Revelation 2:15
in Revelation 2In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.
KJV
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
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This verse in Revelation 2
Commentary
9 notes on this verseHolding the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. The Nicolaitans are named after Nicholas the deacon, who, as Clement reports, was reprimanded for the zeal of a very beautiful wife and responded that anyone who wished could take her as his wife. Because of this, unbelievers taught …
This site's exposition
the doctrine of Balaam
on Revelation 2:14-15
A few things stand against Pergamos: some there hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, the Numbers 22 to 25 episode where the prophet who could not curse Israel directly taught Balak to seduce it into idolatry and fornication instead, a strategy of compromise rather than open assault. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans links the two errors as one family, a party inside the church urging accommodation to the surrounding idol-feasts and sexual license that Balaam once engineered from outside it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
For you have some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. So you also have some who hold the teaching …
A commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
proposed
The third order of the saints shows that they are men who are strong in faith, and who are not afraid of persecution; but because even among them there are some who are inclined to unlawful associations, He says:- "Thou hast there some who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught in the case of Balak that he should put a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat and to commit fornication. So also hast thou them who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes; but I will fight with them with the sword of my mouth." That is, I will say what I shall command, and I will tell you what you shall do. For Balaam, with his doctrine, taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the eyes of the children of Israel, to eat what was sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication,-a thing which is known to have happened of old. For he gave this advice to the king of the Moabites, and they caused stumbling to the people. Thus, says He, ye have among you those who hold such doctrine; and under the pretext of mercy, you would corrupt others.
The Medieval Church1 voice
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites. Enough has already been said concerning the deeds of the Nicolaites. When he says not "thou hast there" but so hast thou also, he shows that the speech is turning from one species …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,.... These impure heretics sprung up in the time of the apostolic church, but their doctrines were not received, and their deeds were hated, see Rev 2:
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
So hast thou also them ... - That is, there are those among you who hold those doctrines. The meaning here may be, either that, in addition to those who held the doctrine of Balaam, they had also another class who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes; or that the Nicolaitanes held the same doctrine, and taught the same thing as Balaam.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Nicolaitanes, with this important difference, Ephesus, as a Church, hates them and casts them out, but thou "hast them," namely, in the Church. doctrine--teaching (see on Re 2:6): namely, to tempt God's people to idolatry. which thing I hate--It is sin not to hate what God hates.
The doctrine of the Nicolaitanes - See on Rev 2:6 (note).
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὕτως | houtos | So | G3779 → | 208 times |
| ἔχεις | echeis | have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| σὺ | su | you yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| κρατοῦντας | kratountas | [some] holding | G2902 → | 47 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διδαχὴν | didachen | teaching | G1322 → | 30 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Νικολαϊτῶν | nikolaiton | Nicolaitans | G3531 → | |
| ὁμοίως. | homoios | likewise. | G3668 → |
οὕτωςSo
houtosG3779 →208 times
ἔχειςhave
echeisG2192 →707 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
σὺyou yourself
suG4771 →2973 times
κρατοῦντας[some] holding
kratountasG2902 →47 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
διδαχὴνteaching
didachenG1322 →30 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ΝικολαϊτῶνNicolaitans
nikolaitonG3531 →
ὁμοίως.likewise.
homoiosG3668 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 2:6But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
it leads to
- Psalms 101:3
I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
- Psalms 26:5
I hate the mob of evildoers, and refuse to sit with the wicked.
- 2 John 1:9–10
Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.
- Revelation 2:14–15
But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food…
- 2 Chronicles 19:2
Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of…
- Psalms 101:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Revelation
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.