Marcion of Sinope

Marcion of Sinope (ca. 110-160), was a major 2nd century Christian theologian, founder of what would later be called Marcionism, and one of the first to be strongly denounced by other Christians (who would later be called Catholic as opposed to Marcionite) as heretical. He created a strong ecclesiastical organization, parallel to that of the Church of Rome, with himself as Bishop. The Catholic Encyclopedia says of the Marcionites "they were perhaps the most dangerous foe Christianity has ever known."

Related Topics:
110 - 160 - 2nd century - Christian - Theologian - Marcionism - Catholic - Heretical - Church of Rome - Bishop - Catholic Encyclopedia - Marcionite

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According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "it is obvious that Marcion was already a consecrated bishop" and "we can take it for granted then, that Marcion was a bishop, probably an assistant or suffrigan of his father at Sinope." Ernest Evans states that Marcion founded in Rome "a church which within half a generation expanded throughout the known world, vigorous enough to be in almost every place a serious rival to the catholic church, and with strong enough convictions to retain its expansive power for more than a century, and to survive heathen persecution, Christian controversy, and imperial disapproval for several centuries more" (Evans 1972 p. ix).

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Some ideas of Marcion's reappeared with Manichaean developments among the Bulgarian Bogomils of the 10th century and their Cathar heirs of southern France in the 13th century. Marcion's attempt to recover the authentic Jesus has been a constant theme of Christian reformers, reappearing in different guises, for example in the Jefferson Bible, Albert Schweitzer, and the Jesus Seminar.

Related Topics:
Manichaean - Bogomil - 10th century - Cathar - 13th century - Jefferson Bible - Albert Schweitzer - Jesus Seminar

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