Kościół pierwotny wobec nikolaitów

Abstract

In biblical and patristic texts Nicolaitans appear as a Judeo-Christian Gnostic sect that had a doctrinal and ethical character and propagated an unreserved freedom of morals and joining the current of moral liberalism, which condemned the God of the Old Testament. The sect was formed in the second half of the 1st century. According to Eusebius of Caesarea “it existed for a short period of time” (HE III 29, 1). Its name derives from the name of Nicolas (Nικόλαος), which in turn is the Greek equivalent of the name Balaam. It should be assumed that a certain Nicolas, unknown today, who was identified by the heretics, or later by researchers studying heresies, with the proselyte, Nicolas of Antioch - one of the seven deacons mentioned in the Acts (6, 5), was the founder of the sect. The Nicolaites sect was already known in the East at the end of the 1st century. This is proven by John the Apostle’s two statements in the Revelation (2, 6. 15). However, the information about the Nicolaites given by the Revelation (2, 6. 14-15. 20) does not allow a more precise identification of the sect or indicating its origin. Although there are no proofs that allow recognizing Deacon Nicolas as the founder of the sect (Acts 6, 5), the patristic tradition is not unanimous in this issue: Irenaeus of Lyon (Adversus haereses I 26, 3; III 11, 1), Hippolytus of Rome (Refutatio omnium haeresium VII 36) and Epiphanius of Salamis (Panarion 25) repeat the data from the Revelation and claim that Deacon Nicolas was the founder of the Nicolaites. Clement of Alexandria (Stromateis II 118, 3 III 25, 6; 26, 1), Eusebius of Caesarea (HE III 29, 1) and Theodoret of Cyrrhus (Haereticarum fabularum compendium III 1) reject identification of the founder of the sect with Deacon Nicolaus of the Acts.