Nicolaitans — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Heretical sect in the early church that is mentioned by name twice in the book of Revelation. The church at Ephesus was commended for hating the works of the Nicolaitans (Rv 2:6), and the church at Pergamum was criticized for having some members who held their doctrine (v 15).

Show passage in OET: REV 2:6

OET-RV REV 2:6

6 But you do have this going for you: you hate what the disciples of Nikolaos are doing, just like I do.

OET-LV REV 2:6

6 But this you _are _having, that you _are _hating the works of _the Nikolaitaʸs, which also _I am _hating.

Show passage in OET: REV 2:15

OET-RV REV 2:15

15 In the same way, some of you also follow the teachings of Nikolaos’ disciples.

OET-LV REV 2:15

15 Thus are _having some also you, taking _hold _of the teaching of_the_Nikolaitaʸs likewise.

Jump to OET REV 2:6 section.

Jump to OET REV 2:15 section.

Since the specific sins condemned at Pergamum—the eating of food sacrificed to idols and the practice of immorality—were also present at Thyatira (Rv 2:20), it is commonly thought that the woman Jezebel was a leader of the Nicolaitans in that church. In the letter to Pergamum, their sins are equated with the teaching of Balaam (Rv 2:14; cf. Nm 25:1-2; 31:16; 2 Pt 2:15; Jude 1:11), who advised Balak, the king of the Moabites, to bring about Israel’s downfall by inviting them to worship the Moabite gods and engage in intermarriage and the sexual immoralities connected with Moabite religious practices. Thus, the Jews would have been separated from God and his protection. In Jewish thought, Balaam was the symbol of all that led men to obscene conduct and the forsaking of God. The ungodly practices at Thyatira are called the “deep things of Satan” (Rv 2:24).

Show passage in OET: REV 2:20

OET-RV REV 2:20

20 But I have against you that you tolerate that woman Izevel (Jezebel) who calls herself a prophetess, and she deceives my servants by teaching them to be sexually immoral and to eat food that’s been offered to idols.

OET-LV REV 2:20

20 But I _am _having against you that you _are _allowing the woman Jezebel, the woman calling herself a_prophetess, and she _is _teaching and is _misleading the my slaves to _commit _sexual _immorality, and to _eat idol _sacrificed food.

Show passage in OET: REV 2:14

OET-RV REV 2:14

14 But I do have a few things against you: you have some people there who hold to the ancient prophet Bil’am’s (Balaam’s) teaching. He taught Moav’s (Moab’s) king, Balak, how to tempt the Israelis and to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols, and to be sexually immoral.

OET-LV REV 2:14

14 But I _am _having against you a_few things, because you _are _having some there taking _hold _of the teaching of _Balaʼam/(Bilˊām), who was _teaching the to _Balak to _throw a_temptation before the sons of _Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl), to _eat idol _sacrificed things and to _commit _sexual _immorality.

Show passage in OET: NUM 25:1–2

OET-RV NUM 25:1

25 Meanwhile, the Israelis settled down at Shitim, and their men started sleeping with women from Moav (Moab)

OET-RV NUM 25:2

2 who then invited them to sacrifices to their idols. So the Israelis bowed down to the idols and ate at the feasts,

OET-LV NUM 25:1

25 And_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _he/it _sat _down//remained//lived in_Shiţţīm and_ the_people _it _began to_commit _fornication into the _daughters _of Mōʼāⱱ.

OET-LV NUM 25:2

2 And_they _invited (to)_people to_the _sacrifices _of their _gods _of_their and_ the_people _it _ate and_they _bowed _down to_gods _of_their.

Show passage in OET: NUM 31:16

OET-RV NUM 31:16

16 “They’re the very ones who did what Bil’am (Balaam) suggested to urge the people to be unfaithful to Yahweh at Pe’or, leading to the deadly disease that struck Yahweh’s people.

OET-LV NUM 31:16

16 THERE they they _were to_the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) by_the _message _of Bilˊām to_offer unfaithfulness in_YHWH on the _matter _of Pəˊōr and_ the_plague _it _became among_the _congregation _of YHWH.

Show passage in OET: PE2 2:15

OET-RV PE2 2:15

15 They have left the right path and gone astray, following the path of Be’or’s son Bil’am (Balaam) who loved the wages of unrighteousness,

OET-LV PE2 2:15

15 having _left the_straight way, they _were _strayed having _followed _after in _the way of_ the _Balaʼam/(Bilˊām) of_ the _Bosor/(Bəˊōr), who loved the_wage of _unrighteousness,

Show passage in OET: JDE 1:11

OET-RV JDE 1:11

11 Oh dear! Because they’ve followed the actions of Kayin (Cain) and have embraced the deception of Bil’am (Balaam) for monetary gain, so too they’ll perish like Korah’s destruction.

OET-LV JDE 1:11

11 Woe to _them.
Because they _were _gone in _the way of_ the _Kain/(Qayin), and they _were _poured _out to _the deception the of _Balaʼam/(Bilˊām) for _reward, and in _the controversy of_ the _Kore/(Qoraḩ) they _perished.

Show passage in OET: REV 2:24

OET-RV REV 2:24

24 But the rest of you believers in the city of Thuateira haven’t obeyed that woman’s teachings and haven’t taken part in what she calls ‘the secret practices that Satan taught her’, I have something to say to you all as well. I won’t give you any other burden

OET-LV REV 2:24

24 But to _you _all I _am _saying to _the rest which in Thuateira, as _many _as not are _having the teaching this, who not they _knew the deep things of_ the _Satan/(Sāţān), as they _are _saying, not I _am _casting on you _all another burden.

Jump to OET REV 2:20 section.

Jump to OET REV 2:14 section.

Jump to OET NUM 25:1–2 section.

Jump to OET NUM 31:16 section.

Jump to OET PE2 2:15 section.

Jump to OET JDE 1:11 section.

Jump to OET REV 2:24 section.

The early church was also threatened by the combination of idolatry and immorality so prevalent in the world. The necessity for frequent warning in the NT reveals the gravity of the problem. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:20) called upon the Gentiles to abstain from eating food that had been offered to idols and sexual immorality. Paul called for a voluntary avoidance of this kind of fare for the sake of those who were weak or immature in the faith (1 Cor 8). He strongly condemned actual participation in idol feasts (1 Cor 10:14-22) as well as fornication in general and temple prostitution in particular (6:12-20).

Show passage in OET: ACT 15:20

OET-RV ACT 15:20

20 but to write to them to keep away from anything polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, and from strangled animals and eating or drinking blood.

OET-LV ACT 15:20

20 but to _write to _them which to _be _keeping _away from _the pollutions of_ the _idols, and the sexual _immorality, and the strangled animal, and the blood.

Show passage in OET: CO1 10:14–22

OET-RV CO1 10:14

14 So my dear friends, totally avoid idolatry.

OET-RV CO1 10:15

15 I’m speaking to sensible people, so judge what I’m telling you for yourselves.

OET-RV CO1 10:16

16 When we bless the ‘cup of blessing’, aren’t we sharing the messiah’s blood? When we break the bread, aren’t we sharing the messiah’s body?

OET-RV CO1 10:17

17 Because there’s just one loaf that we all eat pieces of, thus we who are many, are one body together.

OET-RV CO1 10:18

18 Consider the people of Yisrael (Israel) from a physical perspective: Aren’t those who eat portions of the sacrifices, joining to the altar? RECHECK

OET-RV CO1 10:19

19 So what am I saying? That whether or not food is sacrificed to idols means anything? Or that an idol is anything?

OET-RV CO1 10:20

20 No, but the sacrifices of the pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I don’t want you all to be partners with demons.

OET-RV CO1 10:21

21 You can’t drink Yahweh’s cup as well as the cup of demons, nor can you partake at Yahweh’s table as well as the table of demons.

OET-RV CO1 10:22

22 Or are we trying to make Yahweh envious? No, he’s more powerful than us.

OET-LV CO1 10:14

14 Therefore _even, beloved of _me, be _fleeing from the idolatry.

OET-LV CO1 10:15

15 As to _prudent ones I _am _speaking, judge you _all what I _am _saying.

OET-LV CO1 10:16

16 The cup of_ the _blessing, that we _are _blessing, not a_fellowship is it of _the blood of _the chosen _one /messiah?
The bread that we _are _breaking, not a_fellowship in _the body of _the chosen _one /messiah is it?

OET-LV CO1 10:17

17 Because one one, loaf body the many we _are, because/for the all of the one loaf are _partaking.

OET-LV CO1 10:18

18 Be _seeing the Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl) according _to flesh, not the ones eating the sacrifices, partners in _the altar are?

OET-LV CO1 10:19

19 Therefore what I _am _saying?
That an_idol _sacrificed thing anything is, anything is?

OET-LV CO1 10:20

20 But that what they _are _sacrificing the pagans, to _demons and not to_god are _sacrificing, not and I _am _wanting you _all partners the with _demons to _be _becoming.

OET-LV CO1 10:21

21 Not you _all _are _being _able the_cup of_the_master to _be _drinking, and the_cup of _demons.
Not you _all _are _being _able of_the_table of_the_master to _be _partaking, and of_the_table of _demons.

OET-LV CO1 10:22

22 Or we _are _making _jealous the master?
Not stronger than he we _are?

Show passage in OET: CO1 6:12–20

OET-RV CO1 6:12

12 Some might say, ‘Everything is permissible for me,’ but not everything is beneficial. Everything might be permissible for me, but I don’t want those things to have control over me.

OET-RV CO1 6:13

13 You might say, ‘Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food,’ but God will eventually abolish them both. Also, the body is not meant to be used for sexual immorality, but rather, for the master, and the master for the body.

OET-RV CO1 6:14

14 Actually, God made the master come alive again, and by his power, he’ll also do that for us.

OET-RV CO1 6:15

15 Surely you all know that your bodies are parts of messiah’s body? Because of that, you shouldn’t take your body back and then join it to a prostitute’s body. May it never happen!

OET-RV CO1 6:16

16 Or don’t you know that having sex with a prostitute is a joining together, because it says: ‘The two will become one body.’

OET-RV CO1 6:17

17 But a person joining with the master, becomes one spirit with him.

OET-RV CO1 6:18

18 Don’t just walk away from sexual immorality, but run away from it, because other forms of disobeying God are outside the body, but sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

OET-RV CO1 6:19

19 Surely you all know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit who comes from God and lives within you. No, you don’t actually own yourselves

OET-RV CO1 6:20

20 because a price was paid to buy you, so honour God with your bodies.

OET-LV CO1 6:12

12 All things to _me is _permitting, but not all things is _benefitting.
All things to _me is _permitting, but not I will _be _being _mastered by anything.

OET-LV CO1 6:13

13 The foods for _the belly, and the belly for _the foods, but the god both this and these will _be _nullifying.
And the body is not the for _sexual _immorality, but for _the master, and the master for _the body.

OET-LV CO1 6:14

14 And the god both the master raised, and us will _be _raising _up, by the power of _him.

OET-LV CO1 6:15

15 Not you _all _have _known that the bodies of _you _all members of_chosen _one /messiah is?
Therefore having _taken _away the members of _the chosen _one /messiah, I _may _make them of_a_prostitute members?
Never it _might _become.

OET-LV CO1 6:16

16 Or not you _all _have _known that the one being _joined _together to _the one, prostitute body is?
For/Because will _be, he _is _saying:
the two into one flesh.

OET-LV CO1 6:17

17 But the one being _joined _together to _the one, master spirit is.

OET-LV CO1 6:18

18 Be _fleeing the sexual _immorality.
Every sin which if may _practice a_person outside the body is, but the one committing _sexual _immorality against his own body is _sinning.

OET-LV CO1 6:19

19 Or not you _all _have _known that the body of _you _all, a_temple of _the in you _all holy spirit is, of _whom you _all _are _having from god?
And not you _all _are of _yourselves,

OET-LV CO1 6:20

20 for/because you _all _were _bought with_a_price, glorify indeed the god in the body of _you _all.

Jump to OET ACT 15:20 section.

Jump to OET CO1 10:14–22 section.

Jump to OET CO1 6:12–20 section.

Who the Nicolaitans were is more difficult to determine. The tendency among the church fathers was to identify them as followers of Nicolaus of Antioch, a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had become a Christian and was chosen to be one of the original seven deacons (Acts 6:5). Both Irenaeus and Hippolytus believed that he had fallen from the faith. Clement claimed that the heretical and immoral Nicolaitans were not actual followers of Nicolaus but falsely claimed him as their teacher. In any event, there is no direct evidence available.

Show passage in OET: ACT 6:5

OET-RV ACT 6:5

5 This idea pleased the group, so they went ahead and chose Stefanos (a man full of faith and of the holy spirit), Filippos (Philip), Prokoros, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nikolaos (a non-Jew from Antiokeia who had previously converted to Youdaismos).

OET-LV ACT 6:5

5 And the statement brought _pleasure before all the multitude, and they _chose Stefanos, a_man full of _faith and of_the_ holy _spirit, and Filippos, and Proⱪoros, and Nikanōr, and Timōn, and Parmenas, and Nikolaos a_ from _Antioⱪeia _convert,

Jump to OET ACT 6:5 section.

Since the 19th century it has been common to view the name as a translation into Greek of the Hebrew name Balaam. This is in accord with the allegorical, symbolical nature of Revelation and the apparent linking of the two names in the letter to Pergamum (Rv 2:14-15).