Tertullianus against marcion 1868 volume 7 of antenicene christian library. Marcion s writings are lost, though they were widely read and numerous manuscripts must have existed. The epistle which we also allow to be the most decisive against judaism. The five books against marcion, written in 207 or 208, are the most comprehensive and elaborate of his polemical works, invaluable for gauging the early christian view of gnosticism. Marcion was a jewhater, who rejected the old testament, and any bits of the new testament, books or passages, which disagreed with him. This week ive been reading some tertullian when ive had the chance. 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. I wanted to read this book by tertullian because i was doing some research on marcion. In particular, it brings together the writings of the early church fathers prior to the fourth century. Five books against marcion by tertullian read online download listen summary formats about summary. Marcion believed that god the father was different from the savage god of the old testament.
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. Marcion, aided by cerdon, teaches a duality of gods. Tertullian the five books against marcion, books iiii. This book may also be regarded as a commentary on st. Home fathers of the church against marcion tertullian book i. I am embarking upon a new work to replace an old one. Marcionism was denounced by its opponents as heresy and written against notably by tertullian in a five book treatise, adversus marcionem against marcion, in about 208. A summary of tertullian s 5 volume work, against marcion.
How he constructed this heresy of an evil and a good god. It gives remarkable proof of tertullians grasp of scripture, and proves that the old testament. I tried to read it online but found it quite hideous for me to look at. If you challenge us to your belief, pray tell us what things. But another brief treatise will maintain this position against heretics, who ought to be refuted even without a consideration of their doctrines, on the ground that they are heretical by reason of the novelty of their opinions. Tertullian five books against marcion by tertullian. Translations of the writings of the fathers down to a. Gotta quote his opening to book five from against marcion. Tertullian has been identified by jo ann mcnamara as the person who originally invested the consecrated virgin as the bride of christ which helped to bring. Home fathers of the church against marcion tertullian book iii. In the five books against marcion, tertullian, an early christian author from carthage in the roman province of africa, disperses an exhaustive repudiation of marcions controversial beliefs. Otherwise, it is an idle thing when, after slaying men, he inveighs against them for the torture of a bullock. For against him did they wreak their fury after they had slain his prophets, even by affixing him with nails to the cross.
Nothing i have previously written against marcion is any longer my concern. This book is the third edition of this work, in 5 books. Pauls epistles, what he had proved in the preceding book with respect to st. This lead the church to start the definition of the canon. Tertullian five books against marcion the ntslibrary.