Marcionite Galatians - completed and published

The Reconstruction of Marcionite Galatians "level one" is complete.

Next in succession I will be working on the reconstruction of Marcionite (1st) Corinthians (which, by the way, was known originally as: “To the Alexandrians”, rather than to the Corinthians).

The Perfect Analogy for Learning about the Marcionites by Sifting Through the Writings of the Church Fathers

I just had to pass this on! From Stephan Huller's blog:

On Wednesday, August 29, 2012 Stephan Huller said:

“I came up with the perfect analogy for learning about the Marcionites by sifting through the writings of the Church Fathers. It's like trying to figure out a man by relying exclusively on the testimony of bitter ex-wives.  There is valuable information here - the only difficulty is figuring out a way to screen out all the built up resentment and acrimony.”

http://www.stephanhuller.blogspot.com/2012/08/i-came-up-with-perfect-analogy-for.html

Philippians 3:6 - an interpolation confirmed twice!

I also wanted to share with you about an interpolation in Philippians that I got excited about simply because in was confirmed as an interpolation not just once but two times! It is chapter 3 verse 6, “as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless”. It is confirmed as an interpolation first of all because of my “Interpolation confirmation rule” number 2, which says, “A confirmation source quotes both before and after but leaves out the text in question; but only if the “Rules for identifying interpolations” identifies the text as an interpolation”. But it is also confirmed a second time because at the place where Tertullian quoted verse 7 he referenced verse 5 as “the preceding verse”! Tertullian: ““those things which he had once accounted gain,” [a quote from verse 7] and which he enumerates in the preceding verse—“trust in the flesh,” [from verse 5] the sign of “circumcision,” his origin as “an Hebrew of the Hebrews,” his descent from “the tribe of Benjamin,” his dignity in the honours of the Pharisee” [all from verse 5] (“Against Marcion” by Tertullian, book 5, chapter 20)!

After the verses in that area are all cleaned up what remains fits together quite well! “[3:4] though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if anyone else thinks to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more: [3:5] circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; [3:6] [3:7] But what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss [3:8] for the excellence of the knowledge of the Good One Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may gain the Good One [3:9] not having a righteousness of mine own, which is of the law, but that which is through him, the righteousness which is of God.

Not bad for a days work!

Tertullian was also kind enough to share with us an argument that was apparently made by Marcionites of his day about verse 9: “according to this distinction”, Tertullian says, “the law did not proceed from the God of Christ”. If the righteousness that is of God is not the same righteousness that is of the law, it follows that the law did not come from that God who is the God of Jesus. A reasonable argument I think!

Peace!

Adrian