wife, and no other, and that h”
Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 2:15: So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,.... These impure heretics sprung up in the time of the apostolic church, but their doctrines were not received, and their deeds were hated, see Rev 2:6. This seems to design the doctrines of the church of Rome, which in this period took place; which forbid marriage to the priests, and recommended celibacy and virginity to others also; which were the source of all uncleanness and abominable lusts; for which pardons and indulgences were given, and, in process of time, brothel houses were set up, and l”
Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 2:15: thou--emphatic: "So THOU also hast," As Balak and the Moabites of old had Balaam and his followers literally, so hast thou also them that hold the same Balaamite or Nicolaitane doctrine spiritually or symbolically. Literal eating of idol-meats and fornication in Pergamos were accompanied by spiritual idolatry and fornication. So TRENCH explains. But I prefer taking it, "THOU also," as well as Ephesus ("in like manner" as Ephesus; see below the oldest reading), hast . . . Nicolaitanes, with this important difference, Ephesus, as a Church, hates them”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 2:6: 2:6 Not much is known of the Nicolaitans, but their teaching (2:15) seems to link them with those who ate food sacrificed to idols and who were involved in sexual immorality, behavior prohibited by the council in Jerusalem (see Acts 15:20, 29). Irenaeus argued (about AD 180) that the Nicolaitans were dependent on Nicolas (Acts 6:3-5) and that John’s writings were directed against the heresies of the Nicolaitans who followed Cerinthus (see 1 John Book Introduction, “Setting”).”

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