A theological movement from the 4th century, challenging asceticism and advocating for the equality of marriage and celibacy in the Christian faith.
Jovinianism was a 4th-century religious movement named after its founder, Jovinian, a theologian and former monk who critiqued the prevalent ascetic practices in early Christianity. It originated as a reaction against the extreme ascetic tendencies that were dominant at the time, particularly in Rome and Milan, where Jovinian, along with followers like Sarmatio and Barbatianus, began to spread his teachings.
Jovinian’s core teachings were controversial and directly challenged the orthodox Christian beliefs of his era. He posited that virgins, widows, and married people are of equal merit in the eyes of God if they live equally virtuous lives, a stance that undermined the Church’s emphasis on celibacy and asceticism. He argued that baptism with full faith protects a person from ultimate defeat by the devil, though not from sinning, and that all baptized individuals who preserved their vows would receive the same reward in heaven, effectively negating any spiritual hierarchy. Additionally, Jovinian maintained that abstaining from foods offered no more virtue than consuming them with gratitude, as reflected in the scriptural teaching that all foods are clean if received with thanksgiving.
Jovinian also challenged the perpetual virginity of Mary and claimed that all sins are equal, suggesting a uniform level of punishment and reward in the afterlife. He emphasized that a person baptized in the Spirit as well as in water is secured against sin, and abstinence holds no superiority over partaking of food with the right disposition. His teachings on marriage, supported by New Testament scriptures such as 1 Timothy 5:14 and Hebrews 13:4, promoted the sanctity of marriage, countering the belief that an ascetic life led to greater spiritual merit.
The spread of these ideas led to significant backlash from the Church. Jovinian was excommunicated and his views condemned at two synods—one in Rome under Pope Siricius and another in Milan under Ambrose in 393. Emperor Honorius eventually banished him, and the movement was largely suppressed, although it might have persisted in secluded regions like the Alps.
Saint Jerome, a staunch ascetic, was one of Jovinian’s most vocal critics. He wrote extensively against Jovinianism, defending the spiritual superiority of virginity and celibacy in vitriolic terms, so much so that even his contemporaries found his responses excessive. His writings formed a substantial part of the ecclesiastical literature opposing Jovinianism during that period.
Despite its initial suppression, Jovinian’s ideas resurfaced and influenced later Christian thought, particularly during the Protestant Reformation. His views on the equality of marital and celibate life, and the non-necessity of asceticism for spiritual superiority, continue to echo in modern Christian discussions about lifestyle choices in faith, suggesting that his impact extended far beyond his lifetime.
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