Revelation 2:6 means that the church in Ephesus is commended for rejecting the teaching and conduct of a group called the Nicolaitans, and that Christ himself shares that hatred of their works. The verse is spoken by the risen Christ, who dictates a letter to the church in Ephesus through the apostle John, which is recorded in the book of Revelation.
But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Revelation 2:6 (WEB)
What Revelation 2:6 Means
The verse opens with “But this you have,” which sets it apart from the rebuke that comes just before it. Christ has just said the Ephesians have left their first love, so this line is a point of praise in the middle of a correction. The Ephesians have held onto something good even while drifting in other ways.
The phrase “you hate the works of the Nicolaitans” describes a moral stance, not a feeling of personal dislike. “Works” refers to practices and conduct, and the church is praised for refusing to take part in them or accept them. The closing words, “which I also hate,” tie the church’s stance to Christ’s own. The verse teaches that faithfulness includes opposing what God opposes.
The verse does not describe in detail what the Nicolaitans taught or did, and it does not promise any specific reward for this stance by itself. It simply records approval of the Ephesians’ resistance to a corrupting influence.
The Context of Revelation 2:6
The book of Revelation is written as a prophetic letter to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, and tradition identifies the author as the apostle John, who was exiled to the island of Patmos. The letters in chapters 2 and 3 are addressed to churches that were facing pressure from both outside hostility and internal compromise. Ephesus was a major port city with a long Christian history, so its believers would have been familiar with rival teachings.
Just before verse 6, Christ commends the Ephesians for their endurance and their refusal to tolerate false apostles, then rebukes them for losing their first love. Verse 7 closes the paragraph with a promise to the one who overcomes. Read in this setting, verse 6 is a pivot: Christ affirms their discernment in one area while calling them back to deeper devotion in another.
Key Phrases in Revelation 2:6
Psalm 97:10
You who love the LORD, hate evil. He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
(WEB)
This verse connects loving the Lord with hating evil, showing that devotion to God and rejection of wickedness belong together. It helps explain why the Ephesians’ opposition to the Nicolaitans was an expression of their loyalty to Christ.
Romans 12:9
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
(WEB)
Paul urges believers to hold fast to what is good and to abhor what is evil, which parallels the stance praised in Revelation 2:6. The verse shows that this kind of moral clarity should shape everyday love and conduct, not only church controversies.
A Short Prayer From Revelation 2:6
Lord Jesus, you see both our faithfulness and our failures, and you name them with patience and truth. Give us a clear heart that loves what you love and turns away from what dishonors you. Where we have grown comfortable with things we should resist, awaken our conscience and steady our resolve. Help us to stand firm without becoming harsh, and to speak truth with the same grace you have shown us. Amen.
