nicolaitans Summary and Overview

(followers of Nicolas), a sect mentioned in #Re 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 #Ac 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. #2Pe 2:15; Jude 1:11| They, like the false prophet of Pethor, united brave words with evil deeds. In a time of persecution, when the eating or not eating of things sacrificed to idols was more than ever a crucial test of faithfulness, they persuaded men more than ever that was a thing indifferent. #Re 2:13,14| This was bad enough, but there was a yet worse evil. Mingling themselves in the orgies of idolatrous feasts, they brought the impurities of those feasts into the meetings of the Christian Church. And all this was done, it must be remembered not simply as an indulgence of appetite: but as a part of a system, supported by a "doctrine," accompanied by the boast of a prophetic illumination, #2Pe 2:1| It confirms the view which has been taken of their character to find that stress is laid in the first instance on the "deeds" of the Nicolaitans. To hate those deeds is a sign of life in a Church that otherwise is weak and faithless. #Re 2:6| To tolerate them is well nigh to forfeit the glory of having been faithful under persecution. #Re 2:14,15|

NICOLA'ITANS , an ancient sect whose deeds are expressly and strongly reprobated. Rev 2:6, 2 Sam 20:15. Some have supposed that they were the followers of Nicolas, Acts 6:5, one of the first deacons of the church, whom they regard as having degenerated from the true faith. For this view there is no authority. Others regard the term "Nicolaitans" as a symbolical expression. Since "Nicolas" means "victor of the people," and "Balaam" "devourer of the people," the two. in symbolical unity, signify religious seducers of the people. It is more probable that the Nicolaitans were identical with those who held the doctrine of Balaam, mentioned in Rev 2:14. Cf. 2 Pet 2:15. So, likely, the Nicolaitans associated fornication and the eating of things sacrificed to idols with an outward profession of Christianity.

Revelation 2:6; Revelation 2:14-15. Irenaeus (Haer. 1:26, section 3) and Tertullian (Praescr. Haeret. 46) explain, followers of Nicolas one of the seven (Acts 6:3; Acts 6:5) as there was a Judas among the twelve; confounding the later Gnostic Nicolaitans with those of Michaelis explains Nicolas (conqueror of the people) is the Greek for the Hebrew Balsam ("destroyer of the people," bela' 'am); as we find both the Hebrew and Greek names, Abaddon, Apollyon; Satan, devil. A symbolical name. Lightfoot suggests a Hebrew interpretation, nikola, "let us eat"; compare 1 Corinthians 15:32. Not a sect, but professing Christians who, Balsam like, introduce a false freedom, i.e. licentiousness. A reaction from Judaism, the first danger of the church. The Jerusalem council (Acts 15:20; Acts 15:29), while releasing Gentile converts from legalism, required their abstinence from idol meats and concomitant fornication. The Nicolaitans abused Paul's doctrine of the grace of God into lasciviousness; such seducers are described as followers of Balsam, also in 2 Peter 2:12-13; 2 Peter 2:15-19; Judges 1:4; Judges 1:7-8; Judges 1:11 ("the son of Bosor" for Beor, to characterize him as "son of carnality": bosor "flesh"). They persuaded many to escape obloquy by yielding as to "eating idol meats," which was then a test of faithfulness (compare 1 Corinthians 8 and 1 Corinthians 10:25-33); they even joined in the "fornication" of the idol feasts, as though permitted by Christ's "law of liberty." The "lovefeasts" (Judges 1:12) thus became pagan orgies. The Nicolaitans combined evil "deeds" which Jesus "hates" with evil "doctrine."