|
At this time the so-called sect of the Nicolaitans made its
appearance and lasted for a very short time. Mention is made of it in
the Apocalypse of John. They boasted that the author of their sect
was Nicolaus, one of the deacons who, with Stephen, were appointed
by the apostles for the purpose of ministering to the poor. Clement of
Alexandria, in the third book of his Stromata, relates the following
things concerning him. "They say that he had a beautiful wife, and
after the ascension of the Saviour, being accused by the apostles of
jealousy, he led her into their midst and gave permission to any one
that wished to marry her. For they say that this was in accord with
that saying of his, that one ought to abuse the flesh. And those that
have followed his heresy, imitating blindly and foolishly that which
was done and said, commit fornication without shame. But I
understand that Nicolaus had to do with no other woman than her to whom
he was married, and that, so far as his children are concerned, his
daughters continued in a state of virginity until old age, and his son
remained uncorrupt. If this is so, when he brought his wife, whom he
jealously loved, into the midst of the apostles, he was evidently
renouncing his passion; and when he used the expression, 'to abuse
the flesh,' he was inculcating self-control in the face of those
pleasures that are eagerly pursued. For I suppose that, in
accordance with the command of the Saviour, he did not wish to serve
two masters, pleasure and the Lord. But they say that Matthias also
taught in the same manner that we ought to fight against and abuse the
flesh, and not give way to it for the sake of pleasure, but strengthen
the soul by faith and knowledge." So much concerning those who then
attempted to pervert the truth, but in less time than it has taken to
tell it became entirely extinct.
|
|