Filippo Parodi, 1684 - 94
A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight (Proverbs 11:1).
But whoever fails to find me (widsom) harms himself; all who hate me love death (Proverbs 8:36).
Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord, but those with blameless conduct are His delight (Proverbs 11:20).
Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are His delight (Proverbs 12:22).
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright (Proverbs 3:31 - 32).
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you (Proverbs 9:8).
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who pursues righteousness (Proverbs 15:8 - 9).
Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, but pleasant words are pure (Proverbs 15:26).
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil. Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished (Proverbs 16:4 - 5).
It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, for a throne is established on righteousness (Proverbs 16:12).
All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone (Proverbs 19:7).
Beware the flatterer:
He feeds you with
an empty spoon.
(Cosino De Gregrio)
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 17:15).
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them are abominable to the Lord (Proverbs 20:10).
The righteous wisely considers the house of the wicked, but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness (Proverbs 21:12).
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to God; how much more when he brings it with a wicked mind? (Proverbs 21:27).
Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord, and a false scale is not good (Proverbs 20:23).
The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead (Proverbs 21:16).
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it (Proverbs 22:14).
He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
Whoever causes the righteous man to go astray in an evil way, he himself shall fall into his own pit, but the upright shall inherit good (Proverbs 28:9 - 10).|Whoever walks uprightly shall be saved, but he who is perverse in his ways shall fall at once (Proverbs 28:18).
An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked (Proverbs 29:27).
Murderers hate an honest person and try to kill those who do right (Proverbs 29:10).
Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor's house, or he will become weary of you and hate you (Proverbs 25:17).
(Proverbs 6:16-19)
Neither the word clergy nor the word laity appears in the Bible. These are terms that are commonly used today to refer to “the person in the pulpit” versus “the people in the pews.” While believers have different callings and gifts (Romans 12:6), they are all servants of the Lord (Romans 14:4).
Paul considered himself a “brother” and “fellow servant” with Tychicus (Colossians 4:7). The same was true for Paul and Epaphras (Colossians 1:7). Epaphroditus was Paul’s “brother, co-worker and fellow soldier” (Philippians 2:25). Paul and Timothy called themselves the “servants” of the Corinthian church (2 Corinthians 4:5). Peter viewed Silas as his “faithful brother” (1 Peter 5:12). The apostles never talked in terms of “us” and “them” in the context of serving Christ. They considered themselves to be fellow laborers with all believers in the church.
The distinction between “professional ministry” and “lay ministry” arose when churches stopped identifying leaders out of their own congregations and began “calling” them from other places. During at least the first century of the church’s history, most churches recognized God’s hand on their own members, qualifying and calling them into leadership roles. Almost every New Testament reference to local church leadership, whether “pastor,” “elder,” or “overseer,” reveals this to be so. For one example, compare 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and 5:17–20 with Acts 20:17–38. Titus 1:5–9 is another example.
Gradually, things changed until, in some parts of the Christian world, the “professional,” full-time ministers began to be identified as representing “The Church,” while the “non-professionals” were seen as adherents or attenders instead of as fellow servants of Jesus Christ. Out of this mindset grew the hierarchical system in which the distance between clergy and laity increased.
Bible passages such as 1 Corinthians 12 through 14, much of Ephesians, and Romans 12 ought to be kept in mind. All of these passages emphasize the real brotherhood of all believers in Jesus Christ and the humility that all need to demonstrate as we exercise our spiritual gifts and offices to bless each other. (GotAnswers.org)
The English word "Nicolaitans" is recorded only twice in the King James Bible translation, with both occurrences linked to the seven churches of Revelation. The first time it appears is in God's spiritual assessment of the Ephesian church. After correcting the church He commends them for hating the works of the Nicolaitans just like he does.
Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; for if you do not, I will come to you quickly; and I will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent. But this you have: that you hate the works of the Nicolaitanes (Nicolaitans), which I also hate (Revelation 2:5 - 6, HBFV).
The second mention of the Nicolaitans is found in the Lord's stern correction of the Pergamos church. He commands the church to reject and repent of the doctrine taught by these people.
But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. Moreover, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes (Nicolaitans), which thing I hate (Revelation 2:14, HBFV).
The King James English word "Nicolaitans" comes from the Greek Nikolaites (Strong's Concordance #G3531). The Niko part of the word means a conquest, victory or destruction over others. The second part, lai, means "people." The last part, tes, represents the word "the." Putting this all together we have a word that means "the destruction of people" or "victory over the people." Strong's Concordance refers to these people who gain the victory or rule over others as the adherents of Nicolas.
Early Christian writers Irenaeus [Against Heresies, 1.26.3] and Tertullian [Prescription against Heretics, 46] also stated that the Nicolaitans were followers of Nicolas. The Nicolas in question, they believed, was one of the first seven specially chosen servants of the New Testament church (commonly referred to as deacons).
Therefore, brethren, search out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business . . .
And this declaration was pleasing to all the multitude; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit; and Philip; and Prochorus; and Nicanor; and Timon; and Parmenas; and Nicolas, who was a proselyte of Antioch (Acts 6:3, 5, HBFV).
Although Nicolas was chosen to serve due to his character and wisdom, he later apparently began to promote false teachings.
What did the Nicolaitans teach? And how did they behave such that it garnered God's correction and the threat of punishment to those who followed their evil ways?
"Like Simon Magus, whom the early apostles also confronted, the Nicolaitans introduced the concept of using the name of Jesus for commercial gain, dominance and control. After all, the concept had worked quite well in the pagan temples of the vast gentile world, generating wealth and revenue for many societies" (Nicholas and Xmas by C. Franklin).
In a church setting, these people attempted to set themselves up to rule over the lives and faith of other church members. They tried to force others to submit to their arbitrary position of authority that God never gave them and which he hates! The Apostle Peter warned that leaders among the church were not to dominate over the faith of others but rather exhort them to do right.
The elders who are among you I exhort, even as a fellow elder . . . Feed the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion, but willingly; not in fondness of dishonest gain, but with an eager attitude; Not as exercising lordship over your possessions; but by being examples to the flock of God (1Peter 5:1 - 3).
The hierarchical teachings of the Nicolaitans openly reared its head during the Catholic Church's Council of Trent that was held between 1545 and 1563. During the council they stated, "If anyone shall say that there is not in the Catholic Church a hierarchy established by the divine ordination, consisting of bishops, presbyters and ministers, let him be anathema (a person who is to be detested and excommunicated)."
The entire top-down church administrative structure of the Catholics, as well as many other churches, owes its survival to maintaining what the Nicolaitans taught. Many "Christian" groups and denominations promote the belief in a strict church hierarchy where control over the people must be maintained and respected. The system they promote feeds on competition and strife among believers in order to take advantage of them at any time.
The Lord not only demands repentance from those who believe the doctrine of the Nicolaitans but also threatens severe punishment if they do not. God warns those who practice such lies, "Remember therefore from where you have fallen . . . or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place" (Revelation 2:5). May the warning be heeded!
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Location of Revelation's Seven Churches!
What Are the Signs of a Sick Church?
What Are the Hidden Numbers of Revelation?
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Location of New Testament Churches
Where Did Roman Empire Murder Christians?
Where Is the True Church of God?
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