Nicolaitan Practices And Biblical Condemnation
The Nicolaitans were a group whose "deeds" and "doctrines" were strongly condemned in the biblical book of Revelation [1, 2]. The church in Ephesus was commended for hating their deeds [3, 5], while the church in Pergamum was criticized for tolerating their doctrines [4].
While not much is definitively known about the Nicolaitans, their practices are consistently described as involving sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols [1, 7, 12]. These actions were in direct opposition to the decrees established by the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:20, 29 [1, 12]. Some interpretations suggest that the Nicolaitans promoted a false sense of freedom or licentiousness, misinterpreting the doctrine of grace [2].
Early church fathers and commentators have offered various perspectives on the origin and nature of the Nicolaitans. Irenaeus and Tertullian, for instance, identified them as followers of Nicolas, one of the seven deacons mentioned in Acts 6:5 [7, 11]. Clement of Alexandria and Epiphanius also linked them to Nicolas, though some accounts suggest Nicolas himself lived a chaste life, implying his followers may have distorted his teachings [6, 7, 11]. Hippolytus mentions a group called the Melchisedecians, who were also associated with a figure named Theodotus, and notes that the Nicolaitans were among those who held similar views [10].
The condemnation of the Nicolaitans in Revelation is severe. Jesus states, "I also hate" their works and teaching [3, 4, 5]. The church in Pergamum is called to repent for not actively opposing the Nicolaitan teaching and practice [8, 9]. The warning is that if they do not repent, Christ will "fight against them with the sword of my mouth" [8]. This imagery, drawn from Revelation 1:16, signifies divine judgment [8]. Some commentators have drawn parallels between the Nicolaitans and those who held the "doctrine of Balaam," suggesting a similar pattern of leading people into sin [1, 2].
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.”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 2:6 (BSB) — But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 2:15 (YLT) — so hast thou, even thou, those holding the teaching of the Nicolaitans--which thing I hate.”
- Revelation “Revelation 2:6 (NASB) — 'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
- 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 (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 (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 2:16: The three oldest manuscripts read, "Repent, therefore." Not only the Nicolaitanes, but the whole Church of Pergamos is called on to repent of not having hated the Nicolaitane teaching and practice. Contrast Paul, Act 20:26. I will come--I am coming. fight against them--Greek, "war with them"; with the Nicolaitanes primarily; but including also chastisement of the whole Church at Pergamos: compare "unto THEE." with the sword of my mouth--resumed from Rev 1:16, but with an allusion to the drawn sword with which the angel of the Lord confronted ”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 2:16: Repent,.... This is said to those who were truly godly in those times, but still retained their communion with these corrupt men, and had not, as yet, separated from then; nor had they protested against these evil doctrines and practices, at least but very coldly, and had too much connived at them; and therefore are called upon to repent of their lukewarmness, negligence, and sinful compliances: or else I will come unto thee quickly: in a providential way, to rebuke and chastise for such remissness, indifference, and evil communication: and will fight against ”
- 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--IRENÆUS [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 (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”).”