History: Montanus and canonization/growth of Christianity
(Tertullian) (Kelly, Chapters 5 and 6)

Mark Anderson
2/8/2009

Church History I: Canonization and the Growth of Christianity (c. 150-250 AD)

What is a canon?

How did people who received the gospel in the New Testament measure it?

• Test it against (OT) scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
• Accept miraculous demonstration
• Ask for clarification from the source
• Set doctrinal limitations: see 2 John 7-11

A “canonical core” was formed by the early 2^nd century.

Three early challenges to the revelation of Jesus:

1. Gnosis: The challenge of secret revelation (f. c. 1^st – 3^rd c.)
1. Taught that the true gospel was not passed on publicly but contained in a secret oral tradition and writings
2. Opposed teaching of the incarnation and suffering of Christ
2. Marcion: The challenge of limited revelation (d. c. 160)
1. Taught that God is love to the exclusion of law
2. Narrowed the scriptures to ten letters of Paul and an edited version of Luke’s gospel
3. Montanus: The challenge of continuing revelation (f. c. 172)
1. Taught that they Holy Spirit was being poured out again in the last days and conveying new doctrine through prophets
2. Known for its extreme asceticism and division of Christians into elite and common groups

The Muratorian Fragment (or Canon) is an early witness of the results of these pressures.

• Most of the New Testament that we recognize are mentioned
• Books in the canon are justified largely on historical grounds

Tertullian of Carthage (c. 160 – c. 225)

• He was the author of a long list of apologetic, theological, controversial, and ascetic writings
• He has been called the father of Latin theology and provides the first extant use of the word trinitas to describe God
• He was such an avowed opponent of Marcion that he ended up embracing the teaching of Montanus toward the end of his career
• Though he had a traditional Roman education and was familiar with classical literature and philosophy he had the opposite approach to it from a man like Justin Martyr

“Writing to the Colossians, [Paul] says, "See that no one beguiles you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, and contrary to the wisdom of the Holy Ghost." He had been at Athens, and had in his interviews (with its philosophers) become acquainted with that human wisdom which pretends to know the truth, whilst it only corrupts it, and is itself divided into its own manifold heresies, by the variety of its mutually repugnant sects. What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church? What between heretics and Christians? Our instruction comes from "the porch of Solomon," who had himself taught that "the Lord should be sought in simplicity of heart." Away with all attempts to produce a mottled Christianity of Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic composition! We want no curious disputation after possessing Christ Jesus, no inquisition after enjoying the gospel! With our faith, we desire no further belief. For this is our palmary faith, that there is nothing which we ought to believe besides.”

Prescription Against all Heresies, 7.