Nicolaitans were disciples of the deacon Nicolaus, and while not much is known of them from Scripture, the writings of the early church fathers mention them. They were said to lead lives of unrestrained indulgence …
“Irenaeus (Adv. Hoeres. i. 26) says that their characteristic tenets were the lawfulness of promiscuous intercourse with women, and of eating things offered to idols. Eusebius (Hist. Eccl. iii. 29) states substantially the same thing … Tertullian speaks of the Nicolaitanes as a branch of the Gnostic family, and as, in his time, extinct.”
Albert Barnes, Notes on … Revelation, p. 67.
“The Nicolaitans are mentioned as a licentious sect in the Rev 2:6, 2:15. They claimed as their founder Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch and one of the seven deacons of the congregation of Jerusalem (Act 6:5). … But the views of the fathers are conflicting. Irenaeus (who is followed substantially by Hippolytus) gives a very unfavorable account. ‘The Nicolaitanes,’ he says, ‘are the followers of that Nicolaus who was one of the seven first ordained to the diaconate by the apostles. They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence. The character of these men is very plainly pointed out in the Apocalypse of John, where they are represented as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. Wherefore the Word has also spoken of them thus: “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.”’ Clement of Alexandria says that Nicolaus was a faithful husband, and brought up his children in purity, but that his disciples misunderstood his saying (which he attributes also to the Apostle Matthias), ‘that we must fight against the flesh and abuse it.’”
Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2, p. 416.
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