[OBW]

I think that the popular (in this forum and in the LC) interpretation of Nicolaitans as just being about the sum of two greek words (some kind of strength overpowering everyone else) is too simplistic. There are other explanations for errors unrelated to the name that likely date back far enough to possibly have some hint at what was behind it.

And since no one is without some kind of hierarchy in the church, no matter how slight, then simply saying it is about hierarchies seems excessively simplistic. If the word ultimately translated as elder and even bishop means (in more descriptive terms) "overseer," then there is an aspect of hierarchy that does not have to include "lording it over." How do I say that? Because an overseer is someone who bears a responsibility to direct the church. And Paul suggested they should be "apt to teach." So they are often part of the source of teaching for the flock/assembly. This can all be done without lording it over. So just saying that there is "clergy" and "laity" is not, by itself, something evil.

Maybe this particular error (or class of error) was left vague because in a system (the church) that was supposed to have some amount of inner speaking from the Lord and Spirit, things should "bother" you when they are going wrong. Some should actually speak up and say "but Bro. Lee, this is not right." Of course, despite Lee making statements just like that at the time that he ousted Max, there was never a time when anyone would be allowed to actually make such a statement to him.

And maybe the general spiritual mayhem that Lee put on the LCs should have stood out as a modern form of Nicolatianism. Not saying there is some evidence that this is true. But shrinking it down to something as singular as "clergy-laity" while hiding it behind a curtain of a name (that had other historical significance) seems no more certain.