- Also called:
- Cataphrygian heresy or New Prophecy
- Key People:
- Tertullian
- Montanus
- Related Topics:
- heresy
Montanism
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What is Montanism?
Montanism was a schismatic movement of Christianity that started in Phrygia, Asia Minor (modern Turkey), in the 2nd century with the prophet Montanus. It later grew in the West, especially in Carthage, led by Tertullian in the 3rd century.
Montanism centered on the belief that the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, was manifesting through Montanus and his associated prophets and prophetesses. They believed that the heavenly Jerusalem would soon descend on Earth.
Montanism declined in the West early in the 5th century and had almost died out by the 5th and 6th centuries, though evidence suggests it survived into the 9th century.
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Who started Montanism and when did it begin?
Montanism began around 156 CE in Phrygia, Asia Minor (modern Turkey), founded by the prophet Montanus, a recent Christian convert. The movement gained momentum when two women, Prisca and Maximilla, joined him in prophesying.
Montanus claimed that the Holy Spirit was manifesting through him and his associated prophets, introducing new prophecies and emphasizing the imminent Second Coming of Christ. This led to a legalistic moral rigorism, with extended fasting, discouragement of marriage, and a prohibition of second marriages.
The movement spread but was eventually excommunicated by the bishops of Asia Minor around 177 CE, becoming a separate sect. Despite facing opposition, Montanism persisted for centuries, with evidence of its existence as late as the 9th century.
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What were the main beliefs of Montanism?
Montanism, a schismatic movement of Christianity founded by Montanus in Phrygia, Asia Minor, during the 2nd century, centered on the belief that the Paraclete, or Spirit of Truth, was manifesting through him and his associated prophets and prophetesses.
Key tenets of Montanism included:
* The belief in the imminent Second Coming of Christ, with the heavenly Jerusalem expected to descend in Phrygia.
* Moral rigorism that included longer fasting periods, discouraged marriage, prohibited second marriages, and forbade fleeing from martyrdom.
* The acceptance of new prophecy, suggesting continuous revelation beyond the teachings of Christ and the Apostles.
* The emphasis on ecstatic experiences, such as trances and speaking in tongues, as evidence of the Holy Spirit's influence.3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did Montanism differ from regular Christianity at the time?
Montanism differed from mainstream Christianity through its belief that the Holy Spirit was manifesting through Montanus and his associated prophets, adding to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. Montanists induced ecstatic states to deliver prophecies, unlike established practices. They held a legalistic moral rigorism, lengthening fasting periods and discouraging marriage. They also believed in the imminent Second Coming of Christ, expected in Phrygia. These beliefs and practices led to the excommunication of Montanists by the bishops of Asia Minor around 177 CE.
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Why did church leaders consider Montanism to be heretical?
Church leaders considered Montanism heretical because its prophecies were deemed new and unorthodox, differing from traditional practices. Montanus and his followers, Prisca and Maximilla, would induce ecstatic states to prophesy, which was considered different from the traditional understanding of true prophets. Montanists' claim to have the final revelation of the Holy Spirit implied that the church needed to accept a fuller revelation, adding to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. The movement's legalistic moral rigorism and emphasis on the imminent Second Coming of Christ further contributed to the perception of Montanism as a departure from orthodox Christianity.
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What influence did Montanism have on the history of Christianity?
Montanism, a schismatic movement of Christianity, began in Phrygia, Asia Minor, around the 2nd century. Montanus, the movement's founder, believed that the Holy Spirit was manifesting through him and his associated prophets.
Montanism spread rapidly, with entire towns converting. The movement emphasized the imminent Second Coming of Christ and a legalistic moral rigorism, including longer fasting periods and the discouragement of marriage.
The movement was deemed unorthodox, and Montanists were excommunicated. Despite facing opposition, Montanism persisted for centuries, with a presence in the East until the 6th century and remnants surviving into the 9th century. Tertullian, a significant figure, converted to Montanism and supported its moral rigorism.
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Montanism, a schismatic movement founded by the prophet Montanus that arose in the Christian church in Phrygia, Asia Minor (modern Turkey), in the 2nd century. Subsequently it flourished in the West, principally in Carthage under the leadership of Tertullian in the 3rd century. It almost died out in the 5th and 6th centuries, although some evidence indicates that it survived into the 9th century.
The Montanist writings have perished, except for brief references preserved by ecclesiastical writers. The chief sources for the history of the movement are Eusebius’s Ecclesiastical History, the writings of Tertullian and St. Epiphanius, and inscriptions, particularly those in central Phrygia.
According to the known history, Montanus, a recent Christian convert, appeared at Ardabau, a small village in Phrygia, about 156. He fell into a trance and began to “prophesy under the influence of the Spirit.” He was soon joined by two young women, Prisca, or Priscilla, and Maximilla, who also began to prophesy. The movement spread throughout Asia Minor. Inscriptions have indicated that a number of towns were almost completely converted to Montanism. After the first enthusiasm had waned, however, the followers of Montanus were found predominantly in the rural districts.
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The essential principle of Montanism was that the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, whom Jesus had promised in the Gospel According to John, was manifesting himself to the world through Montanus and the prophets and prophetesses associated with him. This did not seem at first to deny the doctrines of the church or to attack the authority of the bishops. Prophecy from the earliest days had been held in honour, and the church acknowledged the charismatic gift of some prophets.
It soon became clear, however, that the Montanist prophecy was new. True prophets did not, as Montanus did, deliberately induce a kind of ecstatic intensity and a state of passivity and then maintain that the words they spoke were the voice of the Spirit. It also became clear that the claim of Montanus to have the final revelation of the Holy Spirit implied that something could be added to the teaching of Christ and the Apostles and that, therefore, the church had to accept a fuller revelation.
Another important aspect of Montanism was the expectation of the Second Coming of Christ, which was believed to be imminent. This belief was not confined to Montanists, but with them it took a special form that gave their activities the character of a popular revival. They believed the heavenly Jerusalem was soon to descend on the earth in a plain between the two villages of Pepuza and Tymion in Phrygia. The prophets and many followers went there, and many Christian communities were almost abandoned.
In addition to prophetic enthusiasm, Montanism taught a legalistic moral rigorism. The time of fasting was lengthened, followers were forbidden to flee from martyrdom, marriage was discouraged, and second marriages were prohibited.
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When it became obvious that the Montanist doctrine was an attack on orthodox Christianity, the bishops of Asia Minor gathered in synods and finally excommunicated the Montanists, probably about the year 177. Montanism then became a separate sect with its seat of government at Pepuza. It maintained the ordinary Christian ministry but imposed on it higher orders of patriarchs and associates who were probably successors of the first Montanist prophets. It continued in the East until severe legislation against Montanism by Emperor Justinian I (reigned 527–565) essentially destroyed it, but some remnants evidently survived into the 9th century.
The earliest record of any knowledge of Montanism in the West dates from 177, and 25 years later there was a group of Montanists in Rome. It was in Carthage in Africa, however, that the sect became important. There, its most illustrious convert was Tertullian, who became interested in Montanism about 206 and finally left orthodoxy in 212–213. He primarily supported the moral rigorism of the movement against what he considered the moral laxity of the bishops. Montanism declined in the West early in the 5th century.