What is the doctrine of the nicolaitains and how does it impact the church today? I learned it meant the separation of the rulers of the church and ordinary believer. If this is the case, then many modern churches are churches in name only and have died. Hmmmm what to do?
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Nicolaitains
- Thread starter samcarternx
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Been a while since I studied that but I seem to recall that one camp said it was the clergy lording it over the laity and another view was the exact opposite saying the laity controlled the clergy. Of course we see both things happening in the church. And forgive me for using those terms, clergy and laity, I do not care for them but they do seem appropriate for this topic.
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revanneosl
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Nobody knows what the Nicolatians believed. It's one of the great mysteries of the Early Church. I'm intrigued that the two of you have each heard that their heresy involved organizational structure in some way, since that is none of the theories espoused by any of the early writers.
Irenaeus thought they were morally self-indulgent.
Victorinus said they ate the food of idols.
The Venerable Bede and Thomas Aquinas thought they were polygamists.
Can you tell me the source of your information that they had messed up church organizational structure in some way? I'm really curious as to how these ideas spread.Victorinus said they ate the food of idols.
The Venerable Bede and Thomas Aquinas thought they were polygamists.
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I will consult with a greek linguist and get back to you, but nico=royal and laitain=ordinary people and where that schism existed was already wrong.
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that is a great failing in the churches that have organized a cadre of officials as opposed to the relationships that are familial. It was why Paul was not intimidated by the "pillars". Everyone in His body started off His enemy and everyone had to come to Him asking for mercy. He father to us all and if any has been give more, then more is expected from him.
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Might have been Chuck Missler but the reasoning both times followed what samcarternx posted.
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Knee V
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The Nicolaitans get their name from someone named Nicolas(quite possibly one of the first deacons), whose name means "conqueror of/for the people". It does not refer to a group that believes in "rising up above the laity", and thus does not refer to "ordained clergy".
The one thing that we absolutely know about the Nicolaitans is that they indulged in sexual immorality.
The one thing that we absolutely know about the Nicolaitans is that they indulged in sexual immorality.
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