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 Jesus shares their dislike of those practices. The verse is spoken by the risen Christ, who dictates messages to seven churches in the province of Asia, and this one is addressed to the church at Ephesus. It appears in the opening letter of the book of Revelation, where Christ praises the believers for faithfulness amid pressure.
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 phrase “this you have” introduces a note of praise. Before Christ gives the hard word about the Ephesians having left their first love, he first recognizes what they are doing well. Their resistance to the Nicolaitans is presented as a real strength, something that sets them apart from the surrounding culture and from some other congregations in the region.
The phrase “the works of the Nicolaitans” points to a set of practices that the church is refusing to accept. The text does not spell out every detail of those practices, so readers should be careful not to fill the gap with speculation. What the verse makes plain is that the behavior was morally and spiritually harmful, and that Christ himself opposes it. The verse does not promise that every disagreement will be easy, nor does it tell readers how to identify false teachers in every situation. It describes a single congregation that holds firm, and it praises them for doing so.
The Context of Revelation 2:6
The book of Revelation is written in the form of a prophetic letter, traditionally attributed to the apostle John, who was exiled on the island of Patmos. Its first readers were Christian communities in the Roman province of Asia facing social pressure, economic hardship, and in some cases persecution. The letters to the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3 are addressed to real congregations, and each one combines commendation, correction, and a promise to those who remain faithful.
Just before verse 6, Christ commends the Ephesians for their perseverance and for not growing weary for his name’s sake. Just after it, he rebukes them for having left their first love and calls them to repent. Read in that setting, verse 6 is not a standalone celebration of doctrinal alertness. It is one half of a balanced message: faithfulness to truth is praised, while the warning remains that love and devotion must not be neglected even by a church that is doing many things right.
Key Phrases in Revelation 2:6
Romans 12:9
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
(WEB)
Paul instructs believers to let love be genuine and to hate what is evil while holding fast to what is good. This sits alongside Revelation 2:6 by showing the same two-sided posture: firm rejection of wrong joined to a commitment to goodness and sincere affection.
Revelation 2:4
But I have this against you, that you left your first love.
(WEB)
This verse, which comes just before the focus verse, records Christ’s concern that the Ephesians had left their first love. Reading it beside verse 6 helps readers see that doctrinal faithfulness and personal devotion must grow together rather than compete.
A Short Prayer From Revelation 2:6
Lord, you see the things we do well and the places where we have drifted. Give us clear eyes to recognize what is harmful and a steady heart to refuse it, even when it is popular or convenient to look away. Let our opposition to evil never harden into coldness, and let our love for people stay warm even when we disagree with what they do. Help us hold to truth and to you with equal care. Amen.
