Who are the nicolaitans in the book of revelations

The revelation in a jewish context i israel bible center. The apostle john on patmos writing the book of revelation in rev 2. Jesus later says to the pergamos church, thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the nicolaitans, which thing i hate verse 15. He commends them by stating that they hate the works of these people which he, too, also hates revelation 2. The name occurs nowhere else in the new testament and nothing is known of this group from firstcentury sources, other than revelation. And how did they make their way into revelation, in history, and possibly found their way into our society today. Basically, the situation in western asia minor in the ad 80s, which the book of revelation addresses, was different from the situation there in the ad 50s, which paul addresses in romans and 1 corinthians. Nicolaitans commentary a testimony of jesus christ. In this light, we would view the teaching of the nicolaitans as any teaching that would enslave others to false teaching. Ireneus and hippolytus, two leaders in the early church who recorded many of the events that occurred in the earliest recorded days of church history, said the nicolaitans were the spiritual descendants of nicolas of antioch, who had been ordained as a deacon in acts 6. To the one who is victorious, i will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of god. They were considered heretical by the mainstream church. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to eve rything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. The condition of each church and specific facts about each city are reflected in the content of each letter.

You need to understand that the book of revelation is a coded concealed book. This reference is found in a passage of scripture that describes one of the seven churches described in the book of revelation revelation 2. Very many people had tried to guess the history and beliefs of the nicolaitans. Now we are going to turn to the second chapter of the book of the revelation, and the title of the sermon this morning is the doctrine of the nicolaitans in our preaching through the bible and through the book and through the revelation, we are come to the third church, the church at pergamos. The nicolaitans and church at pergamum were one of the seven churches of revelation that jesus addresses. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. The writing is highly figurative so such would fit the character of the book. Two times in the prophetic book of revelation, the name. Nicolaitans followers of nicolas, a sect mentioned in revelation 2. What were the deeds of the nicolaitans in revelation 2. Whoever they were, jesus loathed their doctrine and hated their deeds.

Have you ever wondered who the nicolaitans were, mentioned in the book of revelation. You will be introduced to other ancient jewish literary texts that will help you to understand the concepts behind passages that routinely mystify readers. His name can derive from a greek root meaning conqueror or destroyer. Although we only read about the doctrine and works of the nicolaitans in the book of revelations and that jesus hated their works, the early church fathers have written about the sect of the nicolaitans. Who are the nicolaitans mentioned in the book of revelation. What is the doctrine of balaam and of the nicolaitans in. Who were the nicolaitans, and what was their doctrine and.

A sect or party of evil influence in early christianity, especially in the 7 churches of asia. Revelations second reference to them is more informative, however. You hate the practices of the nicolaitans, which i also hate. The nicolaitans and balaam probably symbolic names for a group and a leader said insteadand this was their doctrineyou have to go along to get along. One such reference is made concerning a doctrine that is attributed to a group called the nicolaitans. Although its not out of the ordinary for god to hate practices of pagan groups, such as the child sacrifice of the canaanites leviticus 20. Who were the nicolaitans mentioned in the book of revelation. Paul was speaking to social situationsa friend invites you. Jesus said he hated their practices in verse 6 of revelation chapter 2, so we can assume that they were false teachers or heretics who did. Today, the doctrine is now largely taught that the gospel of christ has made gods law of no effect. For example, important second century witnesses to the apostle johns authorship include justin martyr, irenaeus, clement of alexandria, and tertullian. Irenaeus identifies them as followers of nicolas, one of the seven chosen in acts 6, and as men who lead lives of unrestrained indulgence1.

The adherents were called nicolaitans, nicolaitanes. Jesus commends the church of pergamum for not denying his name and for keeping the faith. Who were the nicolaitans, mentioned in revelation 2. According to some of the church fathers, the nicolaitans were the followers of nicolas of antioch, who is mentioned in the book of acts. Far from being an obscure shortlived ancient sect, the nicolaitans are well and alive today in the christian world. He was not pleased with the church at pergamum who held to their teachings. Christian hebraist, john lightfoot, argued that nicolaitans was a form of aramaism. Two times in the prophetic book of revelation, the name nicolaitans was mentioned. Nicolaitans were one of the heretical sects that plagued the churches at ephesus and at pergamum, according to revelation 2. The lord commends the ephesian church for hating the deeds of the nicolaitans, whereas he has against the church in pergamos, those who hold to the nicolaitan teachings which he hates.

They may have been identical with those who held the doctrine of balaam. Taken together, the word is defined as someone who is a conqueror or victor over people. The book of revelation was originally written to warn believers that they must now face this choice. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. There are two references to the nicolaitans in revelations 2. Home content index books of the bible revelation nicolaitans. There is apparently a group of people known as the nicolaitans who do things works that are rightly hated by the ephesians. To the church in pergamum 14 but i have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of balaam, who taught balak to place a stumbling block before the israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. Thank you for the interpretive question, according to revelation 2.

The term nicolaitan was first used in the book of revelation. There is very little evidence to support any of those guesses. The purpose of revelation is to reveal jesus christ, including his person, his power and his plan for the future. By the time the writings that are now included in the new testament were assembled in their present form, three letters and one gospel were also attributed to john. The etymology is probably more in keeping with the overall nature of the revelation. The nicolaitans of the book of revelation true discernment. The adherents were called nicolaitans, nicolaitanes, or nicolaites. Who were the nicolaitans in the book of revelation. Central to the book is the existence, power, sovereignty, justice, wisdom and goodness of. But this is the doctrine of the nicolaitans, which christ so unsparingly condemned in the book of revelation. Although there are many opinions about the doctrine of the nicolaitans, the bible provides many clues about what it means. In revelation, chapter 2, we read of an enigmatic sect or group called the nicolaitans who post a great threat to the churches of god.

Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching. Nicolaus, the founder of the nicolaitans, is rendered in german as nikolaus and santa claus in german is nikolaus as well. Who exactly are the nicolaitans from the book of revelation. The book of revelation must never be read in isolation from the book of acts and the pauline letters. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the nicolaitans, which i also hate. In this case, aramaism is not a greek word but a loan word, originating in aramaic but spelled greek. There are many theories who these nicolaitans were, but research focused on the cultural, historical and linguistic context of revelation changes everything and challenges the traditional theories built on more dogmatic and theological interests. Why are the nicolaitans so strongly condemned in revelation. Revelation mentions a mysterious group, a false teaching of nicolaitans. The nicolaitans appear to come from a sect group at the time that followed a man by the name of nicolas.

Why did god hate the practices of this group so much. Doctrine or teaching of the nicolaitans and church government. Why was jesus so against them, and why is he still against their doctrine. A bible study focused on who are the nicolaitans in the book of revelation will provide a starting place for study. Lets delve into this subject today to see if we can ascertain the identity of this group. Book of revelation on this episode of the book of revelation, we are discussing the sin of the church of pergamum, which was tolerating the nicolaitans. This means that the writings are put in the form of a code that conveys a secret message and the key to understand these writings is given to the. The doctrine of the nicolaitans comes from the teaching of certain groups and individuals who promoted intermixing, or marrying the church with the world. Some bible commentators believe they were a heretical sect who followed the teachings of nicolaswhose name means one who conquers the peoplewho was possibly one of the deacons of the early church mentioned in acts 6. Their doctrine was similar to that of balaam, who taught balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication revelation 2. Useful bible studies revelation commentary chapter 2.

Nicolaitans have drawn a great deal of scholarly debate, because much known about the group still lies in obscurity. The book of revelation is an unveiling of the character and program of god. The book of revelation begins with seven letters to seven churches in seven cities in the roman province of asia. No explanation is given of exactly who they were or what they believed. This course will equip you to reread the book of revelation in its original, firstcentury context and then apply its ancient meaning to your own setting. Surprisingly little of substance is known concerning the nicolaitans only mentioned in scripture in the book of revelation.

Early tradition unanimously identified him as john the apostle, author of the fourth gospel and three epistles. The revelation to john new international version the prologue 1. Nicolaitans encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. Nicolaism also nicholaism, nicolaitism, nicolationism, or nicolaitanism was an early christian sect mentioned twice in the book of revelation of the new testament. The first time they appear is in gods spiritual assessment of the ephesian church. Nicolaism was an early christian sect mentioned twice in the book of revelation of the new testament. Surprisingly, the nicolaitans are only referenced twice in scripture, both of which are in the book of revelation. 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. In the book of revelation, christ spoke twice about a group whom he called the nicolaitans, who are not otherwise mentioned in scripture. Irenaeus identifies them as followers of nicolas, one of the seven chosen in acts 6, and as men who lead lives of unrestrained indulgence 1. The doctrine and works of the nicolaitans salt of the earth. Jesus refers to them in the church of ephesus and the church of pergamum.

Subsequent comments about this group by later church authorities were based on revelation 2. Who were the nicolaitans, and what was their doctrine and deeds. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the nicolaitans, which i also hate rev. The revelation of john is the one book in the new testament that claims john as its author.