Revelation 2:6
THE PRAISE
But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate (Revelation 2:6)
The Nicolaitans – Derived from two Greek words, (νικάω nikáō, Gk) meaning “to conquer, overthrow” and (λαός laós, Gk) meaning “the people, laity.” In the early days of the church the followers of Nicolai held two serious heretical views: They practiced sensuality by completely separating one’s spiritual and physical nature, thus giving them license to sin. In the second heretical view they also tried to establish an ecclesiastical order, which is known as “Nicolaitanism.” The few references to the first heresy in the writings of the church fathers link it to Nicolas, one of the 7 men appointed to oversee the distribution of food in Acts 6:5. The church fathers accused Nicolas of denying the true Christian faith and founding this heretical sect. This led people into immorality and wickedness.
Irenaeus wrote that they “lived lives of unrestrained indulgence.”
William Barclay writes that they “abandon themselves to pleasure like goats…leading a life of self indulgence.”
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