These two books were written against the Novatian heresy, which took its name from Novatus, a priest of the Church of Carthage and Novatian, Schismatically consecrated bishop at Rome. It was the outcome of a struggle which had long existed in the Church upon the question of the restitution to the Church priviliges of those who had fallen into grievous sin, and the possibility of their repentance.
These two books were written against the Novatian heresy, which took its name from Novatus, a priest of the Church of Carthage and Novatian, Schismatically consecrated bishop at Rome. It was the outcome of a struggle which had long existed in the Church upon the question of the restitution to the Church priviliges of those who had fallen into grievous sin, and the possibility of their repentance.