Thursday, January 14, 2010

Marcionite Fragments in the Acts of Archelaus

I have always believed that the present 'Catholic' Acts of Archelaeus developed from a Marcionite original. I have developed this argument elsewhere (just the geography alone should lead people to suspect the presence of 'Marcionitism'). But in any event here is a small fragment of Marcionite belief for those who are interested. Archelaeus, the bishop of Harran writes against Mani's claims to be the Paraclete arguing instead that Paul alone deserves that title. So we read:

And our Lord Jesus Christ, making no tarrying, in the space of one year restored multitudes of the sick to health, and gave back the dead to the light of life; and He did indeed embrace all things in the power of His own word. And wherein, forsooth, did He make any tarrying, so that we should have to believe Him to have waited so long, even to these days, before He actually sent the Paraclete? Nay, rather, as has been already said above, He gave proof of His presence with us forthwith, and did most abundantly impart Himself to Paul, whose testimony we also believe when he says, “Unto me only is this grace given.” [Eph. iii.8]


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