Revelation 2:6

6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Revelation 2:6 in Other Translations

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

6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.

6 "You do have this to your credit: You hate the Nicolaitan business. I hate it, too.

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

6 But you have this in your favor--you hate what the Nicolaitans are doing. I also hate what they're doing.

6 Yet you do have this: you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

6 'But you do have this in your favor. You hate the way the Nicolaitans act. I hate it too.

Revelation 2:6 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 2:6

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the
Nicolaitans
Though these Christians had left their first love, yet they bore an hatred to the filthy and impure practices of some men, who were called "Nicolaitans"; who committed fornication, adultery, and all uncleanness, and had their wives in common, and also ate things offered to idols; who were so called, as some think {c}, from Nicolas of Antioch, one of the seven deacons in ( Acts 6:5 ) ; though as to Nicolas himself, it is said ^F4, that he lived with his own lawful married wife, and no other, and that his daughters continued virgins all their days, and his son incorrupt; and that these men, so called, only shrouded themselves under his name, and abused a saying or action of his, or both, to patronize their wicked deeds: he had used to advise (paracrhsyai th sarki) , by which he meant a restraining of all carnal and unlawful lusts; but these men interpreted it of an indulgence in them, and so gave themselves up to all uncleanness; and whereas, he having a beautiful wife, and being charged with jealousy, in order to clear himself of it, he brought her forth, and gave free liberty to any person to marry her as would; which indiscreet action of his these men chose to understand as allowing of community of wives. Dr. Lightfoot conjectures, that these Nicolaitans were not called so from any man, but from the word (hlykn) , "Nicolah", "let us eat", which they often used to encourage each other to eat things offered to idols. However this be, it is certain that there were such a set of men, whose deeds were hateful; but neither their principles nor their practices obtained much in this period of time, though they afterwards did; see ( Revelation 2:15 ) . Professors of the Christian religion in general abhorred such impure notions and deeds, as they were by Christ:

which also I hate;
all sin is hateful to Christ, being contrary to his nature, to his will, and to his Gospel; and whatever is hateful to him should be to his people; and where grace is, sin will be hateful, both in themselves and others; and men's deeds may be hated when their persons are not; and hatred of sin is taken notice of by Christ, with a commendation.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Vid. Irenaeum adv. Haeres, l. 1. c. 27. & Tertull. de Praescript. Haeret. c. 46, 47.
F4 Clement. Alex. Strom. l. 3. p. 436. & Euseb, Hist. Eccl. l. 2. c. 29.

Revelation 2:6 In-Context

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.

5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

Cross References

• 1. ver 15