Jovinianism Explained

Jovinianism refers to an anti-ascetic movement that has its origins in the 4th-century theologian Jovinian, who criticized the monastic movement and argued for the equality of marriage and celibacy.^{[1] [2]} Jovinianism was criticized by Saint Augustine and Jerome.^{[3] [4]}

History

Jovinianism spread into Rome and Milan and two followers of Jovinian, Sarmatio and Barbatianus, kept preaching his ideas after Jovinian was expelled.^{[5] [6] [7]} Other disciples of Jovinian included Auxentius, Genialis, Germinator, Felix, Prontinus, Martianus, Januarius and Ingeniosus.^[8] Because Sarmatio preached anti-ascetic ideas, Ambrose started to write to defend ascetism, calling him a "foolish talker".^{[9] [10] [11]}

Jovinianism was condemned by two synods, one in Rome and one in Milan, afterwards they were banished by Emperor Honorius, however some Jovinianists perhaps survived longer in the Alps.^[12] Jovinianism was also condemned by Pope Siricus. He opposed Jovinian, because Siricus was zealously opposed to marriage of clergy.^{[13] [14]}

Later Erasmus was accused of the heresy of Jovinianism.^[15] Additionally, Martin Luther, though he did not explicitly speak in favour of Jovinian, he did not agree with Jerome's defence of ascetism.^[16]

Teachings

Jovinian opposed monasticism and denied the perpetual virginity of Mary, Jovinian also taught that every believer will have an equal reward in heaven, argued that there is no difference between fasting and enjoying foods with thanksgiving, perhaps distinguished the church visible from the church invisible and limited the impossibility of relapse to the truly regenerate.^{[17] [18] [19] [20]}

References

1. Book: Brackney, William H. . Historical Dictionary of Radical Christianity . 2012-05-03 . Scarecrow Press . 978-0-8108-7365-0 . en.
2. Book: Altendorf . Alan Von . Isms: A Compendium of Concepts, Doctrines, Traits & Beliefs from Ableism to Zygodactylism . Altendorf . Theresa Von . 1993 . Mustang Publishing Company . 978-0-914457-64-0 . en.
3. Book: Kust, Matthew J. . Man in the Universe: Creation, Motivation, Technology & History . 1981 . Plutarch Press . 978-0-89891-004-9 . en.
4. Book: Weever, Jacqueline de . Chaucer Name Dictionary: A Guide to Astrological, Biblical, Historical, Literary, and Mythological Names in the Works of Geoffrey Chaucer . 2014-04-08 . Routledge . 978-1-135-61446-1 . en.
5. Book: Greenslade, Stanley Lawrence . Early Latin Theology: Selections from Tertullian, Cyprian, Ambrose, and Jerome . 1956-01-01 . Westminster John Knox Press . 978-0-664-24154-4 . en.
6. Book: Hunter, David G. . Marriage, Celibacy, and Heresy in Ancient Christianity: The Jovinianist Controversy . 2007-01-26 . OUP Oxford . 978-0-19-153553-6 . en.
7. G. Hunter . David . 1987 . Resistance to the Virginal Ideal in Late-Fourth-Century Rome: The Case of Jovinian. Theological Studies. 48. 45–64 . 10.1177/004056398704800103 . 54891999 .
8. Jovinianus. 8. Patrick Joseph. Healy.
9. Web site: CHURCH FATHERS: Letter 63 (Ambrose) . 2022-06-18 . www.newadvent.org.
10. Book: Greenslade, Stanley Lawrence . Early Latin Theology: Selections from Tertullian, Cyprian, Ambrose, and Jerome . 1956-01-01 . Westminster John Knox Press . 978-0-664-24154-4 . en.
11. Book: Hunter, David G. . Marriage, Celibacy, and Heresy in Ancient Christianity: The Jovinianist Controversy . 2007-01-26 . OUP Oxford . 978-0-19-153553-6 . en.
12. Book: Brackney, William H. . Historical Dictionary of Radical Christianity . 2012-05-03 . Scarecrow Press . 978-0-8108-7365-0 . en.
13. Web site: Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume III: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 311-600 - Christian Classics Ethereal Library . 2022-01-26 . ccel.org .
14. Book: Smith . William . A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines: Hermogenes-Myensis . Wace . Henry . 1882 . Little, Brown . en.
15. Book: Dixon, C. Scott . The Church in the Early Modern Age . 2016-03-24 . Bloomsbury Publishing . 978-0-85772-917-0 . en.
16. Book: Hunter, David G. . Marriage, Celibacy, and Heresy in Ancient Christianity: The Jovinianist Controversy . 2007-01-26 . OUP Oxford . 978-0-19-153553-6 . en.
17. Book: Stapert, Calvin . A New Song for an Old World: Musical Thought in the Early Church . 2007 . Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing . 978-0-8028-3219-1 . en . Jovinian taught the complete equality between marriage and celibacy and between eating and fasting. He also taught something like the Calvin- ist doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.
18. Web site: Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume III: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 311-600 - Christian Classics Ethereal Library . 2022-01-26 . ccel.org .
19. Book: Neander, August . General History of the Christian Religion and Church . 1849 . Crocker & Brewster . en . It is plainly evident that Jovinian could only have understood by the church, here, the invisible church.
20. Book: M ́Clintock, John Strong, James . Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature: Volume II . 2020-04-17 . BoD – Books on Demand . 978-3-8460-5024-8 . en . As Jovinian taught the Pauline doctrine of faith, so he did the Pauline idea of the invisible Church.