The Doctrine Jesus Hates: Who are the Nicolaitans?

Good morning, everyone! I want to share some thoughts from Revelation, where Jesus gives two really stark warnings to believers about something called the "doctrine of the Nicolaitans." It’s quite a serious matter to him.

The Warnings in Revelation

First, in His message to the church in Ephesus, Jesus actually commends them for something specific. He says, "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate" Revelation 2:6. That's an interesting concept, isn't it? We can be commended for hating evil things. If our character is truly built on God's Word and His message, then we will naturally hate what God hates and what Jesus hates.

But then, this message pops up again for the church in Pergamos, and this time, it's the opposite situation. In Revelation 2:15, Jesus says, "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate." Again, He declares His hatred for this doctrine, but this church actually has members who believe it! Because of this, Jesus issues a very strong condemnation in Revelation 2:16: "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." This clearly shows just how serious this doctrine of the Nicolaitans is.

So, think about it: we'll be commended if we hate it, but Jesus Himself will fight against us if we hold to such a doctrine. And if we, as a church group, tolerate those who adhere to it, we'll face his reprimand.

Who Are the Nicolaitans?

This leads us to the big question: Who were the Nicolaitans, and what exactly was their doctrine? The name "Nicolaitans" simply means "followers of Nicholas." And there's a Nicholas mentioned in the book of Acts.

In Acts 6:3, the apostles are looking for seven brothers of good reputation from the multitude to help coordinate food distribution for widows. They say, "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." Just two verses later, in Acts 6:5, it says, "And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas."

Interestingly, the criteria the apostles set out in Acts 6:3 — good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom — only Stephen is specifically noted as having all of that. But it's Nicholas who gets an extra detail. Acts 6:5 mentions him as "Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch." So, remember those two things: he's a proselyte and he's from Antioch.

These seven men were then presented to the apostles, prayers were offered, and hands were laid on them, so they received gifts of the Holy Spirit Acts 6:6.

The Significance of a Proselyte

Now, the word "proselyte" only appears four times in all of Scripture, and it's quite significant that Nicholas is specifically called one. A proselyte is a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith—someone who embraces the Law of Moses and all that comes with it. Jesus wasn't always positive about the proselytes the Pharisees were making. In Matthew 23:15, He says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."

This is a scathing rebuke of that process, and presumably, this is Nicholas's background: a Gentile converted to Judaism, likely by the scribes or Pharisees. It's almost as if Jesus's words in Matthew 23 could be a prophetic foreshadowing for Nicholas himself – a proselyte who possibly becomes "twice as much a son of hell."

We also see proselytes mentioned in Acts 2:10, where people from all over the world, including "Jews and proselytes," hear the gospel in their own languages and are converted to believe in Jesus.

Antioch and the Stirring of Trouble

Moving on, we find ourselves in Antioch in Acts 13:43, which, if you recall, is Nicholas's hometown. "Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas." This is the last time "proselytes" is used in Scripture, and it strongly links back to our study of Nicholas - because both the clues surrounding him (proselyte and Antioch) converge here.

However, these Jews and proselytes didn't stay interested for long. Just two verses later, in Acts 13:45, it says, "But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy and, contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul." Because of this opposition, Paul and Barnabas boldly declared, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles" Acts 13:46.

This passage marks a significant turning point where persecution really begins to stir. In Acts 13:50, "the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region." In response, Paul and Barnabas do something Jesus had specifically instructed His disciples to do when rejected: they "shook off the dust from their feet against them" Acts 13:51. Jesus mandated this in Matthew 10:14, Mark 6:11, and Luke 9:5.

Taking Mark 6:11 as an example, He says, "Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city." There are echoes here of that earlier saying in Matthew about making someone "twice as much a son of hell." It suggests a fate worse than Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Doctrine of the Law

So, what was this doctrine that brought such persecution and eventually earned Jesus's hatred in Revelation? The particular doctrine that came into being at Antioch after Paul's preaching became a massive stumbling block. The persecution was immense; in the very next chapter, Acts 14:19, Jews from Antioch actually stone Paul and leave him for dead!

Could the doctrine of the Nicolaitans be that men ought to keep the Law of Moses in addition to believing in Jesus Christ? This seems very plausible, especially considering its ties to Antioch. After the Jerusalem conference, a letter was specifically sent to Antioch to reassure Gentile converts that they did not need to keep the Law or be circumcised. Acts 15:22 states, "Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas." In Acts 15:24, the letter's content says, "Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the law'—to whom we gave no such commandment."

It was Antioch that needed reassurance, because brethren from Jerusalem went out and taught that they had to be circumcised and keep the Law. Was Nicholas, with his strong connection to Antioch, a leading figure in promoting this very idea? Was this the dreaded "doctrine of the Nicolaitans"?

This is just a possibility to consider, and I'm sure there are other theories and much more study needed. But the main conclusion for us, dear friend, is this: if someone, even from within our own faith, preaches a different gospel—one that deviates from the simple, pure gospel of salvation by faith alone, not by works—then we must reject those doctrines. We need to go back to the simplicity of the gospel that truly saves us.

By the time this particular doctrine, whatever its full scope, had matured, it was utterly hated by our Lord Jesus Christ. And those who hated it along with Him were commended. And we, too, will be commended if we stand firm in the pure gospel. Amen.