Nicolaitanes

          I have found that most people have no idea why Jesus said he hates the Nicolaitanes. Neither did I. It's the kind of passage, in the Bible, that really doesn't draw that much attention. It should, however, serve as a warning of something to keep your guard up against. For God to state that he hates something, it seems appropriate to find out why He does.

          "Nicolaism (also Nicholaism, Nicolaitism, Nicolationism, or Nicolaitanism) is a Christian heresy first mentioned (twice) in the Book of Revelation of the New Testament, whose adherents were called Nicolaitans, Nicolaitanes, or Nicolaitans. According to Revelation 2:6 and 15, they were known in the cities of Ephesus and Pergamum. In this chapter, the church at Ephesus is commended for 'hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate'; and the church in Pergamos is rebuked: 'So hast thou also [worshiping in their midst] them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.' Several of the early church fathers mentioned this group, including Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Epiphanies, and Theodoret, stating that deacon Nicolas was the author of the heresy and the sect."[1]

          "Niko = to conquer     Laos = the people      The Nicolaitanes were trying to set up a hierarchy of priestly order like the Pharisees and eventually like the Catholic church.  To place the leadership over the people instead of being servants to the people."[2]

          "In the year 1045 the 'Catholic Church' broke off from the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. At that time the Pope decreed that Mary was divine and could be worshiped. Mary was given the title of "Mother Of God", which I thought she already was. He also pronounced that the Pope was infallible. Never before, in history, had anyone associated with Judaism and Christianity placed themselves on the same authoritative level as God."[3]

          Jesus said He hated the Nicolaitanes, who in their pride, put on airs and ruled the people by assuming authority not given to church workers.  Their priests lorded over the people they were supposed to be serving and were apparently using the clothing styles of the Hebrew high priests; to set them above the people.[4] Jesus said "He who would be first, should be a servant".[5]

          "Revelation 2:6, where Jesus told the church of Ephesus, 'But this thou hast [in your favor], that thou hates the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.' Jesus was proud of the church of Ephesus for their 'hatred' of the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which He also 'hated.' The word 'hate' is a strong word, so let's see exactly what it means. It comes from the Greek word miseo, which means to hate, to abhor, or to find utterly repulsive. 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."[6]

          "The Greek word for Nicolaitans (Strong's Concordance Number #G3531) found in Revelation is actually three words combined. As a proper noun, it TRANSFERS, but is not translated, into English. The three Greek words used are Nikos, Laos and Ton. The first Greek part of the English word Nicolaitans is NIKOS. We use the English equivalents instead of the Greek letters, as we shall also of the other two. Nikos is defined as 'a conquest, victory, triumph, the conquered and by implication, those who are dominate over the defeated.' The middle part of the word Nicolaitans, in the Greek is LAOS. This word means people. It also is in NICOLAS, which transfers and composes into 'Nikos-laos.' This means one who is "victorious over the people," the letter "s" being in both words the nominative case ending, which is retained only at the end of the word to denote the case, while "a" short and "o" short are contracted into "a" long. A still further transferred use of LAOS is found in the name LaoSdiceans (Strong's Concordance Number #G2994), compounded with DIKE or DICE. The last part of the word in question is TON. It is contracted into a long "a," thus making the word TAN which is the genitive case plural in all the genders of the definite article 'the.' We therefore have, without the legal Greek construction, the English hyphenated word NIKOS-LAOS-TON, but which, with its lawful contractions, becomes the English translation found in Revelation. In its ecclesiastical setting, Nicolaitans means the bishops and prelates of the Church have gained a triumphal victory or conquest over the LAITON, the laity. Members are compelled and forced to submit to the arbitrary dominion of men who have become that thing which God hates. "[7]

          "Therefore, I urge the congregation leaders among you, as a fellow-leader and witness to the Messiah’s sufferings, as well as a sharer in the glory to be revealed:  shepherd the flock of God that is in your care, exercising oversight not out of constraint, but willingly, as God wants; and not out of a desire for dishonest gain, but with enthusiasm; also not as machers (an overbearing person) domineering over those in your care, but as people who become examples to the flock."[8]

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[1] Wikipedia

[2] http://www.thespiritsnestministries.com/2014/01/the-seven-churches-of-revelation-from.html

[3] http://www.thespiritsnestministries.com/2016/02/the-catholic-religion.html

[4] http://www.thespiritsnestministries.com/2014/10/christian-history-from-early-church.html

[5] Mark 9:35, Matthew 20:26-27

[6]  http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/refuel-with-rick/articles/who-were-the-nicolaitans-and-what-was-their-doctrine-and-deeds--14510.html

[7] http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/why-does-god-hate-practices-of-the-nicolaitans.html

[8] 1 Peter 5:1-3, Complete Jewish Bible