BEREAN.AI ← Ask a Question

The Nicolaitans' Practices and Teachings in Revelation

The Nicolaitans were a group whose "deeds" and "doctrine" were strongly condemned in the book of Revelation [4, 5]. The church in Ephesus was praised for hating their works [4], while the church in Pergamum was rebuked for having members who held to their teaching [1, 3, 5].

While not much is definitively known about the Nicolaitans, early church fathers and biblical commentators have offered insights into their practices and beliefs. Irenaeus and Tertullian, writing around the second century, suggested that the Nicolaitans were followers of Nicolas, one of the seven deacons mentioned in Acts 6:5 [6, 8]. However, some interpretations note that Nicolas himself is said to have lived faithfully with his wife, suggesting a potential misattribution or a later deviation by those claiming his name [10].

The core of the Nicolaitan teaching appears to have involved practices that were contrary to early Christian ethical standards. They are often linked with those who held the "doctrine of Balaam" [2, 5, 11]. This connection suggests that the Nicolaitans advocated for or engaged in eating food sacrificed to idols and committing fornication [2, 7]. These actions were explicitly prohibited by the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:20, 29 [7]. Some scholars suggest that the Nicolaitans may have believed these practices were lawful, perhaps abusing the Christian doctrine of grace to justify licentiousness [2, 5].

Commentators like Adam Clarke identify the Nicolaitans with a sect of Gnostics, who allegedly taught "impure doctrines" and engaged in "impure practices" [8]. These practices reportedly included the community of wives, considering adultery and fornication as "things indifferent," and mixing pagan rites with Christian ceremonies [8]. The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, through Clarke, also suggests that the followers of Balaam, the Nicolaitans, and the Gnostics might have been the same kind of people, all promoting the eating of idol-offered meats and fornication as indifferent acts [12].

The condemnation of the Nicolaitans in Revelation highlights a significant concern within the early church regarding moral purity and adherence to apostolic teaching. The emphasis on hating their "deeds" rather than the individuals themselves is noted as an example of how to address error [6]. The presence of Nicolaitan teachings in Pergamum indicates a challenge to the church's integrity, as some members were actively embracing these doctrines [1, 3, 5]. The contrast between Ephesus, which hated these deeds, and Pergamum, which tolerated them, underscores the importance of resisting such influences [4, 11].

Later interpretations, such as that by John Gill in the Baptist/Reformed tradition, have sometimes drawn parallels between the Nicolaitan doctrines and later historical developments, such as practices within the Church of Rome concerning celibacy and indulgences, viewing them as a continuation of "impure heretics" [9]. However, the primary biblical and early patristic understanding focuses on their specific ethical transgressions related to idolatry and sexual immorality [2, 7, 8].

Sources

  1. Revelation “So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise. -- Revelation 2:15”
  2. 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”
  3. Revelation of John “Revelation of John 2:15 (BSB) — In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”
  4. Revelation “But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. -- Revelation 2:6”
  5. 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.”
  6. 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”
  7. 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”).”
  8. 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 ”
  9. 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”
  10. 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”
  11. 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”
  12. Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 2:14: I have a few things against thee - Their good deeds are first carefully sought out and commended; what was wrong in them is touched with a gentle but effectual hand. The followers of Balaam, the Nicolaitanes, and the Gnostics, were probably all the same kind of persons; but see on Rev 2:6 (note). What the doctrine of Balaam was, see the notes on Num 24:1 (note) through Num 25:18; and Numbers 31:1-54 (note). It appears that there were some then in the Church at Pergamos who held eating things offered to idols in honor of those idols, and fornication, indifferent ”
Ask Your Own Question
About Terms Privacy Contact

© 2026 BEREAN.AI. All rights reserved.