The original nicolas was a conqueror or destroyer of the people. These are the only two references to the nicolaitans we have in the bible. Christ condemns both the doctrines of the nicolaitans and also the doctrine of balaam. Apr 21, 2014 the nicolaitans infiltrated the early assembly and finally took over the policymaking. Nicolaitans jay atkinson the doctrine of the nicolaitans was mentioned in the apocalypse of john to the churches of pergamos and ephesus of the seven churches of asia in revelation 2. The nicolaitans were a sect or party, which arose during the apostolic church period to challenge the truth taught by christ. We cannot be entirely sure as to just who the nicolaitans were. Nikos means conqueror or destroyer, and laos means people. 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. Jan 25, 2006 the job of doing bible exposition not only involves interpretation finding what the passage means and illustration highlighting the meaning with real life situations but also application exhortations to action based on the truths found in the text. Christ hates the deeds of the nicolaitans the crisis unfolding in america today by jeremy james give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. As a proper noun, it transfers, but is not translated, into. This was the reason jesus hated the doctrine and the deeds of the nicolaitans. They claimed they were free from the law and that the ten commandments are not binding on christians.
Lord, after what ive read today, i dont want to allow any spirit of compromise in my life. Nicolaism also nicholaism, nicolaitism, nicolationism, or nicolaitanism was an early christian sect mentioned twice in the book of revelation of the new testament. Astrologers represented this planet as baleful in its influences, and hence the phoenicians offered to it human sacrifices, especially children. Short definitions are listed on the bottom for reference.
The lord declared that he hated the doctrine of the nicolaitans and so must the saints revelation 2. This verse is part of a passage describing the third of the seven churches of revelation revelation 1. The word nicolaitans appears twice in the scriptures and is found in the book of revelation. Oct 15, 2010 the nicolaitans probably not connected with the nicolaus of acts 6. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the nicolaitans, which. They may have been identical with those who held the doctrine of balaam. Of chiun eastons bible dictionary says, probably the planet saturn is intended by the name. A belief that is based upon a recognition of the mercy of god as the ground of salvation, but it makes the fatal mistake that man can freely partake in sin because the law of god is no longer binding. The gnostics tried to infiltrate judaism but were not successful, perhaps because the religion had been around longer thus having a more grounded base. The nicolaitans and church at pergamum were one of the seven churches of revelation that jesus addresses. What are the teachings of balaam and the nicolaitans referred to in revelation 2. Having overcome the resistance of the saints who were contending for the faith, they opened the way for jezebel, the ancient symbol for seductiveness, to come in and seduce the servants of yhwh by saying that lesus kristos jesus christ was the greek.
The doctrine of the nicolaitans appears to have been a form of antinomianism. It was a symbolic name of a party that represented those who established a ruling class over the rest of the people that exalted fleshly leadership by developing. Believe it or not, the nicolaitans are in part responsible for christianitys acceptance of christmas, easter, halloween and other unbiblical practices. Astrologers represented this planet as baleful in its. The lord mentions several times in the book of revelation how he hates the doctrine of the nicolaitans.
In order to understand what the scriptures mean by the word. What is the origin of the nicolaitans revelation 2. John says in his revelation, to the angel of the church of ephesus, but this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the nicolaitans, which i also hate, revelation 2. What were the deeds of the nicolaitans in revelation 2. A church married to the world the city and the assembly 2. The doctrine of the nicolaitans, mentioned twice in johns discourse to the seven churches in revelation, is as prevalent in our. Nicolaitans followers of nicolas, a sect mentioned in revelation 2. The problem of sin is the ignorance, foolishness, and perversity out of which i act to serve my. 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.
The classic explanation comes from the writings of the antenicene church. We take you on a journey into the greek to discover what the name nicolaitans even means. May 01, 2000 nicolaitans traditional explanation by john gill derived from the writings of irenaeus and hippolytus i know that thou hatest the deeds of the nicolaitanes, which i also hate. The three greek words used are nikos, laos and ton. Who were the nicolaitans as mentioned in revelation 2. The works and doctrine of the nicolaitans satans seat in pergamos before we dig into the works and doctrines of the nicolaitans, we should take a moment to study the city of pergamos in asia minor the turkey of today because in pergamos at that time, some members of the local church of god went astray and did the works of the nicolaitans. I think your translation of nicolaitan is incorrect. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the nicolaitans, which i also hate.
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. The first greek part of the english word nicolaitans is nikos. Who were the nicolaitans, and what was their doctrine and. The adherents were called nicolaitans, nicolaitanes, or nicolaites. Check out this simple and engaging guided notes template to learn about nouns. A belief that is based upon a recognition of the mercy of god as the ground of salvation, but it. As a proper noun, it transfers, but is not translated, into english. Who were the nicolaitans, and what was their doctrine and deeds. The nicolaitans were a sect of base antinomians which had arisen in those early days of christianity. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the nicolaitans, which thing i hate revelation 2.
This is a doctrine that will undoubtedly, as the doctrine of the nicolaitans, be more widely proclaimed in the latter days than at any other time in the history of the church. The purpose of the eldership of the church is to build up, and not to rule over gods people. The nicolaitanes were a group of professed christians who believed when thou shall not commit adultery was quoted, their favorite reply was we are not under law, but under grace. I now understand that the doctrine of the nicolaitans is compromise with the world. The word nicolaitans appears in the scriptures as follows. 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. I hope you understand that i deal with all sorts in teaching the gospel.
Articles and sermons nicolaitans atkinson nicolaitans atkinson posted by sermonindex, on. Having overcome the resistance of the saints who were contending for the faith, they opened the way. The nicolaitans infiltrated the early assembly and finally took over the policymaking. The classic explanation comes from the writings of the antenicene church father irenaeus who accused nicholas, one of the original seven deacons acts 6. While the letter to the church at ephesus commended the ephesians because they hated the deeds of the nicolaitans, the letter to the church at pergamos indicates they had within their.
Now we are going to turn to the second chapter of the book of the revelation, and the title of. Hence nicolaitans means those who conquer or master the people according to revelation 2. They were considered heretical by the mainstream church. Emergent church leader, rob bell, has lit up the blogosphere with the firestorm he is causing with what many believe to be heretical views on god, christ, and. Doctrine or teaching of the nicolaitans and church government. The doctrine of the nicolaitans, mentioned twice in johns discourse to the seven churches in revelation, is as prevalent in our churches today as it was then.
God hates a system that exalts one believer over another. The forums in the christian congregations category are now open only to christian members. Emergent church leader, rob bell, has lit up the blogosphere with the firestorm he is causing with what many believe to be heretical views on god, christ, and salvation in his new book, love wins. Learn about these followers of nicolas who are called evil. Having overcome the resistance of the setapart ones who were contending for the true belief, they opened the way for jezebel, the ancient symbol for seductiveness, to come in and seduce the servants of yahuah by saying that lesous kristos jesus christ was.
Some have suggested that they were a heretical sect who followed the teachings of a certain nicolas whoever that was. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the nicolaitans, which thing i hate, revelation 2. Nicolaitans traditional explanation by john gill derived from the writings of irenaeus and hippolytus i know that thou hatest the deeds of the nicolaitanes. To understand the significance of this false teaching and also that of the doctrine of salvation by faith and works, which we have touched upon in another article on the page false doctrinesfaith and works we need to take a look at the doctrines of the nicolaitans. As this thread is simply about finding out what were the deeds of the nicolaitans and not about if the bible is against the practicedoctrine of a clergy and laity. The book is currently number one in amazons religion and spirituality section. Word number of times it appears in the scriptures nicolaitans 2 the word nicolaitans comes from the greek word nikolaites pronounced as nikolaheetace. Coming back to the nicolaitans, also to the whole tussle between jesus and the pharisees and saducees, which was precisely about the way they lorded it over the laity, the. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the nicolaitans, which i also hate. The application of a text can easily be ignored because this is the harder thing to do. The works and doctrine of the nicolaitans satans seat in pergamos before we dig into the works and doctrines of the nicolaitans, we should take a moment to study the city of pergamos in. Criswell sermon library the doctrine of the nicolaitans. The difficulty with your original note was that you stated, i found your translation of the word nicolaitan from the greek to be incorrect, but you did not state what was incorrect, why it was incorrect, or what you found to be a better translation.
Nicolaitans there are two speculations regarding the teachings of the nicolaitans which need to be mentioned. Who are the nicolaitans mentioned in the book of revelation. Having overcome the resistance of the setapart ones who were contending for the. More importantly, nicolaitanism, representative of a much broader philosophy, can be blamed for the organized and systematic removal of gods law as a central pillar of the christian way of life. Were going to take a look at a group, or a movement if you want to put it that. From whence does the teaching once saved always saved originate. Nicholas bloom is an associate professor of economics, stanford university. With this first reference to the nicolaitans in mind, the second reference will help give us a better idea of who they were.
There are two greek root words that comprise the word nicolaitan. The job of doing bible exposition not only involves interpretation finding what the passage means and illustration highlighting the meaning with real life situations but also. Students will fill in the remaining boxes for common and. It is not known what their works were, or what doctrines they taught, though they must have permitted some accommodation to pagan religious cults. Jan 27, 2016 on this episode we discuss the doctrine of the nicolaitans and reveal why god had a particular hatred for it. And the doctrine of balaam will, in many instances, be proclaimed by those holding to the doctrine of the nicolaitans.