The Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6)

[Stewart (SDA)]

The Nicolaitans are spoken about in Revelation 2:6 (and again in Rev 2:15).

When Jesus addressed the church of Ephesus He said,

“This you have [in your favor], that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” (Rev 2:6)

Some people describe the Nicolaitans as a group of polygamists, others say that they were a group of especially corrupt sexual deviants, others say that they are an “unknown Christian sect”. (See NRSV foot-note on Rev 2:6). But SDA’s have taught, and with good reason I believe, that it is a symbolic name. The name, “Nicolaitan”, is made up of two words, Nikao, meaning ‘to triumph over, or to have ascendency over’; and “laos”, meaning ‘the people’ (“laos” is the root-word of “laity”.)

Thus the term “Nicolaitans” referred to all those people that loved to have the pe-eminence [dominance] over others. The Nicolaitans were not a sect as such; these people simply had a desire to control -- to ‘lord it over the flock of God.’

But all the domineering, controlling, character traits were hated by the faithful, and they were hated by God Himself. Unfortunately though, these hateful characteristics would eventually gain the upper hand, and produce the Papacy.

The faithful never sought such power or authority over their brethren. The genuine Christians “hated” the idea. And they “hated” every “deed” that manifested the idea. This is the thing, says Jesus, “which I also hate”.

The early church was in a position where they could hate the sin, and not the sinner, where they could have patience, and labor long for the erring, and love them. All the while they hated “the deeds” that separated the people from the Lord.

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