In 2012, the host of early church 101 took on my quote from tertullian s against marcion from 207 ad where tertullian says paul was the apostle of the heretics. In writing against marcion and valintinus, tertullian set forth the biblical theology of god rather than the heretical view that somehow there was an ot god different from a nt god. Since, however, the divine authority and the nature of the case, and common sense, do not admit this insane position of the heretics, we have here the opportunity of putting in a veto 3790 in the briefest possible terms, on the substance of christs body, against marcion s phantoms. Pauls epistles, what he had proved in the preceding book with respect to st. Since evil exists, either god is not good he does not wish to stop it, or he is not allpowerful though willing to stop it, he is not able or he simply does not exist at all. The five books against marcion introductory notes 155215 antenicene fathers vol. Otherwise, it is an idle thing when, after slaying men, he inveighs against them for the torture of a bullock. Portrait of a heretic there is little doubt that the teachings of marcion and his followers represented a greater threat to orthodox christianity than any other heresy in the second century. How gracious and providential that god would grant wisdom to one such as tertullian to refute heresy in the early church. Customers who bought this item also bought these digital items.
Iii, antimarcion, the five books against marcion, book v by tertullian, translated by peter holmes i 155350 antenicene fathers vol. Far from being at variance, they were in perfect unison with the writings of the old testament, and therefore testified that the creator was the only god, and that the lord jesus was his christ. Tertullianus against marcion by tertullian published 1868 by t. I tried to read it online but found it quite hideous for me to look at. It is a new work which we are undertaking in lieu of the old one. A brief statement of the preceding argument in connection with the subject of this book. Tertullian against marcions problem of evil as early as 300bc, epicurus posed the problem of evil succinctly. Marcion wrote the antitheses to show the differences between the god of the old testament and the true god. Aug 09, 2015 the five books against marcion tertullian on. First, from his prescription against heresies it seems that marcion in some way undermined the existing authority structures of the catholic church by appealing to sources of authority outside those which were typically employed. I knew i had three volumes of tertullian in my early christian writers set, so i took those down and found out this book was not in them. Tertullian five books against marcion by tertullian.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Home fathers of the church against marcion tertullian book iii. Tertullian five books against marcion the ntslibrary. The five books against marcion with active table of contents tertullian.
Reason for a new work pontus lends its rough character to the heretic marcion, a native. The five books against marcion tertullian the principal, and indeed 2360 the whole, contention lies in the point of number. Home fathers of the church against marcion tertullian book i. Antenicene fathersvolume iiiantimarcionthe five books. My original tract, as too hurriedly composed, i had subsequently superseded by a fuller treatise. Tertullian against marcions problem of evil yield to god. Apr 17, 2012 the five books against marcion introductory notes 155215 antenicene fathers vol. And, no doubt, even the real nativity of a god is a most mean thing.
Marcion taught that the god of the old testament was not the true god but rather that the true and higher god had been revealed only with jesus christ. Adversus marcionem treatise by tertullian britannica. Marcionism was denounced by its opponents as heresy and written against notably by tertullian in a fivebook treatise, adversus marcionem against marcion, in about 208. Iii, antimarcion the five books against marcion tertullian peter holmes. In comparison to all other extant ancient works, the writings of tertullian of carthage against marcion remain the fullest and most precise rejection of marcions theology. If these books against marcion have received, as indeed it must be allowed they have, less attention from the general reader than their intrinsic. Adversus marcionem against marcion, an anatolian heretic who believed that the world was created by the evil god of the jews, adversus hermogenem against hermogenes, a carthaginian painter who claimed that god created the world. Marcion was excommunicated from the roman church c.
Marcion preached that the god who sent jesus into the world was a different, higher deity than the creator god of judaism. How he constructed this heresy of an evil and a good god. Tertullian,1 in his apologetic work, against marcion 4. Edited by alexander roberts, james donaldson, and a. Marcion was a gnostic teacher that had rejected the old testament and anything jewish. Whatever in times past we have wrought in opposition to marcion, is from the present moment no longer to be accounted of.
For against him did they wreak their fury after they had slain his prophets, even by affixing him with nails to the cross. Full text of an early christian document translated into english. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the enter key is pressed. Marcions writings are lost, though they were widely read and numerous manuscripts must have existed. This book may also be regarded as a commentary on st. Marcion, aided by cerdon, teaches a duality of gods. Home fathers of the church against marcion tertullian against marcion. The archheretic marcion, jesus, and the jewish law the. Iii, antimarcion, the five books against marcion, book v i tertullian peter holmes. That being the only historical portion of the new testament partially accepted by marcion. Nov 23, 2014 i wanted to read this book by tertullian because i was doing some research on marcion. O christ, most patient lord, who suffered this interference with your revelation for so many years, until marcion came to your rescue. He ridiculed marcion s discovery of a hitherto unknown version of the gospels, which he recognised as a flagrant fiction.