Changes

He held the opinion that baptism alone, which could not be repeated, is the only, unique and singular means of forgiveness of sins. He was also concerned that what is holy, the baptismal grace, should not be carelessly defiled. The controversial opinion of some very intolerant strict moral rigorists that ''after baptism no mortal sin can ever be forgiven'' was rejected in the condemnation of the heresy of Novatianism,<ref>See [http://earlychristianwritings.com/novatian.html Novatian - Early Christian Writings- New Testament (earlychristianwritings.com)]<br> [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11138a.htm Novatian and Novatianism - Catholic Encyclopedia (newadvent.org)]<br> [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Novatian Novatian (orthodoxWiki.org)].</ref> in favor of the [[orthodox]] [[catholic]] [[doctrine]] that there is no post-baptismal sin that cannot be forgiven by Christ in the [[Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation|sacrament of confession]] before death.<ref>See [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_john/5-16.htm 1 John 1:8-10 and 1 John 5:16.]</ref> The only exception is [[blasphemy]] against the Holy Spirit.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A30-37&version=RSVCE Matthew 12:30-37]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A28-30&version=RSVCE Mark 3:28-30]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12%3A10&version=RSVCE Luke 12:10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A42-50&version=RSVCE John 8:42-50].</ref> The predominant orthodox catholic doctrine held that just as people spoke against Jesus, so they speak against his body, against his household the church (as Novatian did).<ref>1 Timothy 3:15]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A25&version=RSVCE Matthew 10:25]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A24&version=RSVCE 12:24], 27]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A22&version=RSVCE Mark 3:22]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+11%3A14-23&version=RSVCE Luke 11:14-23].</ref> As blasphemy against the Son of Man is forgiven, so blasphemy against his body the church is forgiven. As blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in Jesus is not forgiven, in this world or in the world to come, so blasphemy against the Holy Spirit of his body the church, as the One working <ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A6&version=RSVCE 1 Corinthians 12:6]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A13&version=RSVCE Philippians 2:13]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A1-14&version=RSVCE Romans 8:1-14].</ref> in the sacraments and ministries of healing and the attested miracles worked by his body,<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A4-28&version=RSVCE 1 Corinthians 12:4-28].</ref> is not forgiven, in this world or in the world to come. And as blasphemy against the Bride of Christ is forgiven, so blasphemy against the Spirit dwelling in Her and ruling Her, as being in reality the evil spirit of [[Antichrist]] and [[Satan#Lucifer|Satan]], is not forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A11-12&version=RSVCE Matthew 5:11-12]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A4-10&version=RSVCE 1 Peter 2:4-10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A29-36&version=RSVCE John 3:29-36]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+19%3A6-9&version=RSVCE Revelation 19:6-9]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+22%3A14-15&version=RSVCE 22:14-15] [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+22%3A17&version=RSVCE and 17].</ref> {{cquote|If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy ''are ye''; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you''':''' on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.<br>—[https://www.biblehub.com/1_peter/4-14.htm 1 Peter 4:14 (KJV)]}}

He held the opinion that baptism alone, which could not be repeated, is the only, unique and singular means of forgiveness of sins. He was also concerned that what is holy, the baptismal grace, should not be carelessly defiled. The controversial opinion of some very intolerant strict moral rigorists that ''after baptism no mortal sin can ever be forgiven'' was rejected in the condemnation of the heresy of Novatianism,<ref>See [http://earlychristianwritings.com/novatian.html Novatian - Early Christian Writings- New Testament (earlychristianwritings.com)]<br> [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11138a.htm Novatian and Novatianism - Catholic Encyclopedia (newadvent.org)]<br> [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Novatian Novatian (orthodoxWiki.org)].</ref> in favor of the [[orthodox]] [[catholic]] [[doctrine]] that there is no post-baptismal sin that cannot be forgiven by Christ in the [[Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation|sacrament of confession]] before death.<ref>See [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_john/5-16.htm 1 John 1:8-10 and 1 John 5:16.]</ref> The only exception is [[blasphemy]] against the Holy Spirit.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A30-37&version=RSVCE Matthew 12:30-37]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A28-30&version=RSVCE Mark 3:28-30]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12%3A10&version=RSVCE Luke 12:10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A42-50&version=RSVCE John 8:42-50].</ref> The predominant orthodox catholic doctrine held that just as people spoke against Jesus, so they speak against his body, against his household the church (as Novatian did).<ref>1 Timothy 3:15]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A25&version=RSVCE Matthew 10:25]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A24&version=RSVCE 12:24], 27]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A22&version=RSVCE Mark 3:22]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+11%3A14-23&version=RSVCE Luke 11:14-23].</ref> As blasphemy against the Son of Man is forgiven, so blasphemy against his body the church is forgiven. As blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in Jesus is not forgiven, in this world or in the world to come, so blasphemy against the Holy Spirit of his body the church, as the One working <ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A6&version=RSVCE 1 Corinthians 12:6]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A13&version=RSVCE Philippians 2:13]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A1-14&version=RSVCE Romans 8:1-14].</ref> in the sacraments and ministries of healing and the attested miracles worked by his body,<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A4-28&version=RSVCE 1 Corinthians 12:4-28].</ref> is not forgiven, in this world or in the world to come. And as blasphemy against the Bride of Christ is forgiven, so blasphemy against the Spirit dwelling in Her and ruling Her, as being in reality the evil spirit of [[Antichrist]] and [[Satan#Lucifer|Satan]], is not forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A11-12&version=RSVCE Matthew 5:11-12]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A4-10&version=RSVCE 1 Peter 2:4-10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A29-36&version=RSVCE John 3:29-36]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+19%3A6-9&version=RSVCE Revelation 19:6-9]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+22%3A14-15&version=RSVCE 22:14-15] [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+22%3A17&version=RSVCE and 17].</ref> {{cquote|If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy ''are ye''; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you''':''' on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.<br>—[https://www.biblehub.com/1_peter/4-14.htm 1 Peter 4:14 (KJV)]}}

Tertullian afterward became convinced that the willingness of the Catholic Orthodox Church to absolve all sins was proof that it had become [[Heresy|heretical]] and committed [[Great Apostasy|apostasy]] from the purity of the Gospel. He and his followers [[Schism|departed]] and joined the Montanists for a while; then afterward the Tertullianists formed their own group. In his own time, [[Augustine]] (354 – 430) records that the Tertullianist group had dwindled to almost nothing and was finally reconciled to the church and handed over its basilica.<ref>"dwindled to almost nothing"—see [http://biblehub.com/john/15-6.htm John 15:6]</ref> <ref>[http://www.tertullian.org/tertullianistae/de_haeresibus.htm ''De haeresibus ad Quodvultdeus'' chapter 86 (To Quodvultdeus, On Heresies) (by St. Augustine)].</ref>  It is not certain whether these Tertullianists were in all respects "Montanist" or not. In the 6th century, on the orders of the Emperor [[Justinian]], John of Ephesus led an expedition to Pepuza to destroy the Montanist shrine there, which was based on the tombs of the self-proclaimed prophets of the New Prophesy, Montanus, Priscilla and Maximilla.

Tertullian afterward became convinced that the willingness of the Catholic Orthodox Church to absolve all sins was proof that it had become [[Heresy|heretical]] and committed [[Great Apostasy|apostasy]] from the purity of the Gospel. He and his followers [[Schism|departed]] and joined the Montanists for a while; then afterward the Tertullianists formed their own group. In his own time, [[Augustine]] (354 – 430) records that the Tertullianist group had dwindled to almost nothing and was finally reconciled to the church and handed over its basilica.<ref>"dwindled to almost nothing"—see [http://biblehub.com/john/15-6.htm John 15:6]</ref> <ref>[http://www.tertullian.org/tertullianistae/de_haeresibus.htm ''De haeresibus ad Quodvultdeus'' chapter 86 (To Quodvultdeus, On Heresies) (by St. Augustine)].</ref>  It is not certain whether these Tertullianists were in all respects "Montanist" or not. In the 6th century, on the orders of the Emperor [[Justinian]], John of Ephesus led an expedition to Pepuza to destroy the Montanist shrine there, which was based on the tombs of the self-proclaimed prophets of the New Prophesy, [[Montanus]], Priscilla and Maximilla.

A sect called "Montanist" existed in the 8th century; the Emperor Leo III the Isaurian ordered the conversion and baptism of its members. These Montanists refused, locked themselves in their houses of worship, [[Suicide|set the buildings on fire and perished]].<ref>Quoted by [[Eusebius]], [http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm ''Ecclesiastical History'', Book 5, Chapter 16. 4. Chapter 16. The Circumstances related of Montanus and his False Prophets. (newadvent.org)]</ref>

A sect called "Montanist" existed in the 8th century; the Emperor Leo III the Isaurian ordered the conversion and baptism of its members. These Montanists refused, locked themselves in their houses of worship, [[Suicide|set the buildings on fire and perished]].<ref>Quoted by [[Eusebius]], [http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm ''Ecclesiastical History'', Book 5, Chapter 16. 4. Chapter 16. The Circumstances related of Montanus and his False Prophets. (newadvent.org)]</ref>