Get your own Free Home Page ..To Ancient SDA's ............ To "What's New?"
The Nicolaitans
nico = rulers :::::::: laos = laity or members
A T Jones
The word "Nicolaitans" comes from the two words nikao and laos: nikao means "to conquer," to get "the upper hand," to have "the ascendancy, in all relations"; and laos -- "the people at large" as distinguished from "the clergy."
They believed in the leaders, or clergy, controlling the people of the church (the congregation or laity). One such person went so far as to refuse to allow his flock to help the travelling evangelists who passed through the town.
3 John verses 9-11
I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, receives us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating [chattering] against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God: but he that does evil has not seen God.
But Jesus said, "All you are brothers." Matthew 23:8.
The first of the seven churches (31-100AD) was congratulated by Him for "hating" the sins of the Nicolaitans.
Revelation 2:1-7
To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things says He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; "I know your works, and your labour, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars: and have borne, and have patience, and for My name's sake have laboured, and have not fainted."
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love. Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent."
"But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."
[This name is consistently mis-spelt with an "e" by many authors (including my Bible dictionary!), which it does not have in the KJV.]"
"He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
The third church period (313-538AD) was noted for teaching the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, and this eventually led into the great darkness of Roman Catholicism.
Revelation 2:12-17
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; "These things says He which has the sharp sword with two edges; I know your works and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is: and you hold fast My name, and have not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells."
"But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam [he sold his religion for money], who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication."
"So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate."
"Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it."
**************
7BC 957.5 (RH June 7, 1887)
Is it our sin the sin of the Nicolaitans, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness?
7BC 957.6 (ST Jan. 2, 1912)
The doctrine is now largely taught that the gospel of Christ has made the law of God of no effect; that by "believing" we are released from the necessity of being doers of the Word. But this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which Christ so unsparingly condemned.
The doctrine (teaching) of the Nicolaitans led to immodesty and impurity, sins of lasciviousness.
Review and Herald, June 7, 1887. {YRP 361.3}
It is our work to know our [own] special failings and sins, which cause darkness and spiritual feebleness, and quenched our first love. Is it worldliness? Is it selfishness? Is it the love of self-esteem? Is it striving to be first? Is it the sin of sensuality that is intensely active? Is it the sin of the Nicolaitans, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness? Is it the misuse and abuse of great light and opportunities and privileges, marking boasted claims to wisdom and religious knowledge, while the life and character are inconsistent and immoral?
Whatever it is that has been petted and cultivated until it has become strong and overmastering, make determined efforts to overcome, else you will be lost.
Bible Echo, February 8, 1897 par. 6-7
Also {ST, February 25, 1897 par. 6}
But the doctrine is now largely taught that the gospel of Christ has made the law of God of none effect; that by "believing" we are released from the necessity of being doers of the word. But this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which Christ so unsparingly condemned. To the church of Ephesus He says, "I know your works, and your labour, and your patience, and how you canst not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars; and have borne, and have patience, and for My name's sake have laboured, and have not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love. Remember then from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent. But this you have, that you hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."
Those who are teaching this doctrine today have much to say in regard to faith and the righteousness of Christ; but they pervert the truth, and make it serve the cause of error. They declare that we have only to believe on Jesus Christ, and that faith is all-sufficient: that the righteousness of Christ is to be the sinner's credentials; that this imputed righteousness fulfils the law for us, and that we are under no obligation to obey the law of God.
This class claim that Christ came to save sinners, and that He has saved them. "I am saved," they will repeat over and over again. But are they saved while transgressing the law of Jehovah? - No; for the garments of Christ's righteousness are not a cloak for iniquity.
Such teaching is a gross deception, and Christ becomes to these persons a stumbling block as He did to the Jews, - to the Jews, because they would not receive Him as their personal Saviour, to these professed believers in Christ, because they separate Christ and the law, and regard faith as a substitute for obedience. They separate the Father and the Son, the Saviour of the world. Virtually they teach, both by precept and example, that Christ, by His death, saves men in their transgressions.
It would seem that allowing some other person(s) to control the conscience in matters of religion leads to abandoning self-control in many other areas!
Nicolaitanes (My dictionary)
The church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:6) is commended for hating the "deeds" of the Nicolaitanes, and the church of Pergamos is blamed for having them who hold their "doctrines" (Rev. 2:15). They were seemingly a class of professing Christians, who sought to introduce into the church a false freedom or licentiousness, thus abusing Paul’s doctrine of grace (Compare 2 Pet. 2:15, 16, 19), and were probably identical with those who held the doctrine of Baalam (q.v.), Rev. 2:14.
A T Jones The temples of indwelling God. p. 292 para. 7
Denominationalism is not of Christ, nor is it of The Reformation. It is essentially of that Nicolaitanism which the Lord Jesus hates.
oooOooo
To Ancient SDA's ............ To "What's New?"
This page hosted by
Get your own Free Home Page