Monday, March 30, 2020

Revelation 2:6; Commentary, Christians Should "Hate" The Deeds of the Nicolaitans

2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

“But this thou hast, that thou hatest …” ～ Here, is a strong word which we do not much like. The lips of the Christian do not easily form the word, nor does it rest pleasantly upon the ear. It is the opposite of love, and contrary to the same. Therefore, it is difficult for the child of Love, who has been taught to love the unlovable, as He did, to grasp the concept that there are such things in the universe that love is to hate; and hate completely.

“Hate” is defined in the Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged, copyright 1986 by Merriam-Webster Inc. 1. to feel extreme enmity toward: regard with active hostility; 2a. to have a strong aversion to: detest, resent (“∼what is evil, hold fast to what is good”Romans 12:9 [RSV]);  b. To find distasteful: dislike; to express or feel extreme enmity or active hostility. syn. detest, loathe, abhor,aAbominate: hate, the antonym of love ...

As the Preacher listed his “A Time For Everything” (Eccl 3:1ff) he is recorded in v8 as saying “A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” He began his list in v1 by saying, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” According to Christ and the Ephesian believers, it was the time and season for hating the Nicolaitans. Just who these Nicolaitans were (or are), we will examine later. Just now we need to establish the validity for a Christian to hate.

Please keep in mind the definition of hate given above, which is an accurate description of the Grk word “miseō” (Strong’s #G3404). Also, before us must be kept the words of the Preacher, “a time to hate.” And we must ask, “Just what would occasion such a time?” First, there is the nature of God to consider. Although the Scriptures teach that God is love (1 John 4:8), to leave it at that would be an incomplete picture of Who and/or What God is. Solomon writes:
These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
                                                  (Prov 6:16-19 NKJV)

When writing the great devotional of the Word of God the Psalmist says: “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” (Ps 119:104.) Through a passionate fidelity to God’s Word, one learns to love what God loves, and to hate what God hates. The disciple is admonished in Psalm 97, verse 10; “Ye who love the LORD, hate evil!”

Therefore, to hate evil and every false way is not optional for the disciple, but is an imperative. Light can not co-exist with darkness, nor truth with a lie. David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14 cf. Acts 13:22) said it this way: 
“Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.”  (Ps 139:21-22; NKJV)

To answer the question asked earlier, concerning a time to hate—Just what would occasion such a time? We would say: When evil stands in opposition to good—hate the evil; when the lie (2 Thess 2:11) stands in opposition to truth—hate the lie. Then, it is time to hate the sin while loving the sinner. Notice that it is the “deeds” of the Nicolaitans that are hated, and not the Nicolaitans themselves: “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

“…the Nicolaitans, …” ～ As to who these Nicolaitans were (and in a very real sense—are) we can offer the following information. The word “nikolaitōn” is a compound word taken from “niko,” which means “to conquer,” and laos, which means “people.” The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible has as a definition, “a nicolaite, i.e. adherent of Nicolaius: - Nicolaitane.” And some postulate the Nicolaitans to be followers of the deacon Nicolas of Acts 6:5. However, this is only conjecture. Given here, in full, are the thoughts of Joseph Henry Thayer on the Nicolaitans: “... a name which, it can scarcely be doubted, refers symbolically to the same persons who in v14 are charged with holding tēn didaxēn Balaam, i.e. after example of Balaam, casting a stumbling block before the church of God (Num xxiv. 1-3) by upholding the liberty of eating things sacrificed unto idols as well as of committing fornication; for the Gk name Nikolaos ... which regards it as signifying destruction of the people.”

The Ephesian church had the Nicolaitan (here); the church at Pergamos had both the Nicolaitans and those who held the doctrine of Balaam—which appears to be the same group (v14), and the church at Thyatira had Jezebel (v20). All seem to be cut from the same bolt of cloth, and all seem to be Nicolaitans. This was an heretical sect, within the Church, that had worked out a system of pagan society that could be practiced by their followers, while continuing to profess Christ.

Apostolically Speaking
☩ Jerry L Hayes
If you are enjoying this commentary you would appreciate owning "The Apocalypse" from which our commentary is excerpted.




The Apocalypse, is the introduction to the biblical book of Revelation. Here Bishop Hayes also gives a verse by verse commentary of the first three chapters of the Apostle John's Revelation of Jesus Christ, covering the letters addressed to the seven churches of Asia Minor. The Bible student will thrill at the Bishop's easy evangelistic style of presenting deep and unique truths never before published. In this study a wealth of information will be shared with the disciples of Christ on each verse of this great manuscript.

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Companion to "The Apocalypse" is "Letters to My Children on Apostolic Kingdom Theology."






After spending over forty years in the dispensational doctrine, and having raise my children in that theological framework, I became a convinced adherent to a "kingdom" theology that recognizes the Church as the Israel of God, and that the first century actually saw the fulfillment of most of Matthew chapter 24. "Letters to My Children on Apostolic Kingdom Theology" is a compilation of twenty four letters written to my children explaining my journey. These "Letters" provide a systematic approach to Apostolic Eschatological study of Scripture. It is sure to interest all students of Scriptures








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