Jovinian

Jovinianus, dt usually Jovinian (* 4th century; † about 405) was an early Christian monk and theological writer who attacked the Church's asceticism and was therefore condemned as a heretic in the year 390. His person and teaching are known mainly from the proceedings against him polemical treatise Adversus Iovinianum of Jerome. His home was probably Italy, perhaps Rome.

Requirements

At the turn of the fourth century, in parallel with the end of the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire and the beginning of the privilege, the old ascetic tendencies of Christianity had found a hermit monasticism a radical shape. Jovinian chose this way of life and kept them, if known, life with.

At the same time in the Church the doctrine had become general that a meritorious life and the kingdom of heaven is all the closer, the more restriction of the natural desire they abverlange man. The observance of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience was true of the Church is not imposed on all - as called Montanism and other enthusiastic currents - but was considered the safer and higher quality way to God versus a life in marriage and in material concern. These different valuation refused Jovinian.

Teaching Jovinian

Jovinian concern was the fundamental equality of chastity and marriage, fasting, and thankful enjoyment, voluntary poverty and responsible occupied prosperity. Through baptism the human sinfulness was a healed once and for all and for all, so that all God are equally close and no progression to him, but only a preservation of grace have obtained necessary. This store is equally possible in the various forms of life.

In inner connection with his rejection of faith stood on the perpetual virginity of the Mother of God in and also after birth, which he justified by reference to the mentioned in the New Testament Jesus' siblings.

Jovinian found with his views followers, some from the condemnation of acts of which are known by name.

Controversy

The Roman Senator Pammachius, a Christian and a childhood friend of Jerome, sent that the Jovinian writings with the request to judge them. Jerome wrote then a two-volume Widerlegungsschrift, which is held in sharp and personally abusive tone. He calls Jovinian a Epicurus of Christianity and under him the endorsement of any excess. The bodily abstinence he describes as communion with the Cross of Christ and participation in his work of redemption, but it goes in his zeal so far as to marriage its positive value in God's plan and in fact deny the Church's life.

Pammachius was repelled by the tone and content of the writing of Jerome and tried - in vain - to prevent its spread.

Condemnation

Pope Siricius and one of Ambrose gathered in Milan Synod condemned in 390 Jovinianus as heretics and locked him out of the ecclesial community. For it meant his teaching that the Christian discipline was reduced to inwardness and invisibility. They understood the grace of baptism just as an enabler of a " meritorious " progression on the path to God. Precisely in this they saw the essence of the Church's life.

Jerome's writing Contra Vigilantium contains a remark about Jovinian, which suggests that he was no longer alive to the time of composition ( 409).