There Wasn't a Marcionite Version of the Letters Which Personified Chrestos? Really?

In the study of early Christianity and its many branches, the figure of Marcion and his interpretations have always been a point of intense scrutiny and debate. Marcionism, often classified as a heretical sect, has been viewed through the lens of its critics, such as Irenaeus and Tertullian. One of the intriguing aspects of Marcionite theology is the concept of "Chrestos" or kindness, which seems to personify a divine attribute. This blog post delves into the idea that there could have been a Marcionite version of the letters of Paul that personified Chrestos.

Romans 2:4-5: A Duality of Powers?

The passage from Romans 2:4-5 mentions God's kindness (χρηστότης) and patience, intended to lead people to repentance. It reads:

"Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed."

This duality of "kindness" and "judgment" could easily be seen as reflecting a Marcionite view, where Chrestos (kindness) and a punitive God of judgment are two distinct entities. Marcionites are known for their belief in two gods: a higher god of goodness and a lower god of justice or wrath. This raises the question: Could the Marcionite version of Paul’s letters have presented Jesus as Chrestos, the embodiment of divine kindness, in opposition to a god of judgment?

Irenaeus and the Marcionite Interpretation

Irenaeus, in his work Against Heresies, discusses Marcion’s interpretation of Christian texts. He argues that Marcion corrupted the scriptures to fit his theology. Irenaeus claims that Marcion divided the deity into two distinct powers: one of kindness and one of judgment. This dichotomy aligns with the idea that Marcion saw Jesus as Chrestos, the representation of the kind, merciful god, distinct from the wrathful god of the Old Testament.

"For God did kindly bestow on them what was good; but they themselves did not diligently keep it, nor deem it something precious, but poured contempt upon His super-eminent goodness." (Against Heresies 4.37)

The Role of Chrestos in Marcionite Theology

Marcion’s followers, much like their founder, emphasized the benevolent aspects of Jesus, often describing him in terms that would highlight his role as Chrestos. This interpretation seems to suggest a theological framework where Jesus, or Chrestos, was the agent of a higher, kind deity, sent to counteract the harshness of the god of the Jewish scriptures.

Epiphanius and Tertullian’s Accounts

Later critics like Tertullian and Epiphanius expanded on Irenaeus's foundation. Tertullian, in his Adversus Marcionem, never explicitly states he had a Marcionite canon before him but critiques Marcion’s interpretations based on what he considers corruptions of the Pauline texts. Epiphanius, in his Panarion, claims to have access to Marcionite scriptures but the order and content of the epistles differ from those known in the orthodox canon. This discrepancy adds to the theory that Marcionite texts were tailored to emphasize certain theological points, including the personification of Chrestos.

Scholarly Perspectives

Modern scholars continue to debate the extent to which Marcionite texts diverged from what became the orthodox canon. Bart Ehrman, for instance, discusses how early Christian texts could have been altered and reinterpreted by various sects to support their unique theological views. The Marcionite emphasis on Chrestos as a distinct power of kindness fits into this broader pattern of scriptural adaptation and reinterpretation.

Conclusion

The evidence suggests that Marcionites did indeed have a version of the Pauline letters that emphasized Jesus as Chrestos, a divine figure embodying kindness in contrast to a god of judgment. This interpretation is consistent with the dualistic theology that Marcion espoused. While the exact nature of Marcionite scriptures remains a matter of scholarly reconstruction, the idea that they personified Chrestos aligns with the theological distinctions that defined Marcionism.