Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

Someone says that the adoptionism was a Roman product, not an ebionite hence Jewish product.

The idea is that the Roman emperors were adopted sons of god. The idea of the adoption as source of power is even factually true under the Antonini (a particularly fortunate adoption was the adoption of Hadrian by Trajan).

If true, then this is an important part of the evidence that Mark was written in Rome.

One may imagine how Marcion introduced in Rome the idea of a deity (Jesus) descended from above, and how a such descent was re-defined by Mark as an adoption, since the idea itself of adoption of a man by a deity appealed better to Roman citizens, than the idea of a mere hologram walking on earth.

A feature of the political adoption is that it allows continuity.

In nuce there is the idea that the adopted man continues the work of the entity who adopts him.

If YHWH adopts Jesus in Mark, then Jesus continues the work of YHWH.

"For God [Ingressing into "Diuus Claudius"] so loved the world

that he gave his only begotten son {Brittanicus, not Nero the adopted son]

that whosoever believeth in him [Titus, who ate poisoned food from Britannicus' plate, nearly died but recovered and built a golden statue of Britannicus in his honor.}

shall not perish [see above]

but have everlasting life [Titus became emperor of the Roman Empire and was voted "Diuus Titus", etc, by the Senate.]"

Adoptionism is a Judaization and Euhemerization of the mythos of the metanoia of Sabaoth, as found in Hypostasis of the Archons.