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Who are our modern Nicolaitians?

V

Van

Well-Known Member
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We can find differing opinions about just what beliefs or practices causedJesus to hate them, Revelation 2:6.

I believe mistreatment of the laity by teaching from authority things that dupe people into unfaithful practices describes the Nicolaitian sin.

Similar to Balaam, the Nicolaitians put stumbling blocks before believers to get them off the track of faithfulness. And they did so from authority, "lording it over the flock."

Another practitioner seems to be Jezebel, who enticed people into "spiritual adultery" (not being faithful to God's requirements).

Today we have various factions teaching differing doctrines, with all claiming the authority of God's word, rightly discerned.

Traditional Baptists might hate modern day Nicolaitians, because they oppose dictates that differ from God's word, as they understand its plain meaning.

One well known stumbling block is the idea that once we trust in Christ, we can live as we want, which is called "Easy Believism." Some folks think we can make an accommodation with fleshly desires, or worldly behaviors, rather than sticking with Christ through thick and thin.
 
V

Van

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Certainly one aspect of Nicolaitian behavior is insistence on "my way or the highway," where their view is not up for discussion or study. But it would be wrong to claim the behavior turns a believer into a dreaded "Nicolaitian." On the other hand, those enticed to go with the favored view, the easy way, the go with the flow way, are not being led in the way of righteousness.

Last point, concerning those Ephesians who "hate" Nicolaitians, they can preserve persecution, accepting trials and tribulations, but are intolerant of perversion of God's word.
 
37818

37818

Well-Known Member
Matthew 23:8-9, . . . . and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. . . .

1 Timothy 2:5, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; . . . .
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
The Early Church writing look to the sect as compromising Christianity. They reformed paganism (rather than separating from paganism they blended it with Christianity).
 
V

Van

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37818 said:
The teaching of Balaam and the teaching of Nicolaitans are different.
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Similar to Balaam, the Nicolaitians put stumbling blocks before believers to get them off the track of faithfulness. And they did so from authority, "lording it over the flock."
 
V

Van

Well-Known Member
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JonC said:
The Early Church writing look to the sect as compromising Christianity. They reformed paganism (rather than separating from paganism they blended it with Christianity).
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I do not think the Early Church thought the Nicolaitians were a sect following Nicolas of Antioch, mentioned in Acts 6:5.
Yes, that is one theory concerning the Nicolaitians, actually endorsed by the NET footnote of Revelation 2:6. And, Irenaeus and Hippolytus connected the group to Nicholas of Antioch.

However, I sign up with the group that believes the Greek word "Nicolaitian" refers to "conquering people" as in subverting them from a position of authority as indicated in the OP.

I am not sure if your post agrees with my position, or endorses an alternate view?
 
J

JD731

Well-Known Member
They were the foundation of organized false Christianity, IMO.

ACTS 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

1 Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

2 Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

So, they are the false Christians that have plagued the church through it's centuries, needing continual exposure?
 
37818

37818

Well-Known Member
Van said:
Similar to Balaam, the Nicolaitians put stumbling blocks before believers to get them off the track of faithfulness. And they did so from authority, "lording it over the flock."
Click to expand...
What is your case evidence in particular?
 
V

Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
JD731 said:
They were the foundation of organized false Christianity, IMO.

ACTS 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

1 Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

2 Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

So, they are the false Christians that have plagued the church through it's centuries, needing continual exposure?
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Hi JD731,
If I have my geography straight, Jerusalem is located in central Judea, with Samaria to the north, and Phoenicia farther north, surrounding the city of Tyre. So the certain men came to Paul's location from Judea. And in response Paul and other went south to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, some Pharisees, but not Apostles or Elders of the church, thought Gentiles needed to be circumcised and keep the Judaic Law. Paul countered that the Gentiles had be "indwelt" without being physically circumcised. So these legalists did not understand the Law of Liberty, the opposite of the Nicolaitians, who taught lawlessness was allowed because of grace.

But there is no doubt errant views existed and were opposed by the NT witnesses, both speaking against the legalists and the licentiousness. We agree, false teachers have and do plague our church and need continued exposure.
 
V

Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
37818 said:
What is your case evidence in particular?
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My view is derived from the context of Revelation 2:15 which includes 2:14. I understand the verses to say both those following Balaam and the Nicolaitians, were enticed into faithless behaviors.
 
37818

37818

Well-Known Member
Van said:
My view is derived from the context of Revelation 2:15 which includes 2:14. I understand the verses to say both those following Balaam and the Nicolaitians, were enticed into faithless behaviors.
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I stated the teaching of Balaam and teaching of the Nicolaitans are not the same teaching.
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Van said:
I do not think the Early Church thought the Nicolaitians were a sect following Nicolas of Antioch, mentioned in Acts 6:5.
Yes, that is one theory concerning the Nicolaitians, actually endorsed by the NET footnote of Revelation 2:6. And, Irenaeus and Hippolytus connected the group to Nicholas of Antioch.

However, I sign up with the group that believes the Greek word "Nicolaitian" refers to "conquering people" as in subverting them from a position of authority as indicated in the OP.

I am not sure if your post agrees with my position, or endorses an alternate view?
Click to expand...
I agree with your position (I do not think the deacon is related to the heresy, the name was fairly common anyway). So I am not sure of the origin.
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Ascetic X said:
I thought Nicolaitans were basically clergy who dominated the laity, leaders who misled the congregation, lording over them.

In Greek, "Nicolaitans" is derived from νικόλαος (Nikolaos), which is a compound of νικάω (nikao), meaning "to conquer" or "to overcome," and λαός (laos), meaning "people" or "laity". Therefore, the name is often interpreted to mean "conquerors of the people" or "overcomers of the people".

This could include making the pastor’s opinions (“gay is okay”, “abortion is not murder”, “Harry Potter is innocent entertainment”, “Christians can engage in war”, etc.) more authoritative than the clear doctrines of the Bible. Thus, the laity are over-powered doctrinally by false teachers.
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It could come from that meaning. It could also be named after a leader (many heresies were).

But I agree with your conclusion.
 
Ascetic X

Ascetic X

New Member
I thought Nicolaitans were basically clergy who dominated the laity, leaders who misled the congregation, lording over them.

In Greek, "Nicolaitans" is derived from νικόλαος (Nikolaos), which is a compound of νικάω (nikao), meaning "to conquer" or "to overcome," and λαός (laos), meaning "people" or "laity". Therefore, the name is often interpreted to mean "conquerors of the people" or "overcomers of the people".

This could include making the pastor’s opinions (“gay is okay”, “abortion is not murder”, “Harry Potter is innocent entertainment”, “Christians can engage in war”, etc.) more authoritative than the clear doctrines of the Bible. Thus, the laity are over-powered doctrinally by false teachers, who lead them astray in various ways.
 
V

Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Ascetic X said:
I thought Nicolaitans were basically clergy who dominated the laity, leaders who misled the congregation, lording over them.

In Greek, "Nicolaitans" is derived from νικόλαος (Nikolaos), which is a compound of νικάω (nikao), meaning "to conquer" or "to overcome," and λαός (laos), meaning "people" or "laity". Therefore, the name is often interpreted to mean "conquerors of the people" or "overcomers of the people".

This could include making the pastor’s opinions (“gay is okay”, “abortion is not murder”, “Harry Potter is innocent entertainment”, “Christians can engage in war”, etc.) more authoritative than the clear doctrines of the Bible. Thus, the laity are over-powered doctrinally by false teachers, who lead them astray in various ways.
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Thanks, for your informative posts (18 & 19)!

I think we can summarize, some people in authority subvert the laity with deceptively introduced destructive heresies, and in the time of John, were called Nicolaitians.

It seems possible some perverted the apparent teaching of Nicolas to control ourselves in light of our fleshly desires, into abuse the flesh or abstain from intimate relations.

Today, I see Easy Believism as an example of Nicolaitian doctrine. But I agree, any of these "accommodations to the flesh," contrary to Romans 13:14 are "stumbling blocks" in the way of faithful service to our Lord.

Switching for just a moment to history, I think "Manifest Destiny" was a "Nicolaitian" whopper. Treat native peoples not like we would treat ourselves, but take from them using guns or guile.
 
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