Adversus Marcionem V.17 Programmatic Refutation of Marcion’s Antitheses through His (Allegedly) Redacted Luke

Irenaeus structural phrase or clause	English translation	Tertullian Latin parallel (with exact citation: work, book, chapter, section)	English translation
Marcion… ad intercidendas conversi sunt scripturas	Marcion mutilates or alters texts	“sed Marcion ei titulum aliquando interpolare gestiit” (Tertullian, Adversus Marcionem V.17.1)	“but Marcion at some time attempted to interpolate the title”
secundum Lucam… epistolas Pauli decurtantes	alteration of apostolic writings	“Marcion abstulit Sua…” (Adv. Marc. V.17.14)	“Marcion removed ‘his’…”
se autem sinceriores et prudentiores Apostolis esse	correcting or improving apostolic tradition	“Ecclesiae quidem veritate epistulam istam ad Ephesios habemus emissam… sed Marcion… interpolare gestiit” (Adv. Marc. V.17.1)	“In the truth of the Church we have this epistle sent to the Ephesians… but Marcion tried to alter the title”
Nos autem etiam ex his quae adhuc apud eos custodiuntur arguemus eos	refuting opponents from texts they retain	Pauline exegesis throughout retained epistle (Adv. Marc. V.17.1–16)	Tertullian argues from the epistle Marcion preserves
alterum Deum adinvenientes	invention of another god	“Alterius autem dei quod initium… cuius opus nullum?” (Adv. Marc. V.17.2)	“What beginning does another god have… whose work is none?”
abstiterunt… ab eo qui est Deus	separation from the true God	“Si creatoris sunt… quis credet ab alio ea recenseri in Christum alium” (Adv. Marc. V.17.3)	“If these belong to the Creator… who will believe they are gathered into another Christ?”
Apostolos… annuntiasse Evangelium	appeal to apostolic proclamation as norm	“superaedificati super fundamentum apostolorum… Abstulit haereticus, Et prophetarum” (Adv. Marc. V.17.16)	“built upon the foundation of the apostles… the heretic removed ‘and prophets’”

Irenaeus (Against Heresies — English quotation only)	Tertullian — Adv. Marc. V.17 (PRIMARY TEXT)
“He has summed up all things in Himself… restoring what was from the beginning.” (Adv. Haer. III.16.6)	“…recapitulare (id est ad initium redigere vel ab initio recensere) omnia in Christum quae in caelis et quae in terris…” (Adv. Marc. V.17.1) “…to recapitulate (that is, to bring back to the beginning or recount from the beginning) all things into Christ, those in heaven and those on earth…”
“Those who reject the Creator cannot show how all things are gathered into one in Christ.” (Adv. Haer. III.12.12 context)	“Alterius autem dei quod initium… cuius opus nullum?” (V.17.2) “But what beginning belongs to another god… whose work is nothing?”
“The prophets announced Christ beforehand; therefore those who hoped beforehand belonged to Him.” (Adv. Haer. III.21.4)	“Qui enim praesperasse potuerunt… nisi Iudaei, quibus Christus praenuntiabatur ab initio?” (V.17.3) “For who could have hoped beforehand except the Jews, to whom Christ was foretold from the beginning?”
“The Spirit promised by the prophets is fulfilled in Christ.” (Adv. Haer. III.17.2)	“…signati estis spiritu promissionis eius sancto… Cuius promissionis? factae per Ioelem…” (V.17.4) “…you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise… Of which promise? That made through Joel…”
“Christ is the same Lord foretold in the Scriptures and exalted by the Creator.” (Adv. Haer. III.19.2)	“Pater gloriae ille est cuius Christus rex gloriae canitur in psalmo ascendens…” (V.17.5) “That is the Father of glory whose Christ is sung as the King of glory ascending in the Psalm…”
“All things are subjected under His feet, according to the Scriptures.” (Adv. Haer. III.18.1)	“…subiciendo omnia… qui et dixit, Sede ad dexteram meam…” (V.17.6) “…subjecting all things… who also said, Sit at my right hand…”
“The devil is the ruler of this age, not the Creator.” (Adv. Haer. V.24.4)	“…princeps potestatis aeris… Hic erit diabolus…” (V.17.8) “…the prince of the power of the air… this will be the devil…”
“Man is God’s workmanship, formed anew in Christ.” (Adv. Haer. IV.38.1)	“Ipsius… sumus factura, conditi in Christo.” (V.17.11) “We are His workmanship, created in Christ.”
“The Gentiles were formerly alienated from the covenants but brought near through Christ.” (Adv. Haer. III.17.1)	“…alienati a conversatione Israelis et peregrini testamentorum… At nunc… facti estis prope in sanguine eius.” (V.17.12) “…alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants… but now… you have been made near in His blood.”
“Christ unites Jew and Gentile into one.” (Adv. Haer. III.18.7)	“Ipse est pax nostra, qui fecit duo unum…” (V.17.14) “He himself is our peace, who made the two into one…”
“The prophets and apostles together form the foundation of the Church.” (Adv. Haer. III.11.8)	“…superaedificati super fundamentum apostolorum… et prophetarum…” (V.17.16) “…built upon the foundation of the apostles… and prophets…”

In this section the same polemical structure is clearly present, since Tertullian portrays the opposing group as abandoning apostolic and prophetic continuity while imagining themselves more insightful than the original witnesses, precisely the pattern described in the earlier formulation about innovators who believe they have surpassed the apostles and therefore invent another god. The opening accusation that Marcion altered the title of the epistle already frames him as a manipulator of inherited tradition, suggesting a self-confident revisionism that presumes superior understanding. Throughout the argument Tertullian insists that the apostolic teaching is inseparable from the Creator, grounding Christ, the Spirit, prophecy, Israel’s promises, and the unity of Jews and Gentiles within a single divine economy, while depicting Marcion’s reinterpretations as artificial constructions imposed upon the text. The repeated appeal to continuity “ab initio,” to prophetic anticipation, and to the foundation of apostles and prophets underscores the claim that authentic doctrine is traditional and transmitted, whereas deviation arises from those who reject that continuity and claim deeper purity or insight. In this way the passage reflects the same conceptual framework as the earlier statement: heretical teachers, influenced by error, detach themselves from the true God and apostolic proclamation by asserting a supposedly superior revelation, thereby redefining the gospel against its original witnesses.