Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Novatian (200 – 258 AD) – Division in the Church in Rome – Part Two of Three

Thomas E Kresal Admin · 3d August 21, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Novatian (200 – 258 AD) – Division in the Church in Rome – Part Two of Three

In the year 251, a division occurred in the church at Rome, on the occasion of the election of Cornelius as bishop or pastor of that church. Cornelius was in full sympathy with the growing tendency toward a lax discipline and corruptions in the church, and was, consequently, opposed by Novatian; and those in favor of his ideas regarding the practices of the church, withdrew and formed themselves into a church, maintaining no fellowship with [what later became known as] the Catholic party, as they were beginning to style themselves.

All over the empire the example of this devoted man of God was followed, and puritan churches, called Novatians, existed in Constantinople, Carthage, Alexandria, Nicomedia, Phrygia, Gaul, Spain, and elsewhere.

Novatus, a Bishop at Carthage, joined in the move. These Puritan churches were called by their enemies Novatianists, under which name they may be traced to the end of the sixth century. They were found in direct line with the Tertullianists and Montanists, who were their successors.

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: Elder John R. Daily, Primitive Monitor, 1897, pp. 229-231.