What was the philosophy of nicolaites?

Question

In the Apocalypse book, God says to John that he hates what the Nicolaites do. I wonder what they did. According to my sources they were related to the christian mystery and tried to explain natural sciences.

Answer 1

According to church history, the nicolaitans were a group who (by virtue of the name "Niko" meaning conquer, and "laity' meaning people) wanted to interpret the beliefs of the holy texts for themselves and not allow the people access to them.

Answer 2

It is quite simple really. But because we have become so far removed from the original you have to study to figure it out. God HATES the mixing of HIS WORD with ANYTHING. That is what is HIS definition of evil, beginning in Genesis ...with the names of the two trees in the garden. One is pure, and the other is a mixture. This is what Jesus was referencing in the New Testament when He said that He wished that we were hot or cold, but because we were lukewarm (a mixture)He would vomit us out. I guess in today's language He was saying either you are in or out...not a lot of middle ground. The Nikolaites were Greek converts to the new religion and like most, even today, just didn't want to let go of there pagan traditions so they just incorporated them into the new religion, but in doing so became "lukewarm." It was the Roman Emperor Constantine that succeeded at this as the story goes that he was a Sun God worshiper to his death, but got a vision one sunrise while in prayer that he could conquer the world under the sign of the cross. So, he declared this very same mixture religion the mandated religion of the realm, under penalty of death btw.. The early church history of the Catholic church was corrupt and in the dark ages they sold forgiveness of sin of a monetary sum. Martin Luther wrote his 99 thesis because of this and thus began another religion...Luthernism...all other modern christian religions come from here and have continued the mixture as well.

Answer 3

I don't think any reputable biblical scholar claims to know for certain. Many biblical scholars suggest that it *may* have been a sect of gnostics. Both Christian and Jewish Gnostics were prevalent at this time, and one Gnostic bishop was nearly elected pope (which should give you an idea of how widespread and well-accepted gnosticism had become in early Christianity).