In the letters to the churches, Jesus Christ mentions the Nicolaitans, whose deeds and doctrine He hates.  Speaking to the church in Ephesus He says,

Rev 2:6  But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

And speaking to the church in Pergamum He says,

Rev 2:15  Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Who are these Nicolaitans, and more to the point, what deeds and doctrine do they have which Jesus Christ hates?

There aren’t any other verses in the Bible that mention the Nicolaitans so we have to rely on the meaning of the word.  The word Nicolaitans is translated from the Greek Nikolaites, which comes from Nikolaos, which in turn comes from the Greek nikos which means “victory, to conquer” and laos which means “people”.

Thus one meaning of the word Nicolaitans is “the people conquer”.  Another possible meaning is “conquerors of the people”.  Could the doctrine of the Nicolaitans be a teaching regarding church government and could its deeds be the practice of it?  Let’s consider the two possible meanings and how that relates to other Scriptures in the Bible.

The People Conquer

There are some churches which elect their leaders, or select their pastor from a pool of available pastors.  This could be considered as “the people conquer”.  Does “the people conquer” mean that the people choose their leaders?  There is an example of this in Acts 6.

Act 6:1  Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
Act 6:2  Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
Act 6:3  Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
Act 6:4  but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Act 6:5  And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
Act 6:6  whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
Act 6:7  Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Of particular note are the following.

• The twelve apostles issued the instruction.
• The brethren selected the men.
• The men were selected to serve – not rule.
• The twelve apostles formally appointed the selected men.

If this is what is meant by the “people conquer” then the Bible does not speak against it but rather for it.

Perhaps another example of the “people conquer” is Korah’s rebellion (Numbers 16).  Yet it was a rebellion that failed.  Korah and his accomplices rebelled against Moses, but God intervened by destroying them.  So, it is more an example of “the people failed to conquer” than “the people conquer”.

Overall, taking Nicolaitans to mean “the people conquer” does not convincingly fit with other Scriptures.  Let’s now consider the other possible meaning.

Conquerors of the People

Some churches teach that the government structure in the church should be a top-down hierarchy (with different levels of ministers each subordinate to the one above) in which the minister’s role is more policing rather than shepherding.  This type of government can lead ministers to “lord it over” the brethren.  Thus this could be considered as “conquerors of the people”.

Jesus spoke against this very clearly when He responded to the mother of James and John asking Him if her two sons could sit either side of Him in His kingdom.  Jesus said the following.

Mat 20:25  But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.
Mat 20:26  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
Mat 20:27  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—
Mat 20:28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

The rulers of the Gentiles (outside the church) “lord it over” others.  Jesus taught that this is not to be so in His church, instead, the rulers or leaders in His church are to serve others rather than being served by them.  Adding to this, a few chapters later Jesus gave a very stern warning against church leaders abusing those in their care.

Mat 24:45  “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
Mat 24:47  Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
Mat 24:48  But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’
Mat 24:49  and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
Mat 24:50  the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51  and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The apostle Paul stated that the ministry does not have dominion over the brethren.

2Co 1:24  Not that we have dominion [kurieuo] over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

The Greek word translated dominion is kurieuo which means “be lord of, exercise lordship over”, or in other words “lord it over”.  (Kurieuo comes from kurios meaning lord.)

The apostle Peter also taught clearly that the elders (rulers) in the church are to be like shepherds – not overlords.

1Pe 5:1  The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
1Pe 5:2  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
1Pe 5:3  nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Overall, taking Nicolaitans to mean “conquerors of the people” has substantial support from other Scriptures.

Conclusion

Jesus Christ says He hates the doctrine and deeds of the Nicolaitans.  Based on the meaning of the word Nicolaitans and various Scriptures, it seems most likely that Nicolaitans are those who teach and practice a form of church government which lords it over the brethren rather than shepherding the brethren.