New Prophecy, New Orthodoxy The Evolution of Early Christian Authority in Second Century Asia Minor
Date of Award
2008
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Marks, Susan
Keywords
Montanism, New Prophecy, Orthodoxy, Heresy, Urban Christianity, Rural Christianity, Revelation of John, Ecstatic Prophecy, Asia Minor, Phrygia
Area of Concentration
Religion
Abstract
In the late second century, urban Christianies began to institutionalize and form an orthodox authority through a monarchical episcopate; however, not all Christianies gave authority to the bishop but rather favored their own traditions of leadership. The early New Prophecy movement, originating in Phrygia (Asia Minor), developed out of a rural culture that favored prophecy and millenarianism while the emerging orthodoxy developed more out of urban areas. The orthodoxy favored placing authority in monarchical leadership of bishops rather than charismatic prophets. The original New Prophecy movement challenged the authority of the episcopal leadership of the forming orthodoxy by enacting practices and prophesies inspired by an intended revivalism of the original Jesus movement that included a strong sense of millenarianism and eschatological expectations. This initial conflict of authority caused the New Prophecy to be labeled a heresy decades later by a more solidified and powerful orthodoxy. I introduce the locational context of the original Montanists detailing how their rural, Phrygian roots fostered chiliasm through revivalism and charismatic prophecy, which shows the initial conflict of authority and regional misunderstandings the Montanist had with an institutionalizing orthodoxy. This geographical context continues to influence the early Montanists by evidence of Ignatius' Letters and the Apocalypse of John. Primarily, however, the form of prophecy and the practices enacted by the authority of those prophecies caused the conflict between the forming orthodoxy.
Recommended Citation
Francis, Samyntha Kay, "New Prophecy, New Orthodoxy The Evolution of Early Christian Authority in Second Century Asia Minor" (2008). Theses & ETDs. 3942.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3942
Rights
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