Bauckham offers this neat explanation of the Nicolaitans of Revelation 2: “The name of the Nicolaitans, followers of Nicolaus, which means ‘conquer the people,’ alludes to Revelation’s keyword ‘conquer’ ( nikao ). Their teaching made it possible for Christians to be successful in pagan society, but this was the beast’s success, a real conquest of the saints, winning them to his side, rather than the only apparent conquest he achieved by putting them to death. Hence the name Nicolaus is aptly explained by that of Balaam (2:14) . . . . Jewish exegesis explaine dthe name Balaam as meaning ‘destroy the people.’”
Nicolaitans thus claim to be showing a way of victory, but in fact point to a way of destruction. Their followers don’t conquer, but are consumed.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Ethics of Rhetoric in Times of War
What we say matters. And the way we say it matters. This is especially true in times…
How the State Failed Noelia Castillo
On March 26, Noelia Castillo, a twenty-five-year-old Spanish woman, was killed by her doctors at her own…
The Mind’s Profane and Sacred Loves
The teachers you have make all the difference in your life. That they happened to come into…
