“Thus you also have those
who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”
- · This refers to followers of Nicolas, the Jerusalem deacon who fell into error (Acts 6:5). This was the common view among the early church Fathers. For example, Irenaeus in the second century taught that the Nicolaitans were without restraint in their indulgence of the flesh, especially with immorality. This distortion of “liberty in grace” that allows for compromise with a sinful culture is prevalent in the church today.
- · Their standards of belief and behavior were going down steadily. The Nicolaitans belief could be summed up in that they did not want to be narrow-minded, not puritanical, not catch the disease of religious mania or scruples They did not want to lose their relationships with the world or reputation because they want to win them; they held mental reservations but the thing is to go as far as we can in a worldly direction to win the world for Christ. The result was that Christians talked about Jesus, became mixed up with idol worship and lower moral standards. (DP)
- · If Satan does not get us by martyring us he could get us with mixture, by Christians anxious to keep as near to the world as possible and therefore gradually lowering their standards (DP)
- · Nicolaitans – power over laity (PKD)
- · They went from deeds in verse 6 to now a “doctrine”. (dj)
Jeremiah 44:4 However I have
sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising early and sending them,
saying, “Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate!”
Zechariah 8:17 Let none of you
think evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a false
oath. For all these things that I hate,
says the LORD.
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