I. Introduction

II. Preliminary questions

1. The dissemination of the Nicolaitans

2. The name 'Nicolaitans'

III. John's charges against the Nicolaitans and their evaluation

1. On religious polemic

2. Eating idol meat

a) Meals and guild membership

b) The role of the Apostolic Decree

c) Persecution as context?

3. Practising immorality

a) The teaching of Balaam in Pergamum

b) The teaching of Jezebel in Thyatira

c) 'Fornication' identical with eating 'idol meat'

d) An analogy from Corinth

e) Were temple meals immoral?

f) Conclusion

4. Exploring the deep things of Satan

a) Who spoke of Satan?

b) Does 'deep things' suggest Gnosticism?

IV. Additional information on the Nicolaitans

1. Church fathers

a) The sect of Nicolaitans

b) Gnostic libertinism

c) Nicolaus of Antioch

2. Ignatius

V. Possible roots of the Nicolaitan position

1. The enthusiasts of Corinth

2. Paul

3. The early congregation in Antioch

4. Nicolaus of Antioch

VI. Wider ideological perspectives

1. John the seer and Paul

2. The clash between two perspectives on culture

3. John, the Nicolaitans, and persecution