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| Marcion's Object in Adulterating the Gospel. No Difference Between the Christ of the Creator and the Christ of the Gospel. No Rival Christ Admissible. The Connection of the True Christ with the Dispensation of the Old Testament Asserted. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter
VI.—Marcion’s Object in Adulterating the Gospel. No
Difference Between the Christ of the Creator and the Christ of the
Gospel. No Rival Christ Admissible. The Connection of the True Christ
with the Dispensation of the Old Testament Asserted.
But we now advance a step further on, and
challenge (as we promised to do) the very Gospel of Marcion, with the
intention of thus proving that it has been adulterated. For it is
certain3620 that the whole aim
at which he has strenuously laboured even in the drawing up of his
Antitheses, centres in this, that he may establish a diversity
between the Old and the New Testaments, so that his own Christ may be
separate from the Creator, as belonging to this rival god, and
as alien from the law and the prophets. It is certain, also, that with
this view3621 he has erased
everything that was contrary to his own opinion and made for the
Creator, as if it had been interpolated by His advocates, whilst
everything which agreed with his own opinion he has retained. The
latter statements we shall strictly examine;3622
and if they shall turn out rather for our side, and shatter the
assumption of Marcion, we shall embrace them. It will then become
evident, that in retaining them he has shown no less of the defect of
blindness, which characterizes heresy, than he displayed when he erased
all the former class of subjects. Such, then, is to be3623 the drift and form of my little treatise;
subject, of course, to whatever condition may have become requisite on
both sides of the question.3624
3624 This seems to be the
sense of the words, “sub illa utique conditione quæ ex
utraque parte condicta sit.” | Marcion has laid
down the position, that Christ who in the days of Tiberius was, by a
previously unknown god, revealed for the salvation of all nations, is a
different being from Him who was ordained by God the Creator for the
restoration of the Jewish state, and who is yet to come. Between these
he interposes the separation of3625 a great and
absolute difference—as great as lies between what is just and
what is good;3626
3626 That is, between what
is severe and judicial and punitive on one side, that is, the
Creator’s; and what is mild, merciful, and forgiving, on the
other, that is, the Redeemer’s side (Rigalt.). | as great as lies
between the law and the gospel; as great, (in short,) as is the
difference between Judaism and Christianity. Hence will arise also our
rule,3627 by which we determine3628 that there ought to be nothing in common
between the Christ of the rival god and the Creator; but that (Christ)
must be pronounced to belong to the Creator,3629
3629 Creatoris
pronunciandum. | if
He has administered His dispensations, fulfilled His prophecies,
promoted3630 His laws, given
reality to3631 His promises,
revived His mighty power,3632
3632 Restauraverit virtutes
ejus. | remoulded His
determinations,3633
3633 Sententias
reformaverit. | expressed His
attributes, His properties. This law and this rule I earnestly
request the reader to have ever in his mind, and so let him begin to
investigate whether Christ be Marcion’s or the
Creator’s.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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