What was the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans?

[Hobie]

Revelation 2:6
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

Revelation 2:15
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

What was the doctrine as it seems to be something God hated so it had to be very corrupt. Here is from the Revelation seminars ..."The Nicolaitans, mentioned in these verses, claimed to be Christians but believed obedience to God's law was unnecessary. Jesus used strong language about the Nicolaitans, saying He hated their "works" or lifestyle. Irenaeus, a second-century minister, said they called themselves Christians, but they considered it "a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols."

It seems that the Nicolaitans were an organized group that embraced an antinomian position, which is the belief that God does not expect Christians to obey moral laws, much as we see in the world today.

 

[Rockerduck]

Nicolaitans were compromisers They compromised their Christ teachings with the world and shared worldly things in the church, similar to today. Jesus wants us out of the world while in the world. Romans 2:12 - be not conformed to this world. We are to act differently, talk differently and made more like Christ.

 

[keithr]

Revelation 2:15
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

What was the doctrine as it seems to be something God hated so it had to be very corrupt.

Read it in context with the previous verse - Revelation 2:14-15 (WEB):

(14) But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.​

(15) So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.​

Barnes' Notes says:

So hast thou also them ... - That is, there are those among you who hold those doctrines. The meaning here may be, either that, in addition to those who held the doctrine of Balaam, they had also another class who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes; or that the Nicolaitanes held the same doctrine, and taught the same thing as Balaam. If but one class is referred to, and it is meant that the Nicolaitanes held the doctrines of Balaam, then we know what constituted their teaching; if two classes of false teachers are referred to, then we have no means of knowing what was the uniqueness of the teaching of the Nicolaitanes. The more natural and obvious construction, it seems to me, is to suppose that the speaker means to say that the Nicolaitanes taught the same things which Balaam did - to wit, that they led the people into corrupt and licentious practices. This interpretation seems to be demanded by the proper use of the word “so” - οὕτως houtōs - meaning, “in this manner on this wise, thus”; and usually referring to what precedes. If this be the correct interpretation, then we have, in fact, a description of what the Nicolaitanes held, agreeing with all the accounts given of them by the ancient fathers. If this is so, also, then it is clear that the same kind of doctrines was held at Smyrna, at Pergamos, and at Thyatira Rev_2:20, though mentioned in somewhat different forms. It is not quite certain, however, that this is the correct interpretation, or that the writer does not mean to say that, in addition to those who held the doctrine of Balaam, they had also another class of errorists who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes.​

 

[Rockerduck]

Read it in context with the previous verse - Revelation 2:14-15 (WEB):

(14) But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.​

(15) So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.​

Barnes' Notes says:

So hast thou also them ... - That is, there are those among you who hold those doctrines. The meaning here may be, either that, in addition to those who held the doctrine of Balaam, they had also another class who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes; or that the Nicolaitanes held the same doctrine, and taught the same thing as Balaam. If but one class is referred to, and it is meant that the Nicolaitanes held the doctrines of Balaam, then we know what constituted their teaching; if two classes of false teachers are referred to, then we have no means of knowing what was the uniqueness of the teaching of the Nicolaitanes. The more natural and obvious construction, it seems to me, is to suppose that the speaker means to say that the Nicolaitanes taught the same things which Balaam did - to wit, that they led the people into corrupt and licentious practices. This interpretation seems to be demanded by the proper use of the word “so” - οὕτως houtōs - meaning, “in this manner on this wise, thus”; and usually referring to what precedes. If this be the correct interpretation, then we have, in fact, a description of what the Nicolaitanes held, agreeing with all the accounts given of them by the ancient fathers. If this is so, also, then it is clear that the same kind of doctrines was held at Smyrna, at Pergamos, and at Thyatira Rev_2:20, though mentioned in somewhat different forms. It is not quite certain, however, that this is the correct interpretation, or that the writer does not mean to say that, in addition to those who held the doctrine of Balaam, they had also another class of errorists who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes.​

Commentaries are opinions, I trust the Holy Spirit, not opinions from "scholars". The Holy Spirit told me to not use commentaries and use His word only.

 

[keithr]

Commentaries are opinions, I trust the Holy Spirit, not opinions from "scholars". The Holy Spirit told me to not use commentaries and use His word only.

That's silly! By the same reasoning you won't take heed of what any pastor or evangelist says, because they're just expressing their "opinions". Jesus told Peter to "feed my sheep" (John 21:17). How could he do that if the sheep just thought he was expressing his opinions and should not be trusted or believed?

Peter said, Acts 20:28 (MKJV):

(28) Therefore take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He has purchased with His own blood.​

Paul wrote, 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 (WEB):

(27) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.​

(28) God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.​

God has arranged for some Christians to be teachers of others, and they should be listened to. I therefore don't think it was truly the Holy Spirit that told you to ignore commentaries. We shouldn't blindly believe all commentaries though; we should be like the Bereans - Acts 17:11 (WEB):

(11) Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.​

 

[Rockerduck]

I'm sorry you don't agree with the Holy Spirit.

 

[keithr]

I'm sorry you don't agree with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:29-31 (WEB):

(29) The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”​

(30) Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”​

(31) He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.​

Most of us need help to understand the Scriptures. Bible commentaries can help. Why would God raise up Christian teachers of the Scriptures and then tell some individuals to ignore what they wrote?

 

[Rockerduck]

Acts 8:29-31 (WEB):

(29) The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”​

(30) Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”​

(31) He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.​

Most of us need help to understand the Scriptures. Bible commentaries can help. Why would God raise up Christian teachers of the Scriptures and then tell some individuals to ignore what they wrote?

I understand that teachers are needed for Christians to learn. I went to bible college. I had a whole library of commentaries and most disagreed with one another.
But at one point the Holy Spirit said enough. I'll teach you. I teach and don't recommend books to read. After the Ethiopian received the Holy Spirit, He was on his own to learn. Who taught the Apostles, Jesus. Who taught Apostle Paul, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

 

[keithr]

But at one point the Holy Spirit said enough. I'll teach you.

How did the Holy Spirit say that to you? Did you hear it audibly, in a dream, or what? Lots of people seem to think that if they think of something then it must be the Holy Spirit talking to them. That's a dangerous assumption!

 

[Rockerduck]

How did the Holy Spirit say that to you? Did you hear it audibly, in a dream, or what? Lots of people seem to think that if they think of something then it must be the Holy Spirit talking to them. That's a dangerous assumption!

It was a dream/ vision. I saw an open bible with Jesus's words in red and a bright light shining at me. I'll teach you the Holy Spirt says. This came after watching video of some subject and I said that guys pretty smart. That night it was over. The first commentary He told me throw away was Matthews. After that all of them, including study bibles, and I had a few of those too.

If anyone says to you "God said this". Ask them the exact words, not feelings. Jesus tells you exactly what you need to hear, in the shortest sentences ever and you'll never forget it.

 

[keithr]

It was a dream/ vision. ...

Okay, I'm envious of you! Most of us don't experience that, and we have to study using commentaries and other written or video sources.

If anyone says to you "God said this". Ask them the exact words, not feelings. Jesus tells you exactly what you need to hear, in the shortest sentences ever and you'll never forget it.

Right. God/Jesus has only spoken to me once, in a dream, and it was just three words (audible only, no vision) - a page number in the only Bible that I had at that time. When I looked it up later it was answering a question that I had asked the previous evening during a Bible study meeting, something that I had been struggling to understand for a long time.