Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The tenets of a sect of the Christian church, now extinct, founded during the second century by Montanus of Phrygia.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Christianity The doctrines of a heretical sect of the second to fifth centuries in Asia Minor, who held millenarian beliefs.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Montanus +‎ -ism.

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Examples

  • Internal reform of the Christian Church was first undertaken from Asia Minor, where Montanus, a native of Phrygia, began the rigorist movement known as Montanism, and denounced the growing laxity of Christian life and the moral apathy of the religious chiefs of the society.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

  • But the conflict with the so-called Montanism showed that there were still a considerable number of Christians who valued that immediateness and freedom; these were, however, defeated.

    History of Dogma, Volume 2 (of 7) Adolph Harnack 1890

  • Even this period, however, still supplies us with no testimony as to the existence of a New Testament canon in orthodox Christendom, in fact the rise of the so-called "Montanism" and its extreme antithesis, the "Alogi," in Asia Minor soon after the middle of the second century proves that there was still no New Testament canon there; for, if such an authoritative compilation had existed, these movements could not have arisen.

    History of Dogma, Volume 2 (of 7) Adolph Harnack 1890

  • Tertullian influenced orthodox thought decisively, but himself adopted Montanism: three.

    AKMA’s Random Thoughts 2005

  • It becomes manifest again in the Montanism of the second century with its acute expectation of an imminent end, but even at this time was viewed critically by the greater Church.

    ESCHATOLOGY WALTER SCHMITHALS 1968

  • See them vindicated from the suspicion of Montanism, by O {}, Vindicæ Act. SS.

    The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints January, February, March Alban Butler

  • Paschal controversy (the proper day and mode of celebrating the Paschal festival); secondly, the controversy about Montanism, the theatre of which was the very region with which these Epistles are concerned.

    The Quarterly Review, Volume 162, No. 324, April, 1886 Various

  • Eusebius (loc. cit.) says his work constituted "an abundant and excellent refutation of Montanism".

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

  • We know from Eusebius that Apollonius spoke in his work of Zoticus, who had tried to exorcise Maximilla, but had been prevented by Themison, and of the martyr-Bishop Thraseas, another adversary of Montanism.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

  • He very probably gave the signal in it for the movement of opposition to Montanism which the reunion of the first synods developed.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

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