Understanding Novatianism: A Christian Heresy of Purity and Mercy

Novatianism was a Christian heresy that emerged in the 3rd century and was named after its founder, Novatian, a priest from Rome. It taught that only those who had been baptized before they apostatized could be re-baptized and return to the Church. This view was in conflict with the prevailing practice of the Church, which allowed for the baptism of those who had previously apostatized.
Novatianism gained a significant following in the early 4th century, particularly in Italy and North Africa. However, it was eventually condemned as a heresy by the Catholic Church at the Council of Rome in 340 and the Council of Arles in 353. The council declared that all those who had lapsed during the persecutions could be re-baptized, regardless of whether they had been baptized before their apostasy.
The teachings of Novatianism were based on a strict interpretation of the Bible and a belief in the absolute purity of the Church. Novatian and his followers believed that the Church should only admit those who had never denied their faith, and that those who had lapsed during the persecutions were not truly repentant. They also rejected the idea of "penance" as a way to return to the Church, instead insisting on a strict adherence to the rules of the Church.
The heresy of Novatianism was significant because it highlighted the tension between the desire for purity and the need for mercy in the Church. The debate over Novatianism led to a greater emphasis on the importance of penance and the role of the Church in forgiving sins, and it contributed to the development of the sacrament of Penance in the Catholic Church.