Patristic One-Liners: Marcion

Discussion about the New Testament, apocrypha, gnostics, church fathers, Christian origins, historical Jesus or otherwise, etc.
Secret Alias
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Re: Patristic One-Liners: Marcion

Post by Secret Alias »

And note what is generally agreed in Patristic scholarship:
Eusebius picked up on this meaning with his comment that “Irenaeus, who was truly well-named, became a peacemaker in this matter, exhorting and negotiating on behalf of the peace of the churches.”
So the story about Polycarp coming to Rome likely gave birth to Irenaeus being so called. He brought 'peace' to the canon. He brought 'peace' to the churches. The example he cites to Victor however is the visit of 'Polycarp' (Joseph/Hegesippus) to Anicestus. Victor would clearly be impressed by Anicetus's role in the story. But the fact that Irenaeus's story came from Polycarp - not Anicetus - offered the first reflection of the possibility that the churches COULD all get along. That's why it was necessary to set a limit on the 'accommodation' of Polycarp. The Roman Church probably was Marcionite in the time of Anicetus. But Irenaeus blocks that inference by making up a story about Polycarp meeting and condemning Marcion.
“Finally, from so little sleeping and so much reading, his brain dried up and he went completely out of his mind.”
― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote
lsayre
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Re: Patristic One-Liners: Marcion

Post by lsayre »

Fascinating stuff! There seems to be sufficient research in the above to warrant a book.
robert j
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Re: Patristic One-Liners: Marcion

Post by robert j »

Taking the headline of the thread literally --- and not intended as a comment either way on the question raised in the OP about the existence of Marcion --- this is one of my favorite Patristic one-liners ---

In the first place, how arrogantly do the Marcionites build up their stupid system, bringing forward a new god, as if we were ashamed of the old one! (Tertullian, Adv Marc, 1.8)

Yeah, after all, He only flooded the earth just that one time.
Secret Alias
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Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2015 8:47 am

Re: Patristic One-Liners: Marcion

Post by Secret Alias »

Yes there are some good one-liners. But let's stop and unpack that statement. Tertullian - or his source (i.e. Irenaeus) - starts from the position that there can only be one god. The fact the Marcionites have another CAN ONLY BE EXPLAINED by a rejection of the one in favor of the other. We've been baptized or snipped into this same understanding. Think about it. Generations of Jews having their penises clipped, generations of Christians being dunked. Everyone else being forced into one camp or the other. There can be only one god, there can be only one god. If you have another that means you're rejecting the original 'one god.' You're set up to be a heretic - and condemned to death. Look at the Byzantine law books. Death for choosing another god, any sect other than the accepted sects. Who set up this system? The Catholic Church? Rabbinic Judaism? Not a chance. They wouldn't have set up something they weren't authorized to carry out (i.e. executions). Someone had to give them the authority to kill. Someone who had the authority to kill.
“Finally, from so little sleeping and so much reading, his brain dried up and he went completely out of his mind.”
― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote
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