Revelation 2:6

Nicolaitanes] Mentioned again in the letter to Pergamum, in connexion with Balaam (Revelation 2:14.), and probably referred to in the letter to Thyatira (Revelation 2:20.). It has been supposed, from the mention of Balaam, that they were Antinomians, i.e. men who held that Christians were not bound by the moral law, and that sin was no sin for those who had faith: cp. 1 Corinthians 6:13.; 1 Corinthians 8:9.; 1 Corinthians 10:28; Galatians 5:13; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:14; Judges 1:4; Judges 1:11. It has also been suggested that they may have claimed the authority of the deacon Nicolas (cp. Acts 6:5); but perhaps St. John used the term 'Nicolaitan 'as a Greek word representing the Hebrew 'Balaam.' Ramsay thinks that the 'Nicolaitans' were some who attempted to effect a compromise with the established usages of Grseco-Roman society, permeated with luxury and tainted with idolatry though these were, and that they also wished to comply with the State's demand, and show their loyalty by burning incense before the emperor's statue, St, John saw, as St, Paul did in 1 Cor., that the Church must conquer the imperial idolatry, or be itself destroyed (Ramsay, 'Letters to the Seven Churches,' pp. 299f.). By 115 a.d. Ignatius wrote to the Ephesians, 'in your midst no heresy has its dwelling.'