Novatian’s Separation From Rome

Open conflict, begun by the Montanists, continued under Novatian, or Novatianus, the ordained minister of a church in the city of Rome. Let us now trace the secession of the Novatians, which took place a century or so before the sharp, general division that came throughout Christendom. Says Jones:AGP 201.2

“Long before the times of which we now treat [370-400 A.D.] some Christians had seen it their duty to withdraw from the communion of the Church of Rome. The first instance of this that we find on record, if we except that of Tertullian [the Montanist], is the case of Novatian, who, in the year 251, was ordained the pastor of a church in the city of Rome.” “History of the Christian Church,” William Jones, chap. 3, sec. 2, p. 180.

As this separation was a drastic step, and was followed by that of other devout leaders and their followers through the centuries, it should be clearly understood why these separations seemed imperative. It becomes necessary, therefore, to survey rather specifically some of the historical aspects that form the background to the object of our study.AGP 201.3

Of the time and the conditions when the Novatians withdrew, Mosheim says:AGP 201.4

“The face of things began now to change in the Christian church. The ancient method of ecclesiastical government seemed, in general, still to subsist, while, at the same time, by imperceptible steps, it varied from the primitive rule, and degenerated toward the form of a religious monarchy.”

“This change, in the form of ecclesiastical government, was soon followed by a train of vices, which dishonored the character and authority of those to whom the administration of the church was committed. For, though several yet continued to exhibit to the world illustrious examples of primitive piety and Christian virtue, yet many were sunk in luxury and voluptuousness, puffed up with vanity, arrogance, and ambition, possessed with a spirit of contention and discord, and addicted to many other vices that cast an undeserved reproach upon the holy religion, of which they were unworthy professors and ministers.” “An Ecclesiastical History,” Vol. I, Cent. III, pp. 258, 259.