Editing Nicolaism (section)

=== Polygamy ===
[[Bede]] states that Nicolas allowed other men to marry his wife.<ref>Bede, ''Explanation of the Apocalypse'', 2.16</ref>  [[Thomas Aquinas]] believed that Nicolas supported either polygamy or the holding of wives in common.<ref>''[[Summa contra Gentiles|S. C. G.]]'' iii. 124.</ref>  [[Eusebius]] claimed that the sect was short-lived.<ref>''H. E''. iii. 29.</ref>

The description of Nicolas the Deacon as celibate was used by 16th century Protestant apologists to argue against the practice of mandatory clerical celibacy by suggesting it originated within Nicolaism first before spreading into Christianity.<ref>For example, see [[Martin Chemnitz]]'s [https://books.google.com/books?id=UtRTAAAAcAAJ&q=editions:WavRe78tBJ8C Examen, Volumes III-IV]: Volume III, which gives this argument begins on page 13 of the Latin edition on Google books</ref>