Nicolaitans:
A Gentile by birth, Nicolas of Antioch embraced Judaism, later then became a Christian. He was chosen as one of the first of seven deacons at the church of Jerusalem, see, Acts 6:5. His name Nicolas may have been assumed by the heretical group that called themselves Nicolaitans.
No-one knows for sure if Nicolas was the author of this sect, or if he were the cause of their infamous practices, but concerning what the Lord thought, and what John wrote concerning these practices, Scripture reveals,
Revelations 2:6, Jesus said, “This you have (Church at Ephesus,) that you hate the deed of the Nicolaitans, which I (Jesus) also hate.”
As too exactly when in the first century this sect come to be, no-one knows for sure; but if Irenaeus is correct in saying that it came a considerable time before the heresy of Cerinthus, we can than understand that the Cerinthian heresy was the principal cause for John writing his first epistle.
Also it follows that the Nicolaitans had existed some time before their having been mentioned in the book of Revelation, thus we read the words of Revelation 2:6; see above.
Under the persecution of Domintian, 81 to 96 A.D., history reveals that John had been taken prisoner, then taken to the Island of Patmos. This period under Domintian may have served as the prime time which enabled the Nicolaitans to grow, to exhibit their practices, and for John to witness against them.
Their actions and opinions were expressly condemned by the Holy Spirit. This sect allowed more than one wife, and made no distinction between ordinary food, and that which was offered to idols. Having a community of wives reminds us of the sin of the Mormon Church, where men have been and continue to have children by many wives.
The Nicolatans had ruined themselves in their moral behavior and given themselves over to other vices. They lost their principles of decency; were said to be of a vicious sort, shameless, and wicked. They were excessively bold in that they ate things sacrificed to idols, a thing John was concerned with.
To the church at Pergamos,
Revelation 2:14, “I (Jesus) have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the Children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”
It appears that the church at Pergamos was committing the same sin as the Nicolaitans, that being the (Eating of food sacrificed unto idols, and committing fornication.)
Eusebius a third century man of God, claimed this sect continued on for only a short time; but Tertllian claims they had changed their name, and their heresies were passed on to the sect of the Cainites. We may infer from John that the Nicolaitans were the first to entice Christians to commit these unholy practices. Their motives were obvious; To convince men to live in this manner would make it easy to gain proselytes for membership.
They taught that it was lawful to indulge in their passions, and that no harm would come to them if they were to partake in idol-sacrifices. This had become the test to which Early Christians would be submitted if they desired to escape persecution, they seeking to gain converts by telling those in the faith that they could still believe in Jesus, even if, “they ate of things sacrificed unto idols.”
The fear of death shook Christian’s from the faith in this early period of church history. John found Christian’s who were living in fear, and because of this fear, they had been won over to the Nicolaitans through sensual arguments. John also found many unhappy Christians in the Asiatic churches who would be found in union with the Nicolaitans; they joining ranks with them because of their sexual appetites, and personal pleasures.
Irenaeus adds to his comments concerning this cult; John had directed his gospel against the Nicolaitans as well as against Cerinthians.” The comparison which is made between their doctrines, and practices, and that of Balaam authorized the Christian community to speak out against them and John to condemn them. We also find condemnation of this behavior in the writings of the apostle Peter.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com