Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, November 21st, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
Bible Encyclopedias
Nicolaus; Nicolas
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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nik - ṓ - lā´us (English Versions of the Bible), nik´ṓ - las ( Νικόλαος , Nikólaos ): One of "the seven" chosen to have the oversight of "the daily ministration" to the poor of the church in Jerusalem ( Acts 6:5 ). He is called "a proselyte of Antioch"; the other 6 were therefore probably Jews by birth. This is the first recorded case of the admission of a proselyte into office in the Christian church. Some of the church Fathers (Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Pseudo-Tertullian) state that he was the founder of the sect called NICOLAITANS (which see) (Revelation 2:15 ). Other Fathers seem to suggest that this was a vain claim made by this sect in seeking apostolic authority for their opinions. It may be that the opinions of this sect were an antinomian exaggeration of the preaching of Nicolaus.
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Nicolaus; Nicolas'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/n/nicolaus-nicolas.html. 1915.
