Bible Dictionary
Nicolaitanes
The Nicolaitanes were a group condemned by Christ in Revelation for deeds and doctrines that encouraged spiritual compromise, idolatry, and immoral conduct.
Definition
The Nicolaitanes were a professing Christian group whose deeds and teaching were condemned in the messages to the churches of Asia.
Biblical Usage
The church at Ephesus was commended for hating their deeds, while Pergamum was reproved for tolerating their doctrine. Their teaching was associated with false freedom, idolatrous feasts, and sexual immorality, and probably with the doctrine of Balaam.
Historical Background
The supplied material describes them as a sect or party of evil influence in early Christianity, especially in the churches of Asia.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:6) is commended for hating the “deeds” of the Nicolaitanes, and the church of Pergamos is blamed for having them who hold their “doctrines” (15). They were seemingly a class of professing Christians, who sought to introduce into the church a false freedom or licentiousness, thus abusing Paul’s doctrine of grace (comp. 2 Pet. 2:15, 16, 19), and were probably identical with those who held the doctrine of Baalam (q.v.), Rev. 2:14.