Revelation 2:6

Revelation 2:6

Revelation 2:6 yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

In revelation 2:3,4, Jesus complaining  about Ephesus church. Before look into that complains, we will see one of good character Jesus told about Ephesus church. What is that?

Here Jesus says to Ephesus people, you hate the deeds and doctrine of Nicolaitans.  First we have to understand, who is this Nicolaitans? What is his work? That means, what are his deeds and doctrines? Then only we can understand, why Jesus told that, you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

There were many bible scholars researchers explained about this Nicolaitans deeds and his doctrines. I can’t discuss everything over here. But I can share the nutshell of their views.

This word “Nicolaitans” used in bible in two places

1.   first one was rev.2:6 “why Jesus telling that, you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” and

2.   Another place was, when Jesus talking about the Pergamum church he used this name, it is in rev.2:15 “So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans”.

If you read carefully we can understand the different between the two verses. The Ephesus church was rejected the deeds and doctrines of Nicolaitans but Pergamum church was accepted the deeds and doctrines of Nicolaitans.

Meaning of the word Nicolaitans

           First we understand the meaning of this name. This name origin was Greek. This name contains two parts

Nico + laitans = Nico means conqueror and laitans means laity (Lay People). If we add these two words meanings we will get “conquerors of the lay people” or “victorious over people”.

Who is this Nicolaitans?

           In ancient church, there was a complaint against apostles. All apostles were belongs to Jews community, so the Greek people had a complaint against the apostles, that, Greek community people were not treated in good manner by Jews.

Because of this complaint Apostle Peter gathered all apostles and Greeks, arranged meeting between for them to solve this problem.

What solution they made in that gathering is written in the book of Acts 6:1-5.

Acts 6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

Acts 6:2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

Acts 6:3 Therefore, brothers,^[1] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

Acts 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

Acts 6:5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

From the above verses what we can understand, were the apostles only devoted to ministry. They can’t take care of this Grecian’s. So they conclude to appoint 7 deacons to take care of Grecian’s. Who are they seven deacons? This we can see in

Acts 6:5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

Here the one of the seven deacons was Nicolaus, so the Nicolaitans were mentioned in the book of revelation in verse 2:6 and 2:15 were the followers of this same Nicolaus. (This was, bible theologian’s belief. But there is no 100% evidence for this Nicolaitans was the follower of the same Nicolaus.).

This Nicolaus only, in later days, start preaching his own doctrine, which was against the gospel. Some of his followers were start believed his doctrine and followed his deeds. But these Nicolaitans were very minority sectors in that time.  So the Ephesians where rejects their doctrines.

What doctrines he preached?

1.      Honoring the saints.

2.      Eat things offered to idols.

3.      Believed that Nicholas supported either polygamy(oxford - the custom of having more than one wife at the same time) or the holding of wives in common

These are the doctrines or deeds of Nicolaitans. Now you can understand why Lord our God hates the deeds of Nicolaitans. The same doctrines were rejected by the Ephesians also.

1 Th. 21 Put everything to the test and hold fast to what is good.

1 Th. 22 Avoid evil, wherever it may be.

From the above verse what instruction God given to us is don’t believe everything blindly put test to everything and take the good things and avoid the evil what it may be good to you. Here the Nicolaitans deed are giving the worldly plusher even though we should avoid it. Because of that only Jesus told “you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”