Nicolaitanes

[Grandpa]

I've been trying to do a study of the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes.

I've tried before but gave up because all I could seem to get were people's opinions.

The one thing that everyone seemed to be in agreement over was that Nicholas means victory over the people.

Does anyone have any insight into this?

 

[Yet]

Clerical/laity system founded in Babylon. No such construct in the first century ekklesia. Elders watching over and teaching the newbees but otherwise the open participatory meeting was the norm. Maturity of the saints was the goal then cut them loose within the meeting to use their functions. See: 1Cor. 12, Epesians 4, and Romans 12. These scriptures are somehow ignored by the modern church system for about 1700 years now.
Jesus declared that He hated this division where one or a few do all he ministering while the majority sit and do nothing.

 

[84Niner]

The greek word "Nicolaitans" in Rev 2:6 is composed of two words the first of which means "conquer" or "victorious over" and the other word meaning "common people, secular people or laity". Thus it means "conquering the common people" or "being victorious over the laity".

Nicotaitans refer to a group of people who esteem themselves higher than the common believers. This was the "hierarchy" adopted and fully established by Catholicism and also most of Protestantism, where we see the "Clergy Laity" system as predominant among all the denominations.

God hates this system of church function (Rev 2:6), because Gods desire in gathering His believers together to have mutual fellowship for the building up of His body is mostly nullified by the clergy laity system where hired preachers and/or minsters (clergy) do all the work and speaking while the congregation does virtually nothing. Their function as members of His body has become atrophied. Read Eph 4:16. This one verse demonstrates the functioning of all the many members of His body for the edifying and building up of the body of Christ.

 

[dcontroversal]

In my studies I have found that they were the followers of a man called Nicolas of Antioch and was a cult that held to the doctrine of Balaam and they practiced orgies, worshipped a few idols and had idolatrous feasts.....and also were into fornication...

Source Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictonary

 

[Yet]

In my studies I have found that they were the followers of a man called Nicolas of Antioch and was a cult that held to the doctrine of Balaam and they practiced orgies, worshipped a few idols and had idolatrous feasts.....and also were into fornication...

Source Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictonary

The idolatry of today is in exalting one man and puting a religious title in front of his name to distinguish him as special above the rest. All look to him for all things spiritual. In a class of his own. This is not NT. Take that man away and the church goes into free fall. Co-dependence ad nauseum. There cannot be two masters. Someone would say 'but if we didn't have Pastor Wonderful leading us, it would be chaos!'
That's Barnum and Bunkum. Check those scriptures submitted above and you'll find one person mysteriously missing....the executive senior Pastor! Imperfect as human flesh is, they still operated in open meetings with the Holy Spirit involved, Jesus as Head in His rightful position. He shares His exalted glory with no man or woman. If man wants to play Diotrephes, His glory departs. Ichabod tacked to the door.
I've experienced that in churches through the years occasionally when He decides to 'take over' a service. Then eventually the 'pastor' would shut it down by injecteing himself into it by such as 'well that was good but now it's time to get back into church order'. Always getting their but in the way.Called quenching the Spirit of God! Not supposed to that! That was enough to send the Holy Spirit packing. And if you're honest, you've experienced that also.

Now we get the Nicolaitan thing......I hope!

 

[popeye]

Clerical/laity system founded in Babylon. No such construct in the first century ekklesia. Elders watching over and teaching the newbees but otherwise the open participatory meeting was the norm. Maturity of the saints was the goal then cut them loose within the meeting to use their functions. See: 1Cor. 12, Epesians 4, and Romans 12. These scriptures are somehow ignored by the modern church system for about 1700 years now.
Jesus declared that He hated this division where one or a few do all he ministering while the majority sit and do nothing.

this............

 

[popeye]

The greek word "Nicolaitans" in Rev 2:6 is composed of two words the first of which means "conquer" or "victorious over" and the other word meaning "common people, secular people or laity". Thus it means "conquering the common people" or "being victorious over the laity".

Nicotaitans refer to a group of people who esteem themselves higher than the common believers. This was the "hierarchy" adopted and fully established by Catholicism and also most of Protestantism, where we see the "Clergy Laity" system as predominant among all the denominations.

God hates this system of church function (Rev 2:6), because Gods desire in gathering His believers together to have mutual fellowship for the building up of His body is mostly nullified by the clergy laity system where hired preachers and/or minsters (clergy) do all the work and speaking while the congregation does virtually nothing. Their function as members of His body has become atrophied. Read Eph 4:16. This one verse demonstrates the functioning of all the many members of His body for the edifying and building up of the body of Christ.

this............

 

[Yet]

Funny how we look the other way concerning the 'devouring of widows houses', the clerical deal , religious titles, the devasting tithe, etc., etc.. Allow me to rant....that's what some call exhorting.
Much inherited from Rome. Rome inherited from the Chaldeans. All pagan therefore destructive. Anti Christ. We have forgotten how to be shamefaced. Forgotten how to 'quit ye like men'. Forgotten how to put on the Berean attitude and tenacity. Forgotten plain ole horse sense.
Red lights have flashed before you in the past on these issues and more. But you simply thought it was indigestion or something. No! It was the Holy Spirit trying to get your attention saying about a thing 'this is not of Me!'
The pulpiteers are slick and are careful what scripture to avoid.
I digress I guess.....its a mess! Thank God many are on to them and are taking a stand for the clear teachings of scripture forced to exit the city. Read the prophets. They get it.

We are content to go with the flow. There's a price to be paid, a cost for breaking free from error and falsehood. If you don't believe me, ask the prophets, ask Paul who was cast out by many 'churches' he had started. Do you care to stand alone? I didn't think so!
He said 'the more I love, the less I am loved'. What was Paul's problem anyway? Why did many christians not like him? Maybe he was just bitter. He'd been hurt. Maybe to dogmatic. Maybe he needed to cool his jets. Way to radical. All the above!
Even today, many christians do not like Paul for his sound teaching! They don't come out and say so but they sure don't care to line up with his doctrine and instructions.
Yea I'm digressing but not really. The deeds of the Nicolaitans is just the tip but foundational for much evil of which I have already listed.

Tear down those deeds, and much of that abuse would stop. To 'conquer the folks'. Well said Jesus! Do you think maybe, just maybe He knew what He was talking about? The 'church' marches on as if it doesn't believe He did! Wake me up when you get there!