A summary of questions 1 - 4

Question 1 - "Were Tractates I and II written by Priscillian ?"

The answer to this as we have seen is an (almost) unequivocal "yes". The chief dissenter among scholars is G. Morin who would attribute all the Tractates to Bishop Instantius, the main supporter of Priscillian. (1)

Question 2 - "Was Priscillian telling the truth about his beliefs or was he lying in his teeth?"

There is general agreement among scholars that "Priscillian was telling the truth". Although most would feel that he is leaving some things unsaid. He concentrates on justifying himself and his followers by attacking the obvious heretical beliefs of others, rather than straightforward statements of the creed of the Priscillianists. However we will look at Tractate ll: 45 - 65 in the next post.

Question 3 - "On what basis were the Priscillianist churches organised? Hierarchical or Familial?"

The basis on which the Priscillianist churches were organised would appear to be on a Familial - 'House church', basis. This would enable women to take on leadership roles, as they would be operating within the private sphere rather than in public.


Question 4 - "What was Priscillian's attitude to ordaining clergy (bishops) with an itinerant ministry?"

With the evidence we have, it would appear that either Priscillian himself, or his followers soon after his martyrdom, ordained clergy to an itinerant ministry in the countryside. This would be in keeping with what we have already learned of his beliefs and practices, and would be necessary for the independence of the Priscillianist churches.

(1) Dom G. Morin. Pro Instantio. 1913