Surviving Edits in the Original Against Marcion: Tracing the Evolution of Early Christian Texts

Exploring early Christian texts often reveals how theological and narrative adjustments were made to align with evolving doctrinal positions. One such text is Against Marcion by Tertullian, which counters Marcionite beliefs and provides insights into the editorial evolution of the Gospel of Luke. This blog post examines how certain passages might have been edited and repositioned to support orthodox Christianity and contrasts these with the Marcionite gospel.

Marcionite Gospel: A Divergent View

The Marcionite gospel presented a version of Christianity significantly different from the emerging orthodoxy. Unlike the canonical gospels, the Marcionite text depicted John the Baptist as unaware of Jesus's divine Father, the Most High God. This fundamental theological divergence highlights the contentious relationship between Marcionite and orthodox beliefs.

Displacement of Narrative Elements

In Against Marcion, Tertullian recounts the story of Jesus teaching in the synagogue, being rejected by his townspeople, and narrowly escaping being thrown off a hill. Tertullian uses this narrative to argue against the Marcionite view of a non-physical Christ, emphasizing Jesus's physical presence and capacity to experience violence.

In another part of Against Marcion, Tertullian addresses the question of John's baptism and Jesus's authority, a theme appearing towards the end of Luke's gospel. This question is crucial as it directly addresses the relationship between Jesus and John, which was a significant point of contention between Marcionite and orthodox views.

Orthodox Texts Reinforcing Jesus and John's Alliance

The orthodox texts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) collectively reinforce the alliance between John the Baptist and Jesus, presenting it as fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. In these texts, John is depicted as the precursor to Jesus, preparing the way for the Lord as foretold by Isaiah. This alignment serves to legitimize Jesus's ministry and affirm his fulfillment of Jewish prophecy.

Marcionite Position: John's Ignorance of Jesus's Father

The Marcionite gospel, in contrast, portrays John as unaware of Jesus's divine Father. Tertullian attempts to refute this by explaining John's offense at hearing of Jesus's miracles. He argues that John's offense was due to a misunderstanding of Jesus's identity, rather than a belief in a different Christ. Tertullian asserts that John, as a prophet of the Creator, would not recognize any God other than the Creator.

Editorial Adjustments in Luke

The Gospel of Luke shows signs of editorial adjustments to reinforce orthodox positions:

1. John's Baptism and Authority Question (Luke 20): The placement of this question late in Luke's narrative might aim to emphasize the established relationship between John and Jesus after presenting their early connections.
2. Disjointed Narratives in Luke 16: Luke 16 contains several seemingly unrelated teachings and parables, including the rich man and Lazarus, the law and the prophets, and teachings on divorce. Tertullian's extensive defense of this chapter's coherence suggests that the Marcionite gospel presented these elements differently, likely in a more logically ordered fashion.

Tertullian’s Defense of Luke’s Order

Tertullian's defense of the order and content of Luke's gospel chapters, especially the controversial John the Baptist references, indicates significant theological contention. His arguments often juxtapose Marcionite positions, attempting to show the coherence and divine inspiration of the orthodox texts.

The Marcionite Synagogue Inscription

An intriguing piece of evidence for early Christian worship practices is one of the oldest known Christian inscriptions, dating to 318–319 CE. This Greek inscription identifies a building as the "gathering place [synagoge] of the Marcionites of the village of Lebabon of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ under the leadership of Paul the presbyter." This inscription provides insight into the early Marcionite community and their organizational structure.

Jewish Synagogues in Rome

The Jewish community in Rome also provides context for understanding early Christian synagogues. Several Jewish synagogues in Rome are mentioned in inscriptions, such as the synagogues of the Agrippesians, Augustesians, and others, often employing the same -ησίων suffix. This suffix, derived from the Latin -ensis, indicates belonging to or coming from a particular place, suggesting a similar naming convention for both Jewish and Marcionite synagogues.

Conclusion

The editorial process observed in Against Marcion and the Gospel of Luke highlights the early Church's efforts to establish theological orthodoxy. By repositioning and justifying certain passages, the editors aimed to create a seamless narrative aligning with Old Testament prophecies and affirming Jesus's divine authority. This reconstruction helps us understand the theological battles of early Christianity and the lengths to which orthodox editors went to counter Marcionite interpretations. The differences between the Marcionite and orthodox texts underscore the diversity of early Christian thought and the complex process of establishing the canonical gospels.