Nicolaitanes

[Philip]

As far as I know there is nothing in history that proves that Nicholas (Acts 6:5) was the first of the Nicolaitans. Please provide documentation from the early church fathers, mentioned earlier in this forum, that I can look up for myself.

St Irenaeus of Lyons
The Nicolaitanes are the followers of that Nicolas 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, [when they are represented] as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practise 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."​

I would also like to know when these church fathers wrote about the Nicolaitans and why they wrote what they did along with any historical backing.

c. AD 180 is the earliest surviving record.

From what I picked up from reading the forum was that a few centuries after the early church, the church fathers came up with a theory of who the Nicolaitans were.

Irenaeus was relating what he had been taught by St Polycarp of Smyrna. Polycarp was an eye-witness to the events.

Please prove that this is not a mere theory. Although there may be some historical Nicolaitans, it is true that this word is composed of two Greek words that essentially say "conqueror of the common people." If you do not beleive this just read from a Greek New Testament or look it up in a concordanence.

Actually, it can mean that. It can also mean "People of Victory". Don't believe me? Pick up any baby-name book.

Now, let's turn the question around. What is the earliest record you know off claiming that Nicolaitans refers to some clergy-laity separation? Do you have any evidence that this history and not just some theory?

 

[NoLaity]

There is no reason to persist in the claim that Nicolatians has anything to do with the clergy-laity divide.
The claim that it does ignores the equally potentual renderdings of the term and ignores the compentary sources of the time that elaborate on who they were.

There are plenty of compelling arguments that can be given to demolish the clergy-laity divide so that is so common place in nearly all churches around the globe.

Instead of trying to hold up the dead horse that is the Nicolatian argument, lets move onto the more profitable ones.

 

[TasManOfGod]

Welcome NoLaity
Quite a coincidence that you just happened to arrive in this room for your first post eh?

blessing
Tas