An early Christian movement advocating a rigorous, prophetic form of Christianity.
Religion: Christianity
Denomination: Early Church
Founder: Montanus
Founded: 2nd century CE
Ended: Declined in the 4th century CE
Location: Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey)
Other Names: New Prophecy, Cataphrygians
Montanism, originating in Phrygia, Asia Minor, during the 2nd century, represents a significant schism within early Christianity. Founded by Montanus, the movement rapidly distinguished itself by advocating for continuous divine revelation, primarily through prophetic utterances by Montanus and his two prophetesses, Prisca (or Priscilla) and Maximilla. This emphasis on new prophecy, claimed to be delivered by the Holy Spirit, positioned Montanism at odds with the proto-orthodox Christian doctrines of the time, which were based on the teachings of Christ and the Apostles as complete and final.
Montanism’s core belief centered on the Paraclete, or the Holy Spirit, fulfilling Jesus’ promise of a comforter who would continue to guide the faithful by revealing new truths. Montanus and his followers maintained that their prophecies, delivered in ecstatic states, were direct communications from the Holy Spirit, thus adding to the Christian doctrinal corpus. This notion of ongoing revelation was perceived as a challenge to the established church’s authority, leading to accusations of heresy against Montanism. The movement’s leaders claimed not only to speak for the Holy Spirit but also set themselves apart by asserting a higher form of spiritual existence and purity, available only to those within their sect.
Montanism also preached an imminent Second Coming of Christ, expecting the New Jerusalem to descend between the Phrygian villages of Pepuza and Tymion. This apocalyptic expectation fueled an ascetic lifestyle among its adherents, marked by strict moral codes, including chastity, fasting, and a readiness for martyrdom. The Montanist stance on remarriage, particularly its outright prohibition, along with a rejection of traditional ecclesiastical hierarchy and the embracing of women’s roles in religious leadership, further alienated the movement from mainstream Christianity.
The church’s response to Montanism was swift and decisive, with local councils in Asia Minor and elsewhere condemning the movement and excommunicating its leaders as early as the late 2nd century. Despite this, Montanism managed to survive through several centuries, albeit as a marginalized and often persecuted sect. It found pockets of influence in North Africa and Rome, and even the prolific early Christian writer Tertullian was drawn to the movement, attracted by its rigorism and the emphasis on spiritual purity.
Over time, the spread of Montanism was curtailed by the solidification of orthodox Christian doctrine and the establishment of the New Testament canon, which left little room for new revelations outside the orthodox tradition. The legal and doctrinal actions taken by emperors like Constantine and, later, Justinian I, against the Montanists, alongside the formal condemnations by various church councils, gradually diminished Montanism’s influence within the broader Christian community, until declined into obscurity by the 8th century.
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