Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Book IV of 'The five books against Marcion' by reading Chapters 1 to 13.
My summary
This week Tertullian argues with Marcion by showing that Jesus is the Christ of the Creator.
The evidence for Jesus being the Christ is drawn particularly from the gospel of Luke because Marcion accepts this gospel in contrast to other parts of Scripture. Tertullian does discuss the foolishness of Marcion in this regard at the beginning of the reading.
Then Tertullian shows that Jesus is the Christ because of:
(i) the words of demons;
(ii) the calling of the apostles;
(iii) the healings of Jesus;
(iv) the fulfilment of prophecies;
(v) his being the Son of Man;
(vi) the parable of the Old Wine and the New;
(vii) his teaching on the Sabbath.
What grabbed me
I enjoyed Tertullian's comments on one of the factors of textual criticism: ' I say that my Gospel is the true one; Marcion, that his is. I affirm that Marcion’s Gospel is adulterated; Marcion, that mine is. Now what is to settle the point for us, except it be that principle of time, which rules that the authority lies with that which shall be found to be more ancient; and assumes as an elemental truth, that corruption (of doctrine) belongs to the side which shall be convicted of comparative lateness in its origin. For, inasmuch as error is falsification of truth, it must needs be that truth therefore precede error. A thing must exist prior to its suffering any casualty; and an object must precede all rivalry to itself.'
Such advice still holds true today.
Generally speaking, the older the copy of the text the more reliable that copy is.
Next week's reading
Continue Book IV of 'The five books against Marcion' by reading Chapters 14 to 22.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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