O
Ora_et_Labora_1
Guest
I recall hearing about a heresy in the early Church which was in favor of women bishops/presbyters. Does any one know what it was called?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
D
DavidFilmer
Guest
When I saw this topic, I was sure I could answer the question, because I am pretty good at heresies (having once been a heretic myself, and heresies are of particular interest and study for me).
But I have never heard of an Early Church heresy which proposed presbyter/episcopal ordinations upon women.
There is, of course, the question of the “deaconess,” which some modern commentators have suggested were the female equivalent of an ordained (male) deacon, but were, in fact, really more like modern nuns, with no concept of Holy Orders. The notion of the “ordained deaconess” has been well refuted, and that’s where I thought this question would lead (and I was prepared to offer the usual dozen counterpoints), but you say “priest or bishop” which I have never heard of in the days of the Early Church (although the name “Tertullian” keeps nagging me, I cannot find where he advocated female ordination).
But I have never heard of an Early Church heresy which proposed presbyter/episcopal ordinations upon women.
There is, of course, the question of the “deaconess,” which some modern commentators have suggested were the female equivalent of an ordained (male) deacon, but were, in fact, really more like modern nuns, with no concept of Holy Orders. The notion of the “ordained deaconess” has been well refuted, and that’s where I thought this question would lead (and I was prepared to offer the usual dozen counterpoints), but you say “priest or bishop” which I have never heard of in the days of the Early Church (although the name “Tertullian” keeps nagging me, I cannot find where he advocated female ordination).
O
Ora_et_Labora_1
Guest
Tertullian was also floating around in my mind on this subject too, for some reason. I looked up Montanism, but found no claim of women presbyters.but you say “priest or bishop” which I have never heard of in the days of the Early Church (although the name “Tertullian” keeps nagging me, I cannot find where he advocated female ordination).
T
thistle
Guest
Didn’t the Gnostics advocate women priests?I recall hearing about a heresy in the early Church which was in favor of women bishops/presbyters. Does any one know what it was called?
N
Nita
Guest
books.google.com/books?id=NHPxcYNV0BwC&pg=PA275&lpg=PA275&dq=montanism+female+priests&source=bl&ots=yrZ4vkawzc&sig=ufyzIocf-_DdMNIpT4rX-AF2oyw&hl=en&ei=ozldTaGWLcWEtgf74N3RCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=montanism%20female%20priests&f=false
According to the above site, St. Epiphanius in his “Against Heresies” (49:1-3) speaks of two 4th century groups:
the Quintillians - “an aberrant Montanist group”
the Collyridians
Was unable to locate the Epiphanius text online.
According to the above site, St. Epiphanius in his “Against Heresies” (49:1-3) speaks of two 4th century groups:
the Quintillians - “an aberrant Montanist group”
the Collyridians
Was unable to locate the Epiphanius text online.
O
Ora_et_Labora_1
Guest
Thanks! With these names I was able to look them up on New Advent.books.google.com/books?id=NHPxcYNV0BwC&pg=PA275&lpg=PA275&dq=montanism+female+priests&source=bl&ots=yrZ4vkawzc&sig=ufyzIocf-_DdMNIpT4rX-AF2oyw&hl=en&ei=ozldTaGWLcWEtgf74N3RCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=montanism%20female%20priests&f=false
According to the above site, St. Epiphanius in his “Against Heresies” (49:1-3) speaks of two 4th century groups:
the Quintillians - “an aberrant Montanist group”
the Collyridians
Was unable to locate the Epiphanius text online.
I knew the Montanists were mixed in one way or another!
- Status
- Not open for further replies.