THEOLOGY THURSDAY | Did God Really Say? Pt. 2
A bite-sized lesson in doctrine: 1 Concept, 2 Definitions, 3 Passages...
Welcome back to Theology Thursday!
Here is your bite-sized lesson in orthodox, Biblical doctrine in 3 simple steps:
ONE concept explained
TWO concise definitions that must be kept distinct
THREE Scripture passages to meditate on
Concept: Montanism
Montanism was a dangerous teaching propagated by a young man named Montanus who lived in the second century. Claiming to provide new revelation, he started a movement called “The New Prophecy” wherein his followers (“Montanists”) claimed to be the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy about the “Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16). They claimed to have visions, revelatory dreams, and other extraordinary experiences. Their “new revelations” imposed a severe moral code onto Scripture: an absolute ban on second marriages, an obligation to certain forms of fasting, the eager seeking of martyrdom, and more. These factors and many others led the early church to condemn Montanism as a heresy. This imposed “new revelation” based on experience added to the Word of God and thereby diminished its authority.
Definitions/Distinctions:
New Revelation: The idea that one’s subjective, supernatural experiences can reveal something about God that is on par with, or above Scripture.
Pentecostal/Charismatic: Church traditions that see extraordinary, supernatural experiences as normative for the church today. While Pentecostals sometimes trace their origin to the Montanists, many distance themselves from a lot of their heretical teachings.
Passage:
“…we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…”
1 Peter 1:18-19
“…how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
Hebrews 2:3-4
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
Colossians 2:8