The Dialogue on the True Faith: A Rigged Debate with Megethius the Marcionite

The "Dialogue on the True Faith" is an illuminating but heavily biased account of a theological debate between Megethius, a Marcionite, and Adamantius, an orthodox Christian. The structure and conduct of this debate shed light on the challenges faced by Marcionites when engaging with orthodox opponents.

Megethius and the Use of Orthodox Scriptures

From the beginning, Megethius is put at a disadvantage. He offers to prove his theological position using the orthodox scriptures:

"If you will permit me to speak, I will prove that there are three Principles: One, the God of the Law, another the Evil God, and I will show that it is so from your scriptures" (Pretty, p. 49).

However, as the debate progresses, it becomes clear that Megethius must navigate a biased framework. Adamantius later states:

"You know that you undertook to make your proof from our Gospel" (Pretty, p. 61).

This statement underscores the constraints within which Megethius is forced to operate, highlighting the one-sided nature of the debate.

The Role of Eutropius

Eutropius, the judge, is clearly partial to Adamantius. Megethius himself points out this bias:

"It would appear that you are not an adjudicator but an opponent" (Pretty, p. 49).

Adamantius dismisses this, asserting that truth naturally opposes falsehoods. This interaction highlights the lack of fairness in the debate.

The Focus on the Gospel of Matthew

Interestingly, much of the debate revolves around the Gospel of Matthew. Megethius frequently references the Matthean antitheses to support his arguments, suggesting that the Marcionite antitheses might derive from Matthew rather than Luke. This focus is surprising, given the common association of Marcion's Gospel with Luke. However, Megethius was likely forced to utilize the available orthodox scriptures, resulting in a heavy reliance on Matthew.

• Matthew 5:43-44: Megethius cites the Matthean antitheses positively (Pretty, p. 54).
• Matthew 7:23: Adamantius references this passage (Pretty, p. 55).
• Matthew 10:33-34: Cited by Adamantius (Pretty, p. 58).
• Matthew 19:12-14: Megethius references "kingdom of heaven" (Pretty, p. 58).

The Rigged Nature of the Dialogue

The biases and constraints of the debate are reminiscent of other historical theological debates, such as the Jewish-Christian debates. These dialogues often allowed only a superficial appearance of fairness while heavily favoring the orthodox position. The "Dialogue on the True Faith" is no exception.

Megethius's Frustration

Megethius's frustration with the biased setup is evident in his interactions. At one point, he challenges Adamantius's citation:

"Let the gospel be read and you will find that their names are not recorded" (Pretty, p. 60).

This leads to a skewed interaction where orthodox texts are used to refute Marcionite positions, further disadvantaging Megethius.

Anastasius of Sinai and the Megethius-Only Edition

Anastasius of Sinai mentions a "Dialogue against Megethius the Marcionite," suggesting that an edition of the dialogue focused solely on Megethius existed. This alone challenges the notion that the debate was balanced:

"The answer to Question 48 is 'Of Origen, from the Dialogue against Megethius the Marcionite'" (Pretty, p. 10).

This indicates that the dialogue may have been tailored to present a one-sided argument against Megethius, further emphasizing the biased nature of the debate.

Conclusion

The "Dialogue on the True Faith" offers a vivid portrayal of the challenges faced by Marcionites in theological debates with orthodox Christians. The biased framework, partial judge, and constrained use of scriptures all contributed to an inherently unfair debate. This context sheds light on the broader dynamics of early Christian theological disputes and the difficulties faced by those who deviated from orthodox positions. The acknowledgment of a Megethius-only edition by Anastasius of Sinai further underscores the skewed nature of this so-called "dialogue."