Thursday, November 20, 2014

96. the gospel of Marcion had the Prologue of John (John 1:1 - 21)

Harnack suggested that the Irenaean passage (Adv. haer. 3.11.2) may indicate Marcion's opposition to the Fourth Gospel [Tuomas Rasimus the Legacy of John p. 154]
John, however, does himself put this matter beyond all controversy on our part, when he says, "He was in this world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own [things], and His own [people] received Him not." But according to Marcion, and those like him, neither was the world made by Him; nor did He come to His own things, but to those of another (Adv. haer. 3.11.2) may indicate Marcion's opposition to the Fourth Gospel [Harnack Das Evangelium von frenden Gott 1996 p. 251]. 
I think Harnack's point is that Marcion might have known the introduction but one can turn that same argument around and argue that Irenaeus is attacking the Marcionites because they used the introduction. Why else does someone cite author X against heretic Y: "John, however, does himself put this matter beyond all controversy on our part, when he says, "He was in this world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own [things], and His own [people] received Him not." But according to Marcion, and those like him, neither was the world made by Him; nor did He come to His own things, but to those of another" (Adv. haer. 3.11.2) may indicate Marcion's opposition to the Fourth Gospel [Harnack Das Evangelium von frenden Gott 1996 p. 251] The arguments from Luke take the same shape over and over again in Tertullian - Luke said X but Marcion believed Y, Paul said X but it contradicts the Marcionites who say Y. I will amend 70 to reflect my interpretation of the passage as a variation of what was suggested by Harnack. I will also revisit Rasimus.


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