But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Parallel translations
- KJV But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
- BSB But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
- NKJV But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
- NASB But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
- NLT But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Christ commends their hatred of the Nicolaitans' works, which he also hates. It matters because rejecting corrupting teaching aligns the church with Christ's own heart.
Overview
The Nicolaitans appear to have promoted compromise with pagan immorality and idolatry, a teaching Christ detests. The Ephesians shared his opposition to this corruption. The verse shows that hating sin, rightly understood, is part of loving Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Ps 101:3I will set no vile thing before my eyes. I hate the deeds of faithless men. They will not cling to me.
- 2 Jn 1:9–10Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching, the same has both the Father and the Son.
- Ps 26:5I hate the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.
- Rev 2:14–15But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
- 2 Chr 19:2Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate Yahweh? Because of this, wrath is on you from before Yahweh.
- Ps 139:21–22Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 2:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.