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The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1 - Contents
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    CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE: Novatian of Rome—Conditionalist Opponent of Cornelius

    I. Novatian—Immortality of God and Mortality of Man

    During the Decian persecution (c. A.D. 250) many professed Christians denied the faith and deserted the church. Then when the storm had passed, many such sought readmission to the church. The laxer party, predominant at Rome, favored readmission without delay or discipline. This created a crisis.CFF1 902.1

    By this time the church and her ordinances had come increasingly to be regarded as the medium of salvation. Her baptism and her communion were the keys by which Heaven was opened or closed. Moreover, the church had become crowded with those seeking to escape the “endless woe” for the wicked now being stressed by some—albeit they were more willing to avoid it by penance and ceremony than by obedience and love. Such could not endure tribulation, and the reviving of pagan persecution led to widespread denial of the faith. Should they be rejected as apostates? In any event, how could they be saved from the “unconsuming flames” of Hell?CFF1 902.2

    NOVATIAN—PROTESTS APOSTASY; CALLS FOR REFORM

    NOVATIAN (A.D. 210-280), prominent presbyter of Rome, vigorously opposed this laxity on the part of the indulgent Cornelius, newly elected bishop of Rome, and insisted on a vigorous exclusion of the lapsi—the weak who had fallen from the faith under civil pressure. However, he withdrew his protest when he was overwhelmed. He disavowed the authority of Cornelius and the validity of Catholic baptism. Eventually Novatian was consecrated bishop of the rival party, including numerous priests at Carthage. As such, he was really the first antipope.CFF1 902.3

    Picture 1: Novatian of Rome, Arnobius of Africa:
    Novation of Rome-stressed the Immortality of God and the Mortality of Man; Must Attain Immortality.
    Amobius of Africa-Boon of Immortality is God’s Gift; Incorrigibly Wicked to be Extinguished.
    Page 903
    CFF1 903

    The bulk of the churches in Italy, Africa, and the East adhered to Cornelius, but the Novatian party formed a strong organization in Northern Africa and Asia Minor, constituting themselves the “true church,” with congregations at Carthage, Alexandria, Constantinople, Nicomedia, Phrygia, Gaul, and Spain. This Novatian movement persisted for more than two hundred years, or into the sixth century.CFF1 903.1

    The Novatians believed largely as others. The issue was over laxity of discipline, not doctrine. But they came increasingly to believe that the nominal churches had become apostate, and insisted on rebaptism—and the tide of baptismal regeneration was running strongly at this time. Novatian was really a third-century Puritan, the founder of the Cathari (“pure”). His birthplace is unknown, possibly Phrygia. He is said to have been a Stoic prior to his conversion to Christianity, but the evidence adduced is questionable. He is supposed to have died a martyr, as church historian Socrates states. 11) Socrates, The Ecclesiastical History, book 4, chap. 28, in NPNF, 2nd series, vol. 2, p. 249.CFF1 903.2

    In any event Novatian became one of the conspicuous characters of the third century. Even his enemies recognized his integrity and admitted to his being doctrinally sound. He was an apostle of unrelenting discipline, and was “heretical” in that he disturbed the calm of the churches by calling for reform. That is why opprobrious epithets were hurled at him.CFF1 904.1

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