Marcion and the Use of Diminutives With Saint Names

[Peter Kirby]

It has been established since Hilgenfeld that Marcion is a diminutive form of Mark

Nice work. And it's a very entertaining and thorough list of examples of the phenomena, which is appreciated.

One thing about these names is that they can be both affectionate and derogatory, depending on who is using them. Given the consistency, one might expect that Mark himself accepted the name Marcion, and that it served the needs of his opponents only all too well. (Along with the connection to Pontus, which invariably falls immediately after the introduction of his name.)

On another note, and by way of reminder of something that is important whenever we talk about cases of confused identity or the like... in general... I'd previously discussed the phenomenon of those who have different names in different languages, which aren't necessarily in strict correspondence with each other (like Peter / Pedro or something), which is attested well also and should be kept in mind generally when dealing especially with semitic, Latin, and Greek names.

[Secret Alias]

Odd also that Epiphanius's source (Hippolytus) used the diminutive form of Carpocrates (= Carpocras) cf. Αρποκρας του Αρποκράτης

https://books.google.com/books?id=dgoZA ... 82&f=false

Epiphanius:

Καρποκρᾶς τις ἕτερος γίνεται, συστήσας ἑαυτῷ ἀθέμιτον διδασκαλεῖον τῆς ψευδωνύμου αὐτοῦ γνώμης, χείρονας πάντων οὗτος τοὺς τρόπους κεκτημένος. ἐκ πάντων γὰρ τούτων, Σίμωνός τε καὶ Μενάνδρου, Σατορνίλου τε καὶ Βασιλείδου καὶ Νικολάου καὶ αὐτοῦ 1.301 τοῦ Καρποκρᾶ, ἔτι δὲ ἐκ προφάσεως Οὐαλεντίνου ἡ τῆς ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως ἐφύη αἵρεσις, ἥτις Γνωστικοὺς τοὺς αὐτῆς ὠνόμασεν, ἀφ' ἧς οἱ Γνωστικοὶ ἤδη μοι δεδήλωνται, κατάγνωστοι ὄντες τὸν τρόπον.

The same in Filastrius so it goes back to Hippolytus's lost Syntagma. But why begin the section with Καρποκρᾶς? Celsus seems to know the form Αρποκράτης so perhaps Αρποκρας was original. But still why start with the diminutive? One of the mysteries of the Church Fathers - why the use of diminutives in this context?

[spin]

It has been established since Hilgenfeld that Marcion is a diminutive form of Mark

Nice work. And it's a very entertaining and thorough list of examples of the phenomena, which is appreciated.

Only thing is, Marcion does not seem to be related to Mark (Marcus) in any direct way. Contrary to Hilgenfeld, it does not appear to be a diminutive at least on the basis of diminutives in Greek and Latin, but then I haven't read Hilgenfeld, so I'd need to know if he has more than suppositions.

[Secret Alias]

Dass Μαρκίων ein Deminutivum von Μαρκος ist, schliesse ich auch aus dem Verhaltniss von Εὐρυτίων zu Εὔρυτος (vgl. Phil. Griech. Gramm. 21. Aufl. S. 119, Anm. 12), κοδράτίων (bei Philostratus vit. sophist. II, 6 p. 250) zu κοδράτος (vgl. W. H. Waddington, Memoire sur la Chronologie de la vie du rheteur Aristide, 1867, p. 32). So möchte ich auch an den von dem Verfasser der Philosophumena so angefeindeten κάλλιστος, romanischen Bishof 217 - 222, denken, wenn Rhodon bei Eusebius KG, V, 13, 8 κάλλιστίωνι προσφωνων genanne wird. Um so mehr werden die Μαρκιανοί welche Justinus Dial. c. Tr. c. 35 p. 253 vor Valentinianern, Basilidianern, Satornillianern, u.s.w. erwahnt, Marcioniten sein. Ebenso wird man in dem Muratorianum Z 82 - 84 zu lesen haben: quia etiam novum psalmorum librum Marciani (= Marcionitae) conscripserunt.

[Secret Alias]

I am not sure it is a diminutive any more. Just provided you with the info.

[spin]

Dass Μαρκίων ein Deminutivum von Μαρκος ist, schliesse ich auch aus dem Verhaltniss von Εὐρυτίων zu Εὔρυτος (vgl. Phil. Griech. Gramm. 21. Aufl. S. 119, Anm. 12), κοδράτίων (bei Philostratus vit. sophist. II, 6 p. 250) zu κοδράτος (vgl. W. H. Waddington, Memoire sur la Chronologie de la vie du rheteur Aristide, 1867, p. 32). So möchte ich auch an den von dem Verfasser der Philosophumena so angefeindeten κάλλιστος, romanischen Bishof 217 - 222, denken, wenn Rhodon bei Eusebius KG, V, 13, 8 κάλλιστίωνι προσφωνων genanne wird. Um so mehr werden die Μαρκιανοί welche Justinus Dial. c. Tr. c. 35 p. 253 vor Valentinianern, Basilidianern, Satornillianern, u.s.w. erwahnt, Marcioniten sein. Ebenso wird man in dem Muratorianum Z 82 - 84 zu lesen haben: quia etiam novum psalmorum librum Marciani (= Marcionitae) conscripserunt.

Besides the initial assertion, there is nothing to suggest that he is dealing with a diminutive: -ιων. This source has spotted some similarities. He hasn't shown enough to say that there is a consistent trend, let alone that we are dealing with a diminutive. — Written before I read the second post.

[Secret Alias]

I suspect what we are dealing with within earliest Christianity is a son-making, brother-making (because we are all sons of the Father and thus 'brothers' of one another) ritual a new social ordering (based on mystical initiation) which challenged traditional linguistic notions of 'family' and fraternity. The new ritual demanded new words and terminology. I am less sure that diminutives are part of the equation.