Nicolaitans which i also hate

Weymouth New Testament Yet this you have in your favor: you hate the doings of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. World English Bible But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Young's Literal Translation but this thou hast, that thou dost hate the works of the Nicolaitans, that I also hate. Additional Translations Revelation In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Revelation He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Context To the Church in Ephesus … 5 Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first.

We know quite a lot of information about some of these men who were chosen to be the first deacons, whereas little is known of others. Once they had been chosen, they were presented by the people to the apostles, who laid hands on them, installing and officially ordaining them into the deaconate. Like the other men, Stephen was of good report, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

However, Acts makes a remark about Stephen that is unique only to him. Stephen was a God-called evangelist, and he was later privileged to be the first martyr in the history of the Church — killed at the order of Saul of Tarsus, who later became known as the apostle Paul see Acts The deaconate ministry was vital proving ground to prepare Stephen for the fivefold office of the evangelist.

The name Stephen is from the Greek word stephanos , and it means crown. Philip was ordained with the other six original deacons. However, Acts informs us that Philip later stepped in the ministry of the evangelist. He had four daughters who prophesied v. The name Philip means lover of horses. This name often symbolized a person who ran with swiftness, as does a horse — a fitting name for a New Testament evangelist who ran swiftly to carry the Gospel message.

Very little is known about this member of the original deaconate. His name, Prochorus, is a compound of the Greek words pro and chorus. The word pro means before or in front of , as with the position of a leader. There is a strong implication that this was a nickname, given to this man because he had been the foremost leader of dance in some school, theater, or musical performance.

There is no substantiation for this idea, but his name seems to give credence to the possibility. This unknown brother was found to be of good report, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

Other than this, nothing is known of him. He is never mentioned again in the New Testament after Acts chapter 6. His name, Nicanor, means conqueror. Like Nicanor mentioned above, Timon was known to be of good report, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

Nothing more is known of him outside of Acts chapter 6. His name means honorable or of great value. We know nothing more of Parmenas other than what is mentioned here in Acts chapter 6. His name is a compound of the words para and meno — the word para meaning alongside and meno meaning to remain or to abide. Compounded together, his name came to mean one who sticks alongside and conveyed the idea of one who is devoted, loyal, and faithful.

Then he experienced a second conversion, this time turning from Judaism to Christianity. From this information, we know these facts about Nicolas of Antioch:. According to the writings of the Early Church leaders, Nicolas taught a doctrine of compromise, implying that total separation between Christianity and the practice of occult paganism was not essential.

From Early Church records, it seems apparent that this Nicolas of Antioch was so immersed in occultism, Judaism, and Christianity that he had a stomach for all of it.

Occultism was a major force that warred against the Early Church. In Ephesus, the primary pagan religion was the worship of Diana Artemis. There were many other forms of idolatry in Ephesus, but this was the primary object of occult worship in that city. In the city of Pergamos, there were numerous dark and sinister forms of occultism, causing Pergamos to be one of the most wicked cities in the history of the ancient world.

In both of these cities, believers were lambasted and persecuted fiercely by adherents of pagan religions, forced to contend with paganism on a level far beyond all other cities. It was very hard for believers to live separately from all the activities of paganism because paganism and its religions were the center of life in these cities.

God says in, Proverbs These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. It describes a person who has a deep-seated animosity, who is antagonistic to something he finds to be completely objectionable.

He not only loathes that object, but rejects it entirely. This is not just a case of dislike; it is a case of actual hatred. The name Nicolaitan is found only 2 times in these two verses and the only other name close to it is Nicolas is found only 1 time in the Book of Acts,.

Acts And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Jesus seems to relate the scheme of Balaam, that through sexual sin, the children of Israel were brought from a place of protection and blessings from God to a place of judgment and cursing for their disobedience.

Instead he showed Balak how to get Israel into a position where God would have to punish them for their disobedience. Balaam and Balak got what they were after. They just had to find a way to let God do it for them. So Balaam was regarded as advising Balak to use the Midianite women to trick the sons of Israel into committing sexual immorality and abandoning the Law of God and to go after pagan gods. Then he experienced a second conversion, this time turning from Judaism to Christianity.

What follows is from respected leaders in the early church. Irenaeus mentioned below was from the same town as Polycarp. Both Irenaeus, who as a young man heard Polycarp speak, and Tertullian recorded that Polycarp had been a disciple of John the Apostle. Jerome wrote that Polycarp was a disciple of John and that John had ordained him bishop of Smyrna. An early father of Church history—Eusebius—states: 1.

At this time the so-called sect of the Nicolaitans made its appearance and lasted for a very short time. Mention is made of it in the Apocalypse of John. They boasted that the author of their sect was Nicolaus, one of the deacons who, with Stephen, were appointed by the apostles for the purpose of ministering to the poor.

Clement of Alexandria, in the third book of his Stromata, relates the following things concerning him. For they say that this was in accord with that saying of his, that one ought to abuse the flesh. For I suppose that, in accordance with the command of the Saviour, he did not wish to serve two masters, pleasure and the Lord.

The second century Father, Irenaeus of Lyons, agrees, writing: The Nicolaitans are the followers of that Nicolas who was one of the seven first ordained to the diaconate by the apostles. They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence [Against Heresies ]. The character of these men is very plainly pointed out in the Apocalypse of John, [when they are represented] as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

Irenaeus, for one, simply describes the Nicolaitans as his followers, apparently giving credence to the view that he founded their heresy. Regardless of the origin of the group, it seems that the Nicolaitans were a group of heretics that took a libertine attitude toward sexual morality and impermissible involvement in pagan things specifically, whatever is meant by eating meat offered to idols.

They apparently lasted only a short time, as Eusebius says, since they apparently did not become an established, enduring heresy, and he speaks of them in the past tense.

After mentioning the Nicolaitans in the message to the church of Pergamum there is another, intriguing passage in the message to the next church in line: Thyatira. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. Notice that we have the same two things—sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols —that were just a few verses earlier identified as the teachings of the Nicolaitans.

She also is said to describe herself as a prophetess, and scholars have seen her as a rival in the churches of Asia Minor to John. Although John—a genuine prophet—was apparently well known to the churches of Asia Minor, Thyatira was the home to a rival prophetess who apparently led a group of Nicolaitans. The picture of the church scene in Asia Minor was thus mixed.

According to the Fathers, the true prophet—John—was based in Ephesus, which hated the works of the Nicolaitans. Solomon wrote in, Ecclesiastes 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. You would think everyone would see through the lie and error of this thinking when your read these scriptures,. Romans I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. In the past week another high profile preacher and his wife fell but are still being propped up by some in the New Apostolic Reformation group of ministers. This couple has been caught multiple times in serious immoral and sexually related sin, both homosexual and hetrosexual.

Romans For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Gradually it does set in though,. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! You cannot serve God and mammon. Immorality Must Be Judged 1 Corinthians I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.

Do you not judge those who are inside? For Good or for Bad, there are those who take the task of the Moabite women set out to lead the children of God away so as to fall under His Judgment.