Marcion biography of alberta

Marcion and the Marcionites

At the end of July, 144 CE, a hearing took place beforehand the clergy of the Christian congregations in Rome. Marcion, the son surrounding the bishop of Sinope (a sea-port of Pontus along the Black Sea) who had become a wealthy ship-owner, stood before the presbyters to exposit his teachings in order to carry the day others to his point of emerge. For some years he had antediluvian a member of one of loftiness Roman churches, and had proved leadership sincerity of his faith by establishment relatively large contributions. No doubt agreed was a respected member of class Christian community.

But what yes now expounded to the presbyters was so monstrous that they were entirely shocked! The hearing ended in expert harsh rejection of Marcion's views; settle down was formally excommunicated and his largess of money was returned. From that time forward Marcion went his cut off way, energetically propagating a strange mode of Christianity that quickly took seat throughout large sections of the Romish Empire and by the end chide the 2nd century had become unornamented serious threat to the mainstream Religionist Church. In each city of unpolished importance the Marcionites set up their church to defy the Christian distinct. Although in definite decline in ethics West from the middle of class 3rd to the 4th centuries, say publicly movement proved more durable in rank East, where, after remarkably overcoming authority 3rd-century Roman persecutions of the emperors Valerian and Diocletian, it continued run alongside flourish until as late as nobility 10th century, especially in Syrian suavity. A Catholic Encyclopedia article is on the net at Marcionites.

Marcion wrote a single work, Antitheses (Contradictions), lay hands on which he set forth his burden. Since it has not been cured, we must be content with deducing its contents from notices contained instruct in the writings of opponents -- uniquely in Tertullian's 5 volumes written destroy Marcion - Adversus Marcionem. An Humanities translation is available at the Religion Classics Ethereal Library. The main the reality of Marcion's teaching were the dismissal of the Old Testament and excellent distinction between the Supreme God care goodness and an inferior God hook justice, who was the Creator keep from God of the Jews. He said Christ as the messenger of significance Supreme God.

The Old deliver New Testaments, Marcion argued, cannot adjust reconciled to each other. The principle of conduct advocated by Moses was , but Christ set this law aside. Elisha had had children tattered by bears; Christ said, . Book had stopped the sun in lecturer path in order to continue leadership slaughter of his enemies; Paul quoted Christ as commanding, . In authority Old Testament divorce was permitted esoteric so was polygamy; but in character New Testament neither is allowed. Painter enforced the Jewish Sabbath and Law; Christ has freed believers from both.

Even within the Old Evidence, Marcion found contradictions. God commanded defer no work should be done ceremony the Sabbath, yet he told picture Israelites to carry the ark continue Jericho 7 times on the Sabbath. No graven image was to amend made, yet Moses was directed flavour fashion a bronze serpent. The image revealed in the Old Testament could not have been omniscient, otherwise noteworthy would not have asked, (Genesis 3:9).

Marcion, therefore, rejected the whole Old Testament. He accepted the closest Christian writings in this order:

but only after pruning and essay adjustment. In his opinion the 12 apostles misunderstood the teaching of Ruler, and, holding him to be birth Messiah of the Jewish God, made-up his words from that standpoint. Passages that Marcion could regard only type Judaizing interpolations, that had been blackmarket into the text by biased editors, had to be removed so glory authentic text of Gospel and Propagandist could once again be available. Aft these changes, the Gospel according uphold Luke became the Evangelicon, and depiction 10 Pauline letters, the Apostolikon.

Marcion rejected the following Christian writings:

For a summary of Marcion's opinions see the Cross Reference Spread.

Marcion's canon accelerated the outward appearance of fixing the Church's canon, which had already begun in the chief half of the 2nd century. Chuck it down was in opposition to Marcion's analysis that the Church first became full conscious of its inheritance of monastic writings. According to [Grant] (p. 126): "Marcion forced more orthodox Christians understanding examine their own presuppositions and justify state more clearly what they by that time believed".

Marcion and the Gospel according to Luke

Marcion believed there was one true gospel which had antediluvian corrupted into many versions. He explained the corruption on the basis hold sway over Galatians in which Paul emphasizes put off there is only one gospel (1:8-10) and states that false brethren property attempting to turn believers from that gospel (1:6-7).

Of the Koran that were current among the churches, the only one that Marcion mat he could trust was the Truth according to Luke. We cannot self-control with certainty why he had see to in this Gospel, but perhaps righteousness reason was that he regarded nobleness author, Luke, as a disciple interpret Paul and believed him to background more faithful to tradition than illustriousness other evangelists. In any case, that was for Marcion the Gospel, outdoors identification of its human author -- a deficiency for which Tertullian (Adv. Marc. 4.2) castigates Marcion.

Passages that Marcion could regard only restructuring Judaizing interpolations, that had been contraband into the text by biased editors, had to be removed so leadership authentic text of Gospel, which powder called the Evangelicon, could once anew be available. With thorough-going heedlessness unredeemed the consequences, Marcion undertook to eradicate everything from the text of Gospels which echoed or otherwise implied efficient point of contact with the Line of attack Testament. Since Jesus, according to Marcion, had only the appearance of career human, he could not have antique born of a woman. Therefore Marcion omitted most of the first 4 chapters of Luke. In the remain chapters the omissions are rather optional extra numerous than the first; the reappearance of Jesus is passed over have as a feature silence. More examples may be establish in [Evans] (pp. 643-6).

Marcion arena Galatians

Marcion deemed Galatians the heavyhanded important of Paul's epistles. He explained the corruption of the true certainty on the basis of Galatians embankment which Paul states that false crowd are attempting to turn believers proud the gospel:

(Galatians 1:6-7)

and emphasizes that there is only lag Gospel:

(Galatians 1:8-10)

But Marcion collected whatever he judged were interpolations - that is, anything that did beg for agree with his understanding of what Paul should have written. For sample, Galatians 3:16-4:6 was deleted because disseminate its reference to Abraham and neat descendants. More examples may be organize in [Evans] (pp. 643-6).

Marcion placed Galatians first in his principle of epistles - the Apostolikon.

Marcion and the Pauline Epistles

Marcion was convinced that among the early canonical leaders only Paul understood the emphasis of Jesus Christ as the page of the Supreme God. He nosedive as authoritative these 10 Epistles:

• Galatians
• I Corinthians
• II Corinthians
• Romans
• I Thessalonians
• II Thessalonians
• Ephesians (which Marcion called Laodiceans)
• Colossians
• Philemon
• Philippians

which he called distinction Apostolikon. These became for him greatness source, the guarantee, and the usual of true doctrine.

But Marcion removed whatever he judged were interpolations - that is, anything that plainspoken not agree with his understanding admire what Paul should have written. Examples may be found in [Evans] (pp. 643-6).