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Very little is known of them.

They were a heretical sect founded by a deacon called Nicolas.

1 Corinthians 11:19 speaks of various false sects springing up among true Christians of the day(Matthew 24:24). The sect of Nic-o-la'-us was apparently one of them(Revelation 2:6,14-16)

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Very little is known of them.

They were a heretical sect founded by a deacon called Nicolas.

1 Corinthians 11:19 speaks of various false sects springing up among true Christians of the day(Matthew 24:24). The sect of Nic-o-la'-us was apparently one of them(Revelation 2:6,14-16)

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The passage in Revelation that discusses Pergamos and Satan has been interpreted thus, but the words "synagogue of Satan" does not appear anywhere in the Bible, and the interpretation that such a place was in Pergamos as a physical structure is ludicrous and simplistic.

The passage used to support the claim is Revelation 2:12-17: (from the KJV)

12And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

13I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

15So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

16Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.


The message is largely metaphorical in reference to Satan.

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Roman Catholic AnswerNo. The priesthood of believers, as St. Peter is talking about, are to make spiritual sacrifices. The "professional" priesthood, if you want to use that term, it should be the ordainedpriesthood is constituted by Jesus Christ to offer the sacrifice of the Cross and so make Its graces available to all. Our Blessed Lord is the One mediator, all other mediators only participate in His priesthood, but to different degrees, and in different manners. So you are talking about two different things. Protestant AnswerYes it definitely does. That is what the Reformation was all about.

1Peter 2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

(Also see [Exod 19:6]; [Prov 9:1]; [Isa 61:6]; [Isa 66:21]; [1Cor 3:9]; [Eph 2:21]; [Eph 2:22]; [1Tim 3:15]; )

A professional priesthood is condemmed by Jesus Christ:-

Rev 2 (v.6) Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Scofield explains that the Nicolaitans were:-

Nicolaitanes

From nikao, "to conquer," and laos, "the people," or "laity." There is no ancient authority for a sect of the Nicolaitanes. If the word is symbolic it refers to the earliest form of the notion of a priestly order, or "clergy," which later divided an equal brotherhood Matthew 23:8 into "priests" and "laity." What in Ephesus was "deeds" Revelation 2:6 had become in Pergamos a "doctrine Revelation 2:15.

e. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate: ... But who are the Nicolaitans and what were their deeds? The doctrine of the Nicolaitans is also condemned in Rev. 2:15, and in that passage is related to immorality and idolatry.

i. Irenaeus (writing in the late second century) described what he knew of the Nicolaitans: "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 plainly pointed out in the Apocalypse of John, as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrifice to idols." (Against Heresies, book 1, chapter 26. From the Ante Nicean Fathers Volume 1, page 352)

ii. Hippolytus, a student of Irenaeus (writing in the early third century) associated the Nicolaitans with the Gnostics: "There are, however, among the Gnostics diversities of opinion . . . But Nicolaus has been a cause of the wide-spread combination of these wicked men. [He] departed from correct doctrine, and was in the habit of inculcating indifferency of both life and food." (Refutation of all Heresies, book 7, chapter 24; ANF volume 5, page 115)

iii. Others have emphasized the root meanings of the words that make up the name Nicolaitans. Nikao-laos means literally "to conquer the people." Based on this, some point to presumptuous claims of apostolic authority and to the heart that sets up hierarchies and separates the "clergy" from the "laity." Perhaps the Nicolaitans fulfilled all these aspects, being both an idolatrous immorality and a presumptuous, hierarchical, "hidden mysteries" system typical of Gnosticism.

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In the King James version

the word - deeds - appears 33 times

  1. Gen 20:9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? And what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
  2. 1 Chr 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
  3. 2 Chr 35:27 And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
  4. Ezr 9:13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
  5. Neh 6:19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
  6. Neh 13:14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.
  7. Psa 28:4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
  8. Psa 105:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
  9. Isa 59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
  10. Jer 5:28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
  11. Jer 25:14 For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.
  12. Luk 11:48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
  13. Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
  14. Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
  15. Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
  16. Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
  17. Joh 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
  18. Act 7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
  19. Act 19:18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
  20. Act 24:2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
  21. Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
  22. Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
  23. Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
  24. Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
  25. 2 Cor 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
  26. Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
  27. 2 Pet 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
  28. 2 Joh 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
  29. 3 Joh 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
  30. Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
  31. Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
  32. Rev 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
  33. Rev 16:11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

and

the word - deed - appears 19 times

and

the word - almsdeeds - appears once

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In the King James version

the word 'doctrine' appears 51 times (twice in No. 46 below)...

# Deu 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: # Job 11:4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. # Pro 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. # Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. # Isa 29:24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. # Jer 10:8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. # Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: # Mat 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. # Mat 22:33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. # Mar 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. # Mar 1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. # Mar 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, # Mar 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. # Mar 12:38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, # Luk 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. # Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. # Joh 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. # Joh 18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. # Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. # Act 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. # Act 13:12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. # Act 17:19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? # Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. # Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. # 1 Cor 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? # 1 Cor 14:26 How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. # Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; # 1 Tim 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, # 1 Tim 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; # 1 Tim 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. # 1 Tim 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. # 1 Tim 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. # 1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. # 1 Tim 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. # 1 Tim 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; # 2 Tim 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, # 2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: # 2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. # 2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; # Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. # Tit 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: # Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, # Tit 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. # Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, # Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. # 2 Joh 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. # 2 Joh 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: # Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. # Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. # Rev 2:24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. The word 'doctrines' appears 5 times...

# Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. # Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. # Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? # 1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; # Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

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