FEBRUARY 17, 2008

 

  Due to compromise with Gnosticism and decline in morals in the churches, there were groups that begin to develop that called for spiritual renewal and

ecclesiastical separation as necessary.  Three are listed here:

 

I. MONTANISTS- first appear in about 150 AD in Phrygia (Acts 16:6, 18:23)

a region in central Turkey near Galatia.  It movement is named after Montanus,

who along with two women, Priscilla and Maximilla, began to claim ecstatic

divine revelations directly from the Lord.

a. The emphasis in Montanism was on

  >direct revelation from H.Spirit under ecstatic visions (Pentecostal)

  >imminent coming of Christ at 2^nd Advent

  >rigid asceticism,discipline, & separation from world in order to achieve

    holiness

b. The direct revelations were claimed to have same weight as did the

   scriptures (“if Paul could replace Moses, then present revelations could replace

   Paul”) causing confusion in churches.

c. Rigidity about divorce [second marriage=adultery] also characterized them,

   but there was an increased awareness of the priesthood of each believer due

   to Montanism.

d. Tertullian, a gifted teacher concerning the Trinity, became part of the

  Montanist movement.

e.  They were later considered schismatics and were persecuted.

 

II. NOVATIANISM-  similar to Montanists as a re-action against lax Christianity, yet it appears a bit later (250 AD) and in a north Africa and without the emphasis on direct ecstatic revelation.

a. circumstances- a question of how to deal with believers who had defected

   from the Christian faith when persecution arose, but afterward sought to

   return to fellowship at church brought about conflict between some who

   were more lax and others (Novatianists) who wished to exclude the defectors

   from any fellowship or to limit their involvement.    

b. Novatian wrote a good treatise on the Trinity, but called for separation from

   the churches having bishops that were apostate in doctrine, even re-baptizing

   converts from these churches.  The view was baptism by an apostate bishop

   or pastor was ineffective and invalid.

c.  Later, they were persecuted and books burned by Roman officials.

 

III. DONATISTS- like Montanists & Novatianists, this group (300 AD and after) was concerned with ecclesiastical purity and had elements of legalism.

a. circumstances-  again, Donatists felt defectors during persecution should

   be disciplined or not allowed to return to fellowship in local churches.

   One particular item was the matter of those who had surrendered copies

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   of holy scripture to persecutors, such were called “traditors” (betrayers).

   In north Africa, one accused of “traditory” was Mensurius, bishop of Carthage.

   He & Caecilan, his deacon had sought to prevent believers from being too

   eager & quick to attempt martyrdom as well as opposing superstitions related

   to relics.  After Mensurius’ death, Caecilian sought ordination as bishop of

   Carthage but was opposed by Donatus and others.  Eventually, there were

   rival bishops in Carthage, accenting a schism.

b.  These Donatists believed in baptismal regeneration and insisted on strict

   church discipline also declaring baptism by defective pastors as invalid.

   Their rigidity of church discipline brought criticism upon them.

c.  Despite persecution by Constantine, they continued in north Africa until

    the conquest by the Moslems.  Such persecution by Constantine moved

    them to teach that secular authorities had no power over churches.