Montanism was called the New Prophecy movement by its followers and has been compared to modern day Mormons, Christian Scientist and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. But its origin was in the mid-second century.
The Second Coming of Christ
The Montanists were founded by a man named Montanus who declared his belief that he was the actual manifestation of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus Christ in Holy Scripture. He would often speak in ecstatic states as if "channeling" the Holy Spirit.
Two of his assistants, Maximilla and Priscilla, perpetuated his teachings upon his passing. But the sect believed that the Second Coming of Christ was at hand. As a result, Montanus instructed his followers not to get married. If they were already married, they were to separate so they could prepare for the great coming of the Lord. Montanists followed strict lifestyle guidelines regarding food, clothing and habitation.
Interestingly, Montanus was one of the few heretics who had been bold enough to define his own Canon of the bible and actually add his own writings to the scripture of the New Testament.
Montanus’ attempts to add to scripture of his own to the Holy Bible compelled the Church to act in defining the canon of the New Testament which happened around 200 A.D. But it wasn’t until the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. that the establishment of the New Testament canon was finalized.
Montanus completely rejected the Old Testament, but at the same time pronounced that Moses’ sister as a prophetess. He did such things in a move to introduce women into the priesthood. Montanists had women serve as bishops, presbyters and priests.
Expecting the Second Coming as imminent, when it did not occur, the Montanists began to quickly fade away.
Heresy According to the Early Church Fathers
The Early Church Fathers felt that many of the heretical sects in their day were missing the simplicity of the Gospel message taught by the Roman Catholic Church.
“Your object in seeking was to find . . . Now, because so many other things have been taught by various persons, are we on that account obliged to go on seeking? When will the seeking ever end? Where is the finality of belief? Where is the completion in finding?” according to (Tertullian) A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers.
Other well-known heretical sects of the Roman Catholic Church include Monophysitism and Nestorianism.
Sources:
- Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics, by Charles S. Clifton.
- A Catholic Dictionary, by William E. Addis and Thomas Arnold, M.A.
- Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, by Dr. Ludwig Ott.
- A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present, by Bernhard Lohse.
- The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325 - 1870, by Philip Hughes.
- A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers, edited by David W. Bercot.
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