Spiritual Gifts and Church Order
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History 5.17 (anonymous vs Montanist ecstasy)
In this writing, the author also mentions Miltiades, who had written against the heresy we have already mentioned. Miltiades set forth some of their words, saying, 'I found these things in a certain writing of theirs, in which they oppose the writing of Alcibiades' brother. In that writing, they demonstrate that a prophet should not speak in ecstasy, and I opposed them.'
Going on in the same passage, the author lists those who prophesied under the new covenant, including a certain Ammias and Quadratus. He says, 'But the false prophet, who speaks in a state of ecstasy and is followed by license and fearlessness, begins with voluntary ignorance and turns into the involuntary madness of the soul, as has been said.'
He adds, 'This manner of behavior cannot be shown in any prophet who was moved by the Spirit, either according to the old or the new covenant. Neither Agabus nor Judas nor Silas nor the daughters of Philip, nor the Ammias in Philadelphia, nor Quadratus, nor anyone else they might boast of who has nothing to do with them.'
He says again, 'If, as they claim, the women around Montanus received the prophetic gift along with Quadratus and the Ammias in Philadelphia, let them show who among them received it from Montanus and the women. For the apostle thinks it is necessary for the prophetic gift to be in the whole church until the complete arrival.'
Greek
Ἐν τούτῳ δὲ τῷ συγγράμματι καἰ Μιλτιάδου συγγραφέως μέμνηται, ὡς λόγον τινὰ καὶ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τῆς προειρημένης αἱρέσεως γε· γραφότος· παραθέμενος γοῦν αὐτῶν λέξεις τινάς, ἐπιφέρει λέγων· “ταῦτα εὑρὼν ἔν τινι συγγράμματι αὐτῶν ἐνισταμένων τῷ Ἀλκιβιάδου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ συγγράμματι, ἐν ᾧ ἀποδείκνυσιν περὶ τοῦ μὴ δεῖν προφήτην ἐν ἐκστάσει λαλεῖν, ἐπετεμόμην.” ὑποκαταβὰς δ’ ἐν ταὐτῷ τοὺς κατὰ τὴν καινὴν διαθήκην προπεφητευκότας καταλέγει, ἐν οἷς καταριθμεῖ Ἀμμίαν τινὰ καὶ Κοδρᾶτον, λέγων οὕτως· “ ἀλλ’ ὅ γε ψευδοπροφήτης ἐν παρεκστάσει, ᾧ ἕπεται ἄδεια καὶ ἀφοβία, ἀρχομένου μὲν ἐξ ἑκουσίου ἀμαθίας, καταστρέφοντος δὲ εἰς ἀκούσιον μανίαν ψυχῆς, ὡς προείρηται. τοῦτον δὲ τὸν τρόπον οὔτε τινὰ τῶν κατὰ τὴν παλαιὰν οὔτε τῶν κατὰ τὴν καινὴν πνευματοφορηθέντα προφήτην δεῖξαι δυνή- δονται, οὔτε Ἄγαβον οὔτε Ἰούδαν οὔτε Σίλαν οὔτε τὰς Φιλίππου θυγατέρας, οὔτε τὴν ἐν Φιλαδελφίᾳ Ἀμμίαν οὔτε Κοδρᾶτον, οὔτε εἰ δή τινας ἄλλους μηδὲν αὐτοῖς προσήκοντας καυχήσονται ’’ καὶ αὖθις δὲ μετὰ βραχέα ταῦτά φηαιν· “εἰ γὰρ μετὰ Κοδρᾶτον καὶ τὴν ἐν Φιλαδελφίᾳ Ἀμμίαν, ὥς φασιν, αἱ περὶ Μοντανὸν διεδέξαντο γυναῖκες τὸ προφητικὸν χάρισμα, τοὺς ἀπὸ Μοντανοῦ καὶ τῶν γυναικῶν τίνες παρ’ αὐτοῖς διεδέξαντο, δειξάτωσαν· δεῖν γὰρ εἶναι τὸ προφητικὸν χάρισμα ἐν πάσῃ τῆ ἐκκλησίᾳ μέχρι τῆς τελείας παρουσίας ὁ ἀπόστολος ἀξιοῖ.