Nicolas
“Conqueror of the people”
Summary
Nicolas was a proselyte from Antioch who was one of the seven men chosen to serve the Greek-speaking widows in the early Jerusalem church.
☩One of the Seven
Nicolas was a native of Antioch who had converted to Judaism as a proselyte before becoming a Christian. He was chosen with Stephen and five others to oversee the daily distribution to the Hellenist widows in Jerusalem. The fact that he was the only one of the seven explicitly called a proselyte marks a step toward the extension of the church to the Gentiles—a convert from paganism now holding office in the Christian church. Nicolas comes last in the list of the seven, perhaps indicating he was the least prominent among them.
☩The Nicolaitans Question
A sect called the Nicolaitans is mentioned in Revelation as practicing immoral doctrines condemned by Christ. Whether Nicolas the deacon was connected with them has been debated since early times. Irenaeus records that the Nicolaitans claimed him as their founder. However, Clement of Alexandria preserves a tradition that Nicolas lived a pure life and that the sect perverted his teaching. Theodoret charged the Nicolaitans with false dealing in borrowing the deacon's name. There is no reason except similarity of name for identifying Nicolas with this condemned sect, and most traditions of value reject the connection.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Nicolas," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Nicolas," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).