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Research atlas for early Christianity. Claims are tagged attested, traditional, or disputed. Copyrighted full texts, including CCEL editions, are not included.

controversy

Jovinian controversy

undated

Monk Jovinian argued that virginity was not superior to marriage; condemned at Rome and Milan (c. 390-393) and attacked by Jerome.

Wikipedia extract

Extract is from the broader Wikipedia page "Jovinian", not about this record specifically

Jovinian was an opponent of Christian asceticism in the 4th century and was condemned as a heretic at synods convened in Rome under Pope Siricius and in Milan by Ambrose in 393 because of his views. Our information about him is derived principally from the work of Jerome in two books, Adversus Jovinianum. Jerome referred to him as the "Epicurus of Christianity". He was a native of Corduene, in present day Turkey. John Henry Newman called Aerius of Sebaste, Jovinian and Vigilantius the forerunners of Protestantism, likening them to the "Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli of the fourth century". Other Protestants also praise Jovinian as an early reformer or even credit him as the "first Protestant". Jovinian's teachings received much popular support in Rome and Milan and his followers Sarmatio and Barbatianus kept preaching his ideas after Jovinian was expelled.

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Sources

  • Jovinian · Wikipedia contributorsAccessed 2026-11-12 · CC BY-SA 4.0

asceticism · marriage · 4th-century

Jovinian controversy · DeChurched Atlas