In 1906, at 312 Azusa Street, Los Angeles, California, a series of Pentecostal revivals took place. Characterized by their boisterous and nearly riotous nature, these revivals consisted of altar calls, mystic healings, and above all, the speaking of “heavenly tongues” as a manifestation of the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. These events and practices were considered to be evidence of a mass “pouring out” of Holy Spirit power causing its leaders and participants to refer to it as a “second Pentecost,” taking after the words of Christ when He promised to pour His Spirit upon His people.
These revivals contributed greatly to the rise and flourishing of Pentecostal denominations in North America, which in turn spread the Pentecostal doctrine that believers do not possess the Holy Spirit until they are “baptized” in Him, made manifest by speaking in tongues. What is particularly troubling about these events is that it was not the first nor last example of this misconstruction of the Person of the Holy Spirit, but merely one incident in a pattern of the perpetuation of this problematic Holy Spirit doctrine.
The first recorded incident that was addressed by the catholic church occurred during the second century—around the year AD 156, a man named Montanus began a movement of “ecstatic prophecy” that was also characterized by the claim to continued revelation through visions, the speaking of a mysterious, but allegedly heavenly language, and an emphasis on the apostolic gifts of the Spirit as characterized during Pentecost.2
This movement can be considered the first charismatic movement recorded in the Church. It was considered fundamentally heretical because of how it denied the closed canon with a desired continuation of divine revelation, and was ultimately born of a complete misconstruction of the gifts and administration of the Holy Spirit. Local synods and councils declared Montanus to be a heretic, and in the fourth century, the Council of Constantinople ecumenically and formally declared Montanism and its followers to be heretical.3
Post the fourth century, the writing of the Athanasian Creed revealed more attention to preserving the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, and so the cycle of improper Holy Spirit doctrine continued, culminating in modern day Pentecostal and charismatic movements, a western movement that mirrors Montanism almost exactly. Read more»
Melody Muniz | “The Restful Finality of Pentecost”
RESOURCES
- Feathers And All: The Scriptures Are Enough (Heidelcast Series)
- Subscribe to The Heidelblog!
- Download the HeidelApp on Apple App Store or Google Play
- Browse the Heidelshop!
- The Heidelblog Resource Page
- Heidelmedia Resources
- The Ecumenical Creeds
- The Reformed Confessions
- The Heidelberg Catechism
- The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological, & Pastoral Commentary (Lexham Press, 2025)
- Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008)
- Why I Am A Christian
- What Must A Christian Believe?
- Heidelblog Contributors
- Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button or send a check to
Heidelberg Reformation Association
1637 E. Valley Parkway #391
Escondido CA 92027
USA
The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Heidelblog
The Heidelblog has been in publication since 2007. It is devoted to recovering the Reformed confession and to helping others discover Reformed theology, piety, and practice.
More by Heidelblog ›