Page "Clerical celibacy" Paragraph 40

According to Epiphanius of Salamis, also of the 4th century, Nicholas, one of the Seven Deacons of, noticed others being admired for their celibacy.

To avoid seeming immoderately devoted to his beautiful wife and therefore inferior in his ministry, he renounced conjugal intercourse forever.

While he was able to remain continent for a while, eventually his burning desire overpowered him.

However, he did not want to be regarded as inconsistent or seen as taking his oath lightly.

Instead of returning to his wife, he engaged in promiscuous sex and what Epiphanius termed " sex practices against nature ".

In this way, he started Nicolaism, an antinomian heresy which believed that as long as they abstained from marriage, it was not a sin to exercise their sexual desires as they pleased.

Revelation 2: 6 and 15 expresses hatred for the " works of the Nicolaitans ".