We don’t read much about the Nicolaitans in the Bible and about the doctrine and works of the Nicolaitans, which are mentioned in Revelation 2:6 and 2:15. We only know from the Bible that the doctrine and works of the Nicolaitans occurred in Ephesus and Pergamos (Pergamum) and that Jesus hated the doctrine and deeds of the Nicolaitans. But why? Who were the Nicolaitans, and what were the doctrine and works of the Nicolaitans?
What did Jesus say about the doctrine and works of the Nicolaitans in Revelation 2:6 and 2:15?
Jesus said about the doctrine and works of the Nicolaitans that He hated them. Jesus confronted the churches in Ephesus and Pergamos with this evil doctrine and the works that derived from this doctrine. He commanded the church in Pergamos to repent.
The church in Ephesus was a spiritually mature church and hated the works of the Nicolaitans, just like Jesus. However, the church in Pergamos was apparently not as spiritually mature as the church in Ephesus.
Although the Christians held fast to the Name of Jesus and didn’t deny their faith in Jesus Christ, some of the Christians held the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.
The church in Pergamos didn’t hate the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and the works of the Nicolaitans like Jesus, while the church of Ephesus did hate the Nicolaitan’s doctrine and their works.
Since Jesus hated the doctrine and works of the Nicolaitans, which were not according to His will, Jesus called the church in Pergamos to repent.
Jesus commanded the church to remove this Nicolaitans doctrine or else Jesus would come quickly and fight against them with the sword of His mouth
The church fathers wrote about the sect of the Nicolaitans
Although we only read in the Book of Revelation about the doctrine and works of the Nicolaitans and that Jesus hated their works, the early church fathers have written about the sect of the Nicolaitans.
Who were the Nicolaitans in the Bible?
According to some of the church fathers, the Nicolaitans were the followers of Nicolas of Antioch. Nicolas of Antioch is mentioned in the Book of Acts chapter 6. Nicolas was one of the seven deacons of the early church, who was appointed over the daily ministration of the widows.
While the church was growing and the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews. Because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Since the twelve apostles gave themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word, they had no time to serve tables. Therefore, they asked the disciples to look among them for seven men of honest report and full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom they could appoint over that business. Nicolas of Antioch was one of the seven deacons, who was chosen and appointed for this ministry (Acts 6:1-7).
Who was Nicolas of Antioch?
Nicolas of Antioch was not a Jew by nature, but Nicolas was a proselyte from Antioch. This means that Nicolas of Antioch was a Gentile and was converted from paganism to Judaism.
Nicolas was circumcised in the flesh and held the Law of Moses. From Judaism, Nicolas converted to Christendom and became a follower of Jesus Christ.
Based on his faith, Nicolas received the baptism with the Holy Ghost. Because these seven men, who were chosen, were wise men of an honest report and full of the Holy Ghost.
Nicolas was appointed as a deacon and was given the responsibility for the daily ministration.
According to the early church fathers (Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Eusebius, Epiphanius, Theodoret, Isidore of Seville, Clement) Nicolas became apostate from the sound doctrine of Jesus Christ and the apostles. Nicolas preached a false doctrine in the church of Christ.
Some said that the Nicolaitans were a gnostic sect. Although the majority of the early church fathers wrote about the Nicolaitans being followers of Nicolas of Antioch, Clement wrote that the Nicolaitans were followers of another Nicolas.
Whatever the truth may be, one thing is for sure: the Nicolaitans deviated from the sound doctrine of Jesus Christ and the apostles. Their false doctrines led them (and others) into the bondage of sin.
What are the doctrine and works of the Nicolaitans?
The doctrine and works of the Nicolaitans came forth from a wrong interpretation of God’s grace that the apostles preached. The Nicolaitans misused the grace of God and the liberty in Christ to fulfill their carnal (sexual) lusts and desires.
What did the Nicolaitans believe?
The Nicolaitans believed that a person is saved by grace, and therefore, it doesn’t matter how you live. The Nicolaitans said that by faith in Jesus Christ, the spirit of a person is saved. However, since you’re bound by the flesh, in which evil is present (sinful nature), you’ll always remain a sinner and always keep sinning.
You serve God through your spirit, but you keep serving your flesh and its lust and desires during your life on earth.
What the Nicolaitans were actually saying is, that you serve God through your spirit, but you serve the devil through your flesh (soul and body).
But Jesus said that a person can’t be divided and can’t serve two masters of two kingdoms.
A person lives in the Kingdom of God and serves God or lives in the kingdom of the devil and serves the devil. (Matthew 4:10; 6:24, Luke 4:8; 16:13).
A person can say that he (or she) believes and is saved, but his (or her) speech and deeds prove whether the person is truly saved. (Read also: Why God gave His only begotten Son?).
If you do what the Word says and do the will of God, then you belong to God. But as long as you serve the devil with your flesh, by obeying and doing the will of the flesh and persevering in sin, the devil is not your enemy, but your master.
You show by your walk that you belong to the devil. Because you listen to the devil, obey him and do his will. (a.o. John 8:44, 1 John 3:8 (Read also: The will of God vs the will of the devil)).
You can’t serve God with your spirit and the devil with your flesh
Every kingdom that is divided against itself can’t exist. You can’t serve God in the Kingdom of God with your spirit and serve the devil in the kingdom of darkness with your flesh. That’s a lie of the devil, which the Nicolaitans believed and many Christians still believe today.
The Nicolaitans misused their freedom in Christ and compromised with the world and lived in lasciviousness.
The Nicolaitans committed fornication (sexual uncleanness) and idolatry and adopted pagan rituals and practices in their Christian faith and church. They followed the lusts, desires, and will of their flesh and lived in lasciviousness, just like the Gentiles.
Is the spirit of the Nicolaitans in the church?
The spirit of the Nicolaitans still operates in the church today. The same demonic powers active in the days of the Nicolaitans are still active today. They still try to enter the lives of Christians and lead Christians astray.
Since church leaders influence the people, the main target of the devil are the spiritual leaders in the church. That’s why the spiritual leaders of the church should consecrate their lives wholly to God and His will. They should keep their minds ‘clean’ from the things of this world and keep their minds and bodies holy. Holy means consecrated to the Lord.
The devil and his demons do everything they can to seduce church leaders and captivate and control their minds and lead them astray through false visions, revelations, prophecies, philosophies, experiences, and their own interpretations of the Bible.
The devil knows that if you convince a spiritual leader of false doctrine, you have not only won the life of the church leader, but also the lives of the people, who follow the church leader.
If the church leader believes and preaches false doctrines, the people believe and follow the false doctrines of their church leader.
Look at the devil and the fallen angels (demons). When the devil became disobedient to God, his followers stayed faithful to him. The devil took his followers with him, as they fell from their position and were cast upon the earth.
Following the words of people instead of the words of God
The Nicolaitans followed Nicolas and exalted Nicolas above God and His Word. This became visible by their works and the way they lived.
Like Nicolas and other false teachers of the early church, there are still false teachers, prophets, and preachers today. Church leaders, who have exalted themselves as god and have many followers that blindly follow their leaders and worship them. (a.o. 2 Peter 2, 1 John 4:1, Jude 1 (Read also: Many pastors lead the sheep into the abyss).
How can Christians be misled?
Christians can be misled because the majority of Christians don’t read and study the Bible themselves. They don’t spend time in the Word and renew their minds with the words of God. They don’t examine and compare the doctrines that are preached with the truth of God’s Word. They’re not taught by the Word and the Holy Spirit. But they believe everything that the church leader says and consider it the truth.
Even today, the message of grace and freedom in Christ has been taken out of context through false doctrines.
The grace of God and the freedom in Christ are misused by many people to keep living after their carnal lusts and desires and serve the will of the flesh and persevere in sin. Just like the Nicolaitans, who believed that it doesn’t matter how you live, since the flesh is evil anyway and you’re saved by faith. But the devil and his followers (demons) also believe, and they are not saved.
“What do you call Me Lord, Lord, but do not the things which I say”
When you believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him, you shall do what Jesus says and keep His commandments. You won’t keep doing the works of the flesh. Why? Because you laid down your flesh; your old life in Christ.
If you keep doing the works of the flesh, then this proves that your flesh is not crucified with Christ. It proves that you’ve not laid down your flesh and killed the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit. (a.o. Romans 6, 8).
Jesus commanded the church of Pergamos to repent of the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and not be involved in idolatry and fornication, but remove them from their midst. If the church refused to obey Jesus’ words, Jesus would come quickly and fight against them with the sword of His mouth.
The words of Jesus still apply to His Church today. Therefore, listen to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. Obey His voice and keep His commandments before it’s too late.
Read also:
- What is the doctrine of Balaam?
- What is the doctrine of Jezebel and how do you recognize the spirit of Jezebel in the church?
‘Be the salt of the earth’
Source: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Zondervan’s illustrated Bible dictionary, Bible encyclopedia, Wikipedia
