The Prevalence of Matthew in Anti-Marcionite Sayings

[Secret Alias]

From the newly translated De Lepra of Methodius:

If ever the seed of divine faith first falls into the furrow of the soul, it grows up into greatness, and reaches the height of piety in the understanding of the mind. The Lord truly calls his Father the planter of this planting. ‘For,’ he says, ‘every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.’ Understand that this is not because of a plurality of souls, as some have thought to make this word, but it is about right doctrine, and about pious words that the careful gardener has caused to be planted in unknown ways in our hearts, pulling up unsuitable plants (that is, wicked thoughts and deeds) out of our hearts. For if this is not how we believe, we shall be followers of the most irreligious Marcion, who said that there is another good besides the God who is, and therefore the souls of the Demiurge cannot receive the life of the good that is preached [and] are deprived of good planting. But let us ignore those things at the moment, for we have no time for this subject now.” “Indeed, you say, these things are to be ignored, for since the riches of the word come from God, we should have the fruits of firm wisdom, according to the word of the apostle, who says, ‘We are God’s field.'

The same connection between Marcion and Matthew 15:13 appears also in a fourth century anonymous Syriac treatise. It was certainly part of the Marcionite gospel. Can we finally let this 'the gospel of Marcion was Luke corrupted thing' go?

[Bernard Muller]

to Stephan,

The same connection between Marcion and Matthew 15:13 appears also in a fourth century anonymous Syriac treatise. It was certainly part of the Marcionite gospel. Can we finally let this 'the gospel of Marcion was Luke corrupted thing' go?

Where does it say Matthew 15:13 was in Marcion's gospel?

Cordially, Bernard

[perseusomega9]

[Secret Alias]

But I am growing to at least not despise Bernard. At least he has a functioning intellect. You can't expect clean lenses on his glasses to let in all the light, but at least when the light gets in he makes rational arguments.

[Secret Alias]

The Lord truly calls his Father the planter of this planting. ‘For,’ he says, ‘every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.’ Understand that this is not because of a plurality of souls, as some have thought to make this word (= who are 'some' here but the Marcionites - come on Bernard it's not that hard to let the light in once and a while), but it is about right doctrine (= i.e. that's how 'we' the Catholic interpret the saying as opposed to the Marcionites), and about pious words that the careful gardener has caused to be planted in unknown ways in our hearts, pulling up unsuitable plants - that is, wicked thoughts and deeds- out of our hearts. For if this is not how we believe, we shall be followers of the most irreligious Marcion (i.e. those who say that there are a plurality of souls, some of the Father, some of the Demiurge), who said that there is another good besides the God who is, and therefore the souls of the Demiurge cannot receive the life of the good that is preached (= see above comment on the 'plurality of souls) [and] are deprived of good planting (= i.e. planting from the Father rather than of the Demiurge). But let us ignore those things at the moment, for we have no time for this subject now.” “Indeed, you say, these things are to be ignored, for since the riches of the word come from God, we should have the fruits of firm wisdom, according to the word of the apostle, who says, ‘We are God’s field.'

This really isn't that hard, Bernard. You can let the light in, now.

[Secret Alias]

It is also universally acknowledged I think that Marcion is who Origen has in mind when he comments on Matthew 15:13:

After this, it is worth while to look at the phrase which has been assailed in a sophistical way by those who say [1] that the God of the law and the God of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not the same; for they say that the heavenly Father of Jesus Christ is not the husbandman of those who think that they worship God according to the law of Moses. Jesus Himself said that the Pharisees, who were worshipping the God who created the world and the law, were not a plant which His heavenly Father had planted, and that for this reason it was being rooted up. [Matthew 15:13] But you might also say this, that even if it were the Father of Jesus who brought in and planted the people, when it came out of Egypt, to the mountain of His own inheritance, to the place which He had prepared for Himself to dwell in, [Exodus 15:17] yet Jesus would have said, in regard to the Pharisees, Every plant which My heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up. Now, to this we will say, that as many as on account of their perverse interpretation of the things in the law were not a plant of His Father in heaven, were blinded in their minds, as not believing the truth, but taking pleasure in unrighteousness, [2 Thessalonians 2:12] by him who is deified by the sons of this world, and on this account is called by Paul the god of this world. [2 Corinthians 4:4] And do not suppose that Paul said that he was truly God; for just as the belly, though it is not the god of those who prize pleasure too highly, being lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, is said by Paul to be their god, [Philippians 3:19] so the prince of this world, in regard to whom the Saviour says, Now has the prince of this world been judged, John 16:11 though he is not God, is said to be the god of those who do not wish to receive the spirit of adoption, in order that they may become sons of that world, and sons of the resurrection from the dead, and who, on this account, abide in the sonship of this world. I have deemed it necessary to introduce these matters, even though they may have been spoken by way of digression, because of the saying, They are blind guides of the blind. Matthew 15:14 Who are such? The Pharisees, whose minds the god of this world has blinded as they are unbelieving, because they have not believed in Jesus Christ; and he has blinded them so that the light of the Gospel of the glory of God in the face of Christ should not dawn upon them. 2 Corinthians 4:4 But not only must we avoid being guided by those blind ones who are conscious that they are in need of guides, because they have not yet received the power of vision of themselves; but even in the case of all who profess to guide us in sound doctrine, we must hear with care, and apply a sound judgment to what is said, lest being guided according to the ignorance of those who are blind, and do not see the things that concern sound doctrine, we ourselves may appear to be blind because we do not see the sense of the Scriptures, so that both he who guides and he who is guided will fall into the ditch of which we have spoken before.

[1] footnote in ANF translation "Marcion and his followers"

[Origen Comm Matt 13]

[Secret Alias]

Clearly the interpretation and the reading is consistent. The Marcionites made use of this passage to distinguish the 'planting' of souls accomplished by the Demiurge and the Father.

[andrewcriddle]

I'm wondering whether Methodius is using and criticizing Origen here.

The passage has clear similarities with the Origen passage but firmly states, contra Origen, that the plants are good and bad thoughts not good and bad people. (Origen claims that the Pharisees are plants not planted by the Father.)

See slightly earlier in Origen's commentary

And He said this, the Pharisees being offended at this saying, as, because of their evil opinions and their worthless interpretation of the law, they were not the plant of his own Father in heaven, and on this account were being rooted up; Matthew 15:13 for they were rooted up as they did not receive the true vine, which was cultivated by the Father, even Jesus Christ. John 15:1 For how could they be a plant of His Father who were offended at the words of Jesus, words which turn men away from the precept, Handle not, nor taste, nor touch—all which things were to perish in the using— after the precepts and doctrines of men, Colossians 2:21-22 but induce the intelligent hearer of them to seek in regard to them the things which are above and not the things upon the earth as the Jews do? Colossians 3:2

Andrew Criddle

[iskander]

Matthew 15;1-20 is about the tradition of the elders in the Catholic teaching. The old is replaced by the new; similar to those antithesis that abrogate the law.*Mt 5:31-32; 33-34; 38-39

[Secret Alias]

The most intelligent person at the forum has spoken. Yes but Methodius does explicitly reference the Marcionites. It is in the substance of his discussion and what he says is the Marcionite exegesis fits the 'some' that comes before. It is odd that Origen has a Marcionite like reading immediately following the statement about 'some' who have an antinomian interpretation of the material. I've noticed the same thing with Clement. It's almost as if - IMO - there exists this stereotypical understanding of what 'Marcionitism' is and they get that out the way (Origen, Clement) in order to explain the true meaning which - strangely - still sounds Marcionite. Origen's patron was a former Marcionite.