Contours of the Holy Jerusalem on Earth

Elements of Montanist Ecclesiology

Bibliographic Data

ID5918921
AuthorsGyula Homoki (0009-0000-6701-8035, Reformed Theological Academy of Sárospatak, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume16
Issue11
Pages1360
Publication date2025-10-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel16111360
OpenAlexW4415610314
LanguageEN
References cited34

The paper presents the ecclesiological convictions of the so-called New Prophecy or 'Montanist' movement, a prophetic movement that rapidly gained prominence throughout the Empire from the middle of the second century CE. By regarding themselves as the mouthpieces of the Johannine Paraclete-Spirit, the founding prophets conveyed primarily ethical messages to the contemporary church. It is argued that their ascetic imperatives can be regarded as the practical implementation of a more complex ecclesiological and eschatological conviction. In the Montanists' understanding, their prophetic communities were the earthly realisation of the heavenly Jerusalem, to which the Apocalypse of John attached concrete ethical contours (Rev 21:7-8). Such 'realistic' eschatology prevented the prophets and their adherents from seeing the reality of the church in a dualistic way or upholding the sanctification of the individual believer as a futuristic fulfilment. They believed that the coming of the Paraclete had instituted a new era for the church, and the 'spiritual' believers must prove to be ready to achieve moral perfection. Such pneumatic-prophetic and ascetic-perfectionist convictions give the contours of Montanist ecclesiology, one that proved to be widespread in the second century and influential on later Christian ecclesiological trajectories as well

Asceticism · Ecclesiology · Eschatology · Pneumatology · Realisation · Sanctification · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Christian Theology and Mission · Religion, Theology, History, Judaism, Christianity

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access