Marcion of Sinope (ca. 110-160) was a Christian theologian who was excommunicated ^[1] by the early Christian church at Rome as a heretic. His teachings were influential during the 2nd century and a few centuries after, rivaling that of the Church of Rome. As he offered an alternative theology to the Canonical, Proto-orthodox, Trinitarian and Christological views of the Roman Church, the early Church Fathers denounced him sharply; their views dominate Christianity today. For other uses, see number 110. ... In Rome, the manufacturing of soap containing grease, lime and ashes begins. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Theology is literally rational discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, rational discourse). By extension, it also refers to the study of other religious topics. ... Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community. ... For other uses, see Heresy (disambiguation). ... The 2nd century is the period from 101 - 200 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... The name Catholic Church can mean a visible organization that refers to itself as Catholic, or the invisible Christian Church, viz. ... Canonical is an adjective derived from canon. ... Proto-orthodox Christianity is a term created by religious philosopher Bart D. Ehrman. ... The adjective trinitarian is used in several senses: Ideas or things pertaining to the Holy Trinity A person or group adhering to the doctrine of Trinitarianism, which holds God to subsist in the form of the Holy Trinity The Trinitarian Order is a Catholic monastic order founded in 1198 by... Christology is that part of Christian theology that studies and defines who Jesus Christ is. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers...

Marcion is sometimes referred to as one of the gnostics, but from what assessment of his lost writings can be gleaned from his mainstream opponents, his teachings were quite different in nature. His canon included ten of the Pauline Epistles and one gospel^[2] called the Gospel of Marcion, a rejection of the whole Hebrew Bible and of the rest of the books later incorporated into the canonical New Testament . He propounded a Christianity free from Jewish doctrines with Paul as the reliable source of authentic doctrine. Paul was, according to Marcion, the only apostle who had rightly understood the new message of salvation as delivered by Christ.^[3] Gnosticism (Greek: gnōsis, knowledge) refers to a diverse, syncretistic religious movement consisting of various belief systems generally united in the teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect god, the demiurge, who is frequently identified with the Abrahamic God. ... A folio from P46, an early 3rd century collection of Pauline epistles. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Gospel of Marcion or the Gospel of the Lord was a text used by the mid-second century anti-Christian teacher Marcion to the exclusion of the other gospels. ... This article is about the term Hebrew Bible. For the Jewish scriptures see Tanakh. ... This article is about the Christian scriptures. ... Judaizers is a pejorative term used by Pauline Christianity, particularly after the third century, to describe Jewish Christian groups like the Ebionites and Nazarenes who believed that followers of Jesus needed to keep the Law of Moses. ... Paul of Tarsus (b. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      For... For other uses, see Salvation (disambiguation). ...

Life

Biographical information about Marcion stems mostly from writings of his detractors. Hippolytus says he was the son of the bishop of Sinope (modern Sinop, Turkey), in Pontus province. Rhodon and Tertullian described him as a ship owner.^[4] They further state^{[citation needed]} that he was excommunicated by his father for seducing a virgin. However, Bart D. Ehrman's Lost Christianities suggest that his seduction of a virgin was a metaphor for his corruption of the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church being the virgin. Statue of Hippolytus, 3rd century. ... Sinop (from Hittite: Sinuwa, in Greek: Σινώπη/Sinope) is a city with a population of 47,000 on Boztepe cape and peninsula which is situated on the most northern edge of the Turkish side of Black Sea coast, in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, in modern-day northern Turkey, historically known... Traditional rural Pontic house A man in traditional clothes from Trabzon, illustration Pontus is the name which was applied, in ancient times, to extensive tracts of country in the northeast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) bordering on the Euxine (Black Sea), which was often called simply Pontos (the main), by... Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian, (ca. ... Excommunication is religious censure which is used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community. ... In Roman times, Vestal Virgins were strictly celibate or they were punished by death. ... Bart D. Ehrman is a New Testament scholar and an expert on early Christianity. ...

Marcion had travelled to Rome about 142–143.^[5] In the next few years, Marcion worked out his theological system and attracted a large following. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Marcion was a consecrated bishop and was probably an assistant or suffragan of his father at Sinope.^[6] When conflicts with the bishops of Rome arose, Marcion began to organize his followers into a separate community. He was excommunicated by the Church of Rome around 144 and had a large donation of 200,000 sesterces returned. To consecrate an inanimate object is to dedicate it in a ritual to a special purpose, usually religious. ... A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop. ... Sinop (from Hittite: Sinuwa, in Greek: Σινώπη/Sinope) is a city with a population of 47,000 on Boztepe cape and peninsula which is situated on the most northern edge of the Turkish side of Black Sea coast, in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, in modern-day northern Turkey, historically known... Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Construction of the Antonine Wall is completed. ... The sestertius was an ancient Roman coin. ...

After his excommunication, he returned to Asia Minor where he continued to spread his message. He created a strong ecclesiastical organization resembling the Church of Rome, and put himself as bishop.

Teachings

Main article: Marcionism

Marcionism is the dualist belief system that originates in the teachings of Marcion around the year 144.^[7] Marcion affirmed Jesus Christ as the saviour sent by God and Paul as his chief apostle. Marcion declared that Christianity was distinct from and in opposition to Judaism. He rejected the entire Hebrew Bible, and declared that the God of the Hebrew Bible was a lesser demiurge, who had created the earth, and whose law, the Mosaic covenant, represented bare natural justice i.e. eye for an eye. Marcionism is the dualist belief system that originates in the teachings of Marcion of Sinope at Rome around the year 144. ... For other uses, see Dualism (disambiguation). ... This article is currently under construction. ... Construction of the Antonine Wall is completed. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the term Hebrew Bible. For the Jewish scriptures see Tanakh. ... Demiurge (from the Greek , Latinized , meaning artisan or craftsman, literally worker in the service of the people, from of the people + work) is a term for a creator deity, responsible for the creation of the physical universe. ... Covenant, meaning a solemn contract, is the customary word used to translate the Hebrew word berith (ברית, Tiberian Hebrew bərîṯ, Standard Hebrew bərit) as it is used in the Hebrew Bible. ...

The premise of Marcionism is that many of the teachings of Christ are incompatible with the actions of Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament. Tertullian claimed Marcion was the first to separate the New Testament from the Old Testament^[8]. Focusing on the Pauline traditions of the Gospel, Marcion felt that all other conceptions of the Gospel were opposed to the truth. He regarded Paul's arguments of law and gospel, wrath and grace, works and faith, flesh and spirit, sin and righteousness and death and life as the essence of religious truth. He ascribed these aspects and characteristics as two principles: the righteous and wrathful God of the Old Testament, the creator of the world, and a second God of the Gospel who is purely love and mercy and who was revealed by Jesus.^[9] According to the Canonical Gospels, the Ministry of Jesus began when Jesus was around 30 years old, and lasted a period of 1-3 years. ... For other uses, see Yahweh (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Note: Judaism... Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian, (ca. ... Pauline Christianity is an expression which has been used, by those critical of Catholic, Orthodox and traditonal Protestant Christianity, to describe what is regarded as a distortion of the original teachings of Jesus due to the influence of Paul of Tarsus (otherwise St. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... The relationship between Gods Law and the Gospel is a major topic in Lutheran and Reformed theology. ...

His canon consisted of eleven books: his own version of the Gospel of Luke, and ten of Paul's epistles. All other epistles and gospels of the New Testament were rejected.^[10]

Legacy

The church that Marcion founded had expanded throughout the known world within his lifetime, and was a serious rival to the Catholic church. Its adherents were strong enough in their convictions to have the church retain its expansive power for more than a century. It survived heathen persecution, Christian controversy, and imperial disapproval for several centuries more.^[11]

The Roman Polycarp called him "the first born of Satan."^[12] His numerous critics also included Ephraim of Syria, Dionysius of Corinth, Theophilus of Antioch, Philip of Gortyna, Hippolytus and Rhodo in Rome, Bardesanes at Edessa, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen. Nevertheless, "not even Tertullian can find any strictures to pass on the morals of Marcion or his adherents"^[13] For other uses, see Polycarp (disambiguation). ... Ephrem the Syrian (Syriac: , ;Greek: ; Latin: Ephraem Syrus; 306–373) was a deacon, prolific Syriac language hymn writer and theologian of the 4th century. ... Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth lived about the year 170. ... Theophilus, Patriarch of Antioch (Eusebius Ecclesiastical History iv. ... Statue of Hippolytus, 3rd century. ... Rhodo was a Christian writer who flourished in the time of the Roman emperor Commodus (180-92); he was a native of the province of [[Asia Minor) who came to Rome where he was a pupil of Tatians. ... Bar Daisan (154-222), also latinized as Bardesanes, was a Syrian gnostic and an outstanding scientist, scholar, and poet. ... Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens), was the first member of the Church of Alexandria to be more than a name, and one of its most distinguished teachers. ... Origen Origen (Greek: Ōrigénēs, 185–ca. ...

Some ideas of Marcion's reappeared with Manichaean developments among the Bulgarian Bogomils of the 10th century and their Cathar heirs of southern France in the 13th century. Manichaeism was one of the major ancient religions. ... Bogomils was the name of an ancient Gnostic religious community which is thought to have originated in Bulgaria. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Catharism. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ...

Notes

1. ^ Tertullian, Adversus Marcionem, a near-contemprary polemic.
2. ^ Eusebius, Church History]]; apparently it was the Gospel of Luke, with some excisions; see David Salter Williams, "Reconsidering Marcion's Gospel", Journal of Biblical Literature 108 (1989), p.477-96.
3. ^ The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article on Marcion
4. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia
5. ^ Tertullian dates the beginning of Marcion's teachings 115 years after the Crucifixion, which he placed in AD 26–27 (Adversus Marcionem, xix).
6. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia
7. ^ 115 years and 6 months from the Crucifixion, according to Tertullian's reckoning in Adversus Marcionem, xv
8. ^ Everett Ferguson, in McDonald and Sanders, editors, The Canon Debate, 2002, chapter 18, p. 310, quoting Tertullian's De praescriptione haereticorum 30: "Since Marcion separated the New Testament from the Old, he is necessarily subsequent to that which he separated, inasmuch as it was only in his power to separate what was previously united. Having been united previous to its separation, the fact of its subsequent separation proves the subsequence also of the man who effected the separation." Page 308, note 61 adds: "[Wolfram] Kinzig suggests that it was Marcion who usually called his Bible testamentum [Latin for testament]."
9. ^ Adolf von Harnack, History of Dogma, vol. 1, ch. 5, p. 269
10. ^ Eusebius' Church History
11. ^ Evans 1972 p. ix
12. ^ And Polycarp himself replied to Marcion, who met him on one occasion, and said, “Dost thou know me?” “I do know thee, the first-born of Satan.” (Irenaeus, Adv. Haer., III.3.4.)
13. ^ Evans 1972 p. xiv

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian, (ca. ... The Gospel of Luke (literally, according to Luke; Greek, Κατά Λουκαν, Kata Loukan) is a synoptic Gospel, and the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament. ... The Encyclopædia Britannica is a general English-language encyclopaedia published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. ... For other uses, see Crucifixion (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Crucifixion (disambiguation). ... Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian, (ca. ... Adolf von Harnack, German theologian Adolf von Harnack (May 7, 1851 - June 10, 1930), was a German theologian and science administrator. ...

References

• Blackman, E.C. Marcion and His Influence 2004 ISBN 1-59244-731-7
• Clabeaux, John James. The Lost Edition of the Letters of Paul: A Reassessment of the Text of Pauline Corpus Attested by Marcion (Catholic Biblical Quarterly Monograph Series No. 21) 1989 ISBN 0-915170-20-5
• Dahl, Nils Alstrup. "The Origin of the Earliest Prologues to the Pauline Letters", Semeia 12 (1978), 233-277
• Epiphanius of Salamis. The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, Book 1 (Sects 1-46) Frank Williams translator, 1987 ISBN 90-04-07926-2
• Evans, Ernest (comments and translation): Tertullian, Against Marcion (Oxford University Press, 1972). E-text of Adversus Marcionem and Evan's introduction "Marcion : His Doctrine and Influence"
• Grant, Robert M. Marcion and the Critical Method Peter Richardson & John Collidge Hurd, eds., From Jesus to Paul. Studies in Honour of Francis Wright Beare. Waterloo, ON, 1984. pp.207-215.
• Harnack, Adolf von 1961. History of Dogma (Neil Buchanan, translating Harnack's Dogmengeschichte 1900), vol I, pp 267 – 313, vol II, pp 1 – 19
• Harnack, Adolf von. Marcion: The Gospel of the Alien God translation 1990 ISBN 0-939464-16-0
• R. Joseph Hoffmann. Marcion, on the Restitution of Christianity: An Essay on the Development of Radical Paulist Theology in the Second Century 1984 ISBN 0-89130-638-2
• Knox, John. Marcion and the New Testament 1942 ISBN 0-404-16183-9
• Francis Legge, Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity, From 330 B.C. to 330 A.D. (1914), reprinted in two volumes bound as one, University Books New York, 1964. LC Catalog 64-24125.
• Livingstone, E.A. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed.), pp. 1033-34, 1997 ISBN 0-19-211655-X
• Williams, David Salter. "Reconsidering Marcion's Gospel", Journal of Biblical Literature 108 (1989), p.477-96
• Wilson, R. S. Marcion: A Study of a Second-Century Heretic (London:Clarke) 1933
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Marcionites
• Center for Marcionite Research
• Tertullian, De Carne Christi (Latin and English), 1956
• Wace on Marcion
• EarlyChurch.org.uk on Marcion
• Marcion: Portrait of a Heretic by Rob Bradshaw
• The Marcionite Prologues to the Pauline Epistles
• Marcion in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica

Epiphanius (ca 310–20 – 403) was a Church Father, a heresiologist who was a strong defender of orthodoxy, known for tracking down deviant teachings (heresies) wherever they could be traced, during the troubled era in the Christian Church following the Council of Nicaea. ... Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian, (ca. ... Adolf von Harnack, German theologian Adolf von Harnack (May 7, 1851 - June 10, 1930), was a German theologian and science administrator. ... Adolf von Harnack, German theologian Adolf von Harnack (May 7, 1851 - June 10, 1930), was a German theologian and science administrator. ... R. Joseph Hoffmann is a historian specializing in the social and intellectual development of early Christianity and the sociology of Christianity as social movement, with special reference to the Third World. ... The Encyclopædia Britannica is a general English-language encyclopaedia published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. ...

See also

• Gospel of Marcion