Montanism
The New Prophecy of Montanus, Priscilla, and Maximilla. Part of Heresy.
Passages that substantially address this topic, in date order.
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- Against All Heresies 7Anonymous · early 3rd cent. (disputed) · The author describes Tatian, who denied Adam's salvation, and the Montanists (Cataphrygians) in their two branches, those of Proclus and those of Aeschines.
- Exhortation to Chastity 10Tertullian · ca. 208 · Widowhood is an opportunity for continence, which makes prayer and spiritual life clearer; if even marital intercourse dulls the Spirit, a second marriage does so still more.
- On Flight in Persecution 9Tertullian · ca. 208–213 · The apostles, who wrote from chains and exile, never renewed the command to flee; Paul's armour of God, John's teaching that perfect love casts out fear, and the oracles of the Spirit all call to martyrdom, not flight.
- On Fasting 1Tertullian · ca. 210–220 · Tertullian attacks the “psychics,” who reject the New Prophecy because it teaches frequent fasting, and sets out their charges against its fasts, station-days, and dry diet.
- On Fasting 11Tertullian · ca. 210–220 · Fasting, dry diet, and stations are old and useful, not new or empty; neither the devil nor an antichrist would enjoin duties to the true God, so the charge of heresy or false prophecy fails.
- On Fasting 12Tertullian · ca. 210–220 · Fasting prepares Christians for prison and martyrdom, whereas the psychics feast their imprisoned confessors, as with Pristinus, who died drunk and denying Christ.
- On Monogamy 2Tertullian · ca. 210–217 · Tertullian defends the New Prophecy's discipline: Jesus promised that the Spirit would later teach new and hard things, and a true revelation of the Paraclete can be recognized by its agreement with the rule of faith.
- On Monogamy 3Tertullian · ca. 210–217 · One marriage is not a new rule: Christ and Paul already preferred continence and allowed marriage only as a concession, so the Paraclete, far from innovating, spares our weakness by not demanding complete continence.
- On Monogamy 14Tertullian · ca. 210–217 · Paul's leave to remarry was a temporary concession like Moses' leave to divorce; as Christ removed divorce, the Paraclete now removes second marriage, and those who will not accept it must answer for their own choice.
- On the Resurrection of the Flesh 63Tertullian · ca. 208–212 · The whole, same flesh will rise, kept safe with God by Christ, who unites flesh and spirit, and the Paraclete’s New Prophecy has cleared away the ambiguities that heretics exploited.
- Against Praxeas 1Tertullian · ca. 213 or later · Praxeas brought to Rome the heresy that the Father himself was born and suffered, and also turned the bishop of Rome against the New Prophecy; Tertullian announces his refutation.
- Refutation of All Heresies 8.6.1Hippolytus of Rome · ca. 222–235 · Contents: the Montanists (“Phrygians”) and their prophets.
- Refutation of All Heresies 8.19.1Hippolytus of Rome · ca. 222–235 · The Phrygians (Montanists) follow Montanus, Priscilla, and Maximilla as prophets of the Paraclete and claim to learn more from their books than from Scripture.
- Refutation of All Heresies 8.19.2Hippolytus of Rome · ca. 222–235 · The Montanists exalt their prophetesses above the apostles; orthodox on God and Christ, they add new fasts and dietary rules.
- Refutation of All Heresies 8.19.4Hippolytus of Rome · ca. 222–235 · The Montanists' many books are worthless and should be ignored by the sound-minded.
- Refutation of All Heresies 10.25.1Hippolytus of Rome · ca. 222–235 · Summary of the Montanists: orthodox on creation and Christ, but they prefer their prophets to the Gospels and impose new fasts.
- Letter 75.7Cyprian of Carthage · 249/250–258 · Heretics agree among themselves because all blaspheme the Creator; even the Montanists, who claim new prophecy, lack the Spirit, and a council at Iconium rejected heretical baptism.
- Church History 4.27.1Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Apolinarius wrote an apology, books against Greeks and Jews, On Truth, and works against the newly rising Montanist heresy.
- Church History 5.3.4Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · When the Montanist prophecy in Phrygia caused dispute, the Gallic confessors sent letters on it to Asia and to Eleutherus of Rome, seeking the churches' peace.
- Church History 5.14.1Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · The devil raised new heresies; in Asia and Phrygia Montanus was hailed as the Paraclete, with Priscilla and Maximilla as his prophetesses.
- Church History 5.16.1Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Apolinarius of Hierapolis and other learned men wrote against the Montanists.
- Church History 5.16.6Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · The anonymous writer turns to the origin of Montanism.
- Church History 5.16.7Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Montanus, a recent convert at Ardabau, began to prophesy in ecstatic frenzy contrary to the church's tradition.
- Church History 5.16.9Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Two women were also filled with this spirit, which flattered its followers and taught them to revile the whole church for rejecting it.
- Church History 5.16.10Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Repeated meetings of the Asian faithful condemned the new prophecy and excommunicated its followers.
- Church History 5.16.12Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · The writer answers the charge of killing prophets: none of the Montanist prophets suffered as the true prophets did.
- Church History 5.16.13Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Rumour said Montanus and Maximilla hanged themselves like Judas.
- Church History 5.16.16Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Bishops who tried to examine Maximilla's spirit were prevented by her supporters.
- Church History 5.16.17Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · The writer challenges Maximilla's spirit, which claimed to be “word and spirit and power,” to prove itself before the bishops her followers silenced.
- Church History 5.16.18Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · The writer dates his work and refutes Maximilla's predictions of war.
- Church History 5.16.22Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Catholic martyrs refused communion with Montanist martyrs even when dying together.
- Church History 5.17.1Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · The anonymous writer cites Miltiades, who argued that a true prophet does not speak in ecstasy.
- Church History 5.17.4Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · If the Montanist women inherited prophecy, who inherited it from them? None has appeared in fourteen years since Maximilla's death.
- Church History 5.18.1Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Apollonius wrote against the Montanists, exposing their prophecies and their leaders' lives.
- Church History 5.18.2Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Apollonius: Montanus dissolved marriages, imposed fasts, called Pepuza “Jerusalem,” and raised money to pay his preachers.
- Church History 5.18.3Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Apollonius: the prophetesses left their husbands, yet Prisca was falsely called a virgin.
- Church History 5.18.13Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Apollonius confirms that Zoticus was prevented from examining Maximilla's spirit, and mentions the martyr Thraseas.
- Church History 5.19.2Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Serapion sends Apolinarius's writings to show that the whole church abhors the “New Prophecy.”
- Church History 5.19.3Eusebius of Caesarea · ca. 300–325 · Bishops signed Serapion's letter; one testifies that Sotas of Anchialus tried to exorcize Priscilla's demon but was prevented.
- Oration III Against the Arians 47Athanasius of Alexandria · ca. 339–346 · Paul says “I do not know” of his own vision though he knew, as Elisha kept silent about Elijah's ascent; if the Arians grant that Paul knew, much more must Christ know when he says “I do not know.”
- Canon 8Anonymous · ca. 343–381 · Converts from the Montanists, even their clergy, are to be catechized and baptized.
- Catechetical Lecture 16.8Cyril of Jerusalem · ca. 350 · Montanus, who called himself the Holy Spirit and his village Pepuza Jerusalem, is accused by Cyril of gross immorality and ritual murder.
- On the Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia 4Athanasius of Alexandria · 359 (additions 361) · Dating their creed shows that the faith of Ursacius’s party is new, like that of the Montanists, and would leave the fathers and martyrs outside it.
- Three Letters to Sympronianus 1.2Pacian of Barcelona · ca. 360-390 · Pacian lists the authorities of the Montanists, asks Sympronian to state his position plainly, and says no one can be persuaded against his will.
- Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5:18–22Ambrosiaster · ca. 366–384 · Prophetic speech should not be silenced but tested against the words of the Lord and the apostles, since the world’s spirit mixes truth with error, as with the Montanist prophets.
- Commentary on 1 Timothy 3:11Ambrosiaster · ca. 366–384 · The women Paul addresses must be blameless like the clergy; the Montanists wrongly use the verse to ordain deaconesses, against Paul’s command of women’s silence.
- Letter 21.3Jerome · ca. 370–419 · Jerome rejects Tertullian's Montanist claim that the tax collectors were Gentiles and holds that they stand for sinners of every kind, Jew and Gentile.
- Letter 41.1Jerome · ca. 370–419 · Against a Montanist, Jerome shows from Acts that Christ's promise of the Paraclete was fulfilled at Pentecost.
- Letter 41.2Jerome · ca. 370–419 · Jerome explains that the church does not reject prophecy as such, but rejects the Montanists because they contradict Scripture.
- Letter 41.3Jerome · ca. 370–419 · Jerome lists the Montanists' errors: Sabellian views of the Trinity, condemnation of second marriage as adultery, extra Lents, a hierarchy that ranks bishops third, and refusal of penance.
- Letter 41.4Jerome · ca. 370–419 · Jerome rejects the Montanist claim that God's saving revelation reached its fullness through Montanus and his prophetesses.
- Letter 120.9Jerome · ca. 370–419 · Jerome reconciles John 20:22 and the promise of Pentecost: the apostles first received the grace to forgive sins, then at Pentecost the fuller gifts of power and tongues; he rejects the Montanist claim and argues for the Spirit's divinity.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.1.2Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · The Phrygians arose about AD 156–157.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.1.3Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · The Phrygians accept Scripture and the resurrection but follow Montanus, Priscilla and Maximilla as prophets.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.1.4Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · The Phrygians are orthodox on the Trinity but split off over prophetic gifts.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.2.1Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · If prophecy must continue, why have the Phrygians no prophets after their founders?
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.2.2Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · If prophecy ceased, Priscilla and Maximilla came too late.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.2.3Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Either they have prophets after Maximilla or she was a false prophet.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.2.4Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Maximilla prophesied that after her would come the end.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.2.9Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Maximilla's own oracle undermines Montanist claims to continuing prophecy.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.3.2Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · The Montanists are the false prophets Christ warned of.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.3.11Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanist prophecies are incoherent.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.4.1Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanus's oracle compares the prophet to a lyre played by the Spirit.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.4.3Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanus's oracle reveals ecstasy, not the Holy Spirit.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.4.4Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanists cite Adam's 'ecstasy' in Gen 2:21 in their defence.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.10.3Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanus promised that the saved would outshine sun and moon a hundredfold.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.10.6Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Christ promised faces shining like the sun, not Montanus's hundredfold.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.11.1Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanus claimed to be the Lord God Almighty dwelling in a man.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.11.3Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanus's claim recalls Christ's warning about one who comes in his own name.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.11.4Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanus and his sect are alien to the catholic church.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.11.5Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · The true Paraclete glorifies Christ; Montanus glorifies himself.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.11.6Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Christ glorified the Father and the Spirit; Montanus glorifies only himself.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.11.8Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · The prophets and apostles glorified Christ; Montanus puts himself forward.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.11.9Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanus claimed to be God the Father come in person.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.11.10Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanus is cut off from Christ, the head, and calls himself the Father.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.12.1Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Epiphanius rejects the Montanists' claim that they left the church for the sake of spiritual gifts.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.12.3Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Epiphanius mocks the strange names of the Montanist prophets.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.12.4Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Maximilla told her hearers not to listen to her but to Christ.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.13.1Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Maximilla claimed to be sent under compulsion to teach the knowledge of God.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.13.7Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Maximilla's claim to compel all to know God is shown false.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.14.1Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · The Montanists revere Pepuza, where they expect the heavenly Jerusalem to descend.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.14.2Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · Montanist rites at Pepuza and the spread of the sect.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 49.1.1Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · The Quintillians are a branch of the Montanists.
- Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 49.1.2Epiphanius of Salamis · 374-377 · The Quintillians claim Christ visited one of their prophetesses at Pepuza.
- Book of Heresies 49.2Philastrius of Brescia · ca. 380s · The Cataphrygians follow Montanus, Priscilla and Maximilla.
- Book of Heresies 49.3Philastrius of Brescia · ca. 380s · They claim the fullness of the Spirit came through their prophets.
- Book of Heresies 49.4Philastrius of Brescia · ca. 380s · They baptize the dead and call Pepuza Jerusalem.
- Commentary on Titus 1:6Jerome · ca. 387 · Jerome explains “the husband of one wife” (Titus 1:6) as the example of single marriage a bishop must give, not as making every once-married man better than the twice-married; he rejects excluding men whose first marriage was before baptism, condemns the Montanist and Novatianist ban on second marriages and Tertullian's On Monogamy, and discusses the bishop's children.
- On Illustrious Men 26Jerome · 392–393 · Apollinaris of Hierapolis wrote an apology and works against the pagans and against the Montanists.
- On Illustrious Men 39Jerome · 392–393 · Miltiades wrote against the Montanists, the pagans and the Jews, and an apology.
- On Illustrious Men 40Jerome · 392–393 · Apollonius wrote a long work against the Montanists, exposing their prophets' greed and vanity; Tertullian answered him.
- On Illustrious Men 41Jerome · 392–393 · Serapion of Antioch wrote against the Montanists and against the Gospel of Peter.
- On Illustrious Men 53Jerome · 392–393 · Tertullian of Carthage, much read by Cyprian, became a Montanist and wrote against the church on modesty, flight in persecution, fasting and monogamy.
- On the Christian Struggle 30Augustine of Hippo · ca. 396–397 · Augustine rejects the claims that the promised Holy Spirit came in Paul, in Montanus and Priscilla, or in Mani, since Luke and Acts show that he came at Pentecost.
- Against Faustus the Manichaean 32.17Augustine of Hippo · ca. 398–400 · Augustine argues that the Paraclete came immediately after Christ’s glorification, and that the Montanists, who used the same texts to condemn second marriage, show how any heresy can claim the Paraclete.
- On the Good of Widowhood 6Augustine of Hippo · ca. 414 · Widowhood does not condemn second marriage, which the apostle allows, against the Montanists, the Novatianists, and Tertullian; it simply ranks higher.
- Commonitory 18Vincent of Lérins · 434 · Tertullian, the foremost Latin writer, became a test of the church when he accepted Montanus's prophecies.