Marcion and Marcionism in Early Christian Writings
Early Christians called Marcion a false teacher who preached another god and changed the gospel. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Clement of Alexandria, and Cyprian all reject his teaching in clear language. They also say he cut the Scriptures and built a sect that stood against the Creator and the church.
100 early-church witnesses · 188 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about marcion and Marcionism?
Early Christian writers consistently treated Marcion as a false teacher who broke from the church and preached another god, not the Creator. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Clement of Alexandria, Cyprian, and others link him to a rejected gospel, mutilated Scripture, and a doctrine of two gods or two causes. They also describe Marcionites as a sect that denied the Creator, opposed marriage, and stood outside the church’s true teaching.
The evidence is broad across the second and third centuries, and it is especially strong on his anti-Creator theology and Scripture changes, while some later polemical details are more indirect. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Martyr and Irenaeus say Marcion taught another god besides the Creator.
- Tertullian and Irenaeus say Marcion changed or cut the Scriptures, especially Luke.
- Clement, Hippolytus, and Cyprian link Marcionism with rejecting the Creator and leaving the church.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Who was Marcion, according to the early Christians?
The sources place Marcion as a later figure after the apostles and describe him as the founder of a corrupt teaching and a named heretical movement. They also identify his followers as Marcionites.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
And he was the pupil of Paul. For Marcion, who arose in the same age with them, lived as an old man with the younger [heretics].
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
while Marcion of Pontus had not yet emerged from Pontus, whose master Cerdon came to Rome — while Hyginus was still bishop, who was the ninth bishop in that city — whom Marcion followed, and with greater impudence adding other enhancements to his crime, and more daringly set himself to blaspheme against God the Father, the Creator, and armed with sacrilegious arms the heretical madness that rebelled against the Church with greater wickedness and determination.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Background
2. Marcion of Pontus succeeded him, and developed his doctrine.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
nor did those from Marcion exist before Marcion;
What did early Christians say Marcion taught?
Early Christian writers say Marcion taught another god besides the Creator, denied the Creator’s role, and rejected the prophets’ witness to Christ. They treat his system as a distinct and hostile doctrine, not a variation of orthodox teaching.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching
And, as we said before, the devils put forward Marcion of Pontus, who is even now teaching men to deny that God is the maker of all things in heaven and on earth, and that the Christ predicted by the prophets is His Son, and preaches another god besides the Creator of all, and likewise another son.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
And there is Marcion, a man of Pontus, who is even at this day alive, and teaching his disciples to believe in some other god greater than the Creator.
More related quotations from this section 5 shown
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2 Peter 2:1 Background
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
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Galatians 1:7 Background
not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
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Galatians 1:8 Background
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
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Galatians 1:6 Background
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
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Galatians 1:9 Background
As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Did the early Christians say Marcion mutilated Scripture?
Irenaeus and Tertullian explicitly say Marcion mutilated Luke and rejected parts of Scripture. Origen also treats Marcion’s opinions as something to be refuted, not accepted as faithful reading.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
Wherefore also Marcion and his followers have betaken themselves to mutilating the Scriptures, not acknowledging some books at all;
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
But Marcion, mutilating that according to Luke, is proved to be a blasphemer of the only existing God, from those [passages] which he still retains.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
... the later one, a century later than the publication of all the many great facts and records of the Christian religion. These certainly could not have been published without, that is to say, before, the truth of the gospel. With regard, then, to the question now before us about Luke's Gospel, so far as its being the common property of both ourselves and Marcion allows it to decide the truth, that part of it which we alone receive is so much older than Marcion that Marcion himself once believed it. That was when, in the first warmth of faith, he contributed money to the Catholic church, which, along with himself, was afterward rejected, when he fell away from our truth into his own heresy. What if the Marcionites deny that he held the original faith among us, even in the face of his own letter? What if they do not acknowledge the letter? At any rate, they receive his Antitheses. More than that, they make an open display of using them. Proof from these is enough for me. For if the Gospel said to be Luke's which is current among us, and we shall see whether it is also current with Marcion, is the very one which, as Marcion argues in his Antitheses, was interpolated by the defenders
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
and consequently, that he whom Marcion has plainly preached for the first time, was not revealed by Christ (who announced His revelation as early as the reign of Tiberius).
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
In the scheme of Marcion, on the contrary, the mystery of the Christian religion begins from the discipleship of Luke.
Did early Christians think Marcion denied the goodness of creation?
Clement and Hippolytus say the Marcionites treated nature as evil, linked the world to evil matter, and opposed the Creator. These writers present that view as a defining mark of Marcionism.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
Before Valentinus, the followers of Valentinus didn't exist; nor did the followers of Marcion exist before Marcion. In short, none of those malicious individuals I previously mentioned existed before the founders and creators of their corrupt teachings. Valentinus came to Rome during the time of Hyginus, thrived under Pius, and stayed until Anicetus. Cerdon, who came before Marcion, also arrived during Hyginus's time, the ninth bishop. He often entered the Church, openly confessed, stayed sometimes teaching secretly, and then confessed again publicly. Ultimately, after being condemned for false teaching, he was excommunicated from the fellowship of the brethren. Marcion followed him and thrived under Anicetus, who was the tenth bishop. The rest, known as Gnostics, originated from Menander, a disciple of Simon, as I have shown; each considered himself both the founder and chief priest of the doctrine he was initiated into. However, all these groups (the Marcosians) emerged into their apostasy much later, even during a transitional period of the Church.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
...hemselves a new doctrine without any root or stability. But others, led astray by the prediction of false prophets, about whom both the true prophets and He Himself had foretold, fell away from the knowledge of God and abandoned the true tradition. But all of these, caught in the deceptions of demons, which they should have seen beforehand and guarded against, through their carelessness lost the name and worship of God. For when they are called Phrygians, or Novatians, or Valentinians, or Marcionites, or Anthropians, or Arians, or by any other name, they have ceased to be Christians, because they have lost the name of Christ and taken on human and outward names. Therefore, it is the Catholic Church alone that keeps the true worship.
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Dionysius of Rome, Against the Sabellians Supporting witness
For the doctrine of the foolish Marcion, which cuts and divides the monarchy into three elements, is assuredly of the devil, and is not of Christ's true disciples, or of those to whom the Saviour's teaching is agreeable.
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Cyprian, Seventh Council of Carthage Supporting witness
Against Him Marcion blasphemes, and some persons do not blush to approve the baptism of Marcion.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...e the ones about whom the Lord declared His mind with bitterness and severity, saying that they are false Christs and false teachers. Matthew 24:24 They have blasphemed the Spirit of grace, and done despite to the gift they had from Him after the grace of baptism. Forgiveness shall not be granted to them, neither in this world nor in that which is to come. Matthew 12:32 They are both more wicked than the Jews and more atheistical than the Gentiles. They blaspheme the God over all, and tread under foot His Son, and do despite to the doctrine of the Spirit. They deny the words of God, or pretend hypocritically to receive them, to affront God and deceive those that come among them. They abuse the Holy Scriptures, and as for righteousness, they do not so much as know what it is. They spoil the Church of God, as the little foxes do the vineyard. We urge you to avoid them, lest you lay traps for your own souls. For he that walks with wise men shall be wise, but he that walks with the foolish shall be known. For we ought neither to run along with a thief, nor to put in our lot with an adulterer, since holy David says, "O Lord, I have hated them that hate You, and I am withered away on
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...st and Moses, war against Christ and Moses, and who, clothed as sheep, hide the wolf. For these are false Christs, and false prophets, and false apostles, deceivers and corrupters, parts of foxes, the destroyers of the herbs of the vineyards. Because of them, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures steadfast to the end, the same will be saved, Matthew 24:12-13. Concerning them, so that He might make us secure, the Lord declared, saying: "There will come to you men in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Take care of them. For false Christs and false prophets shall arise and shall deceive many."
More related quotations from this section 9 shown
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Romans 16:17 Background
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
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1 Timothy 6:3 Background
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
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Acts 20:30 Background
and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
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1 Timothy 1:3 Background
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
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2 John 1:10 Background
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
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Titus 3:10 Background
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
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Galatians 5:20 Background
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
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1 Corinthians 11:19 Background
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
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2 Timothy 3:8 Background
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
Did early Christians say Marcionites rejected marriage?
Clement of Alexandria says the Marcionites abstained from marriage because they regarded nature as evil and did not want to fill the world made by the Creator. The passage links that practice directly to their theology.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
Now if Plato himself and the Pythagoreans, and later also the Marcionites, thought that generation was evil, he was far from teaching that wives should be held in common. But the Marcionites say that nature is evil, made from evil matter, and made by a just craftsman and Creator. For this reason, since they do not want to fill the world that was made by the Creator, they want to abstain from marriage. They resist their own Creator, and contend toward the good one who called them, but not toward him who, as they say, is God and has different qualities. Therefore, since they want to leave nothing of their own here, they are not continent by a deliberate purpose of mind. Rather, because of the hatred they have conceived against him who created them, they do not want to use the things that were created by him. But these men, because of the ungodly war they wage against God, have been moved away from thoughts that are according to nature. They despise the long-suffering and kindness of God. Even if they do not want to take a wife, they still use foods that were created, and they breathe the Creator's air, so that they may enjoy his works and remain in the things that are his. They also
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
...ciples, then we will also examine these contradictions, which the philosophers both hint at and the Marcionites set down in their teachings. But for now, I think it has been shown clearly enough that Marcion ungratefully and ignorantly took from Plato the occasions for these foreign and alien teachings. But let our discussion go on to continence. For we were saying that the Greeks spoke much against the generation of children, because they were looking at the troubles that usually accompany it. And when the Marcionites received these things in an ungodly way, they proved ungodly and ungrateful toward the Creator. For tragedy says:
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
The principal heresy of Marcion, and (the one of his) which is most free from admixture (with other heresies), is that which has its system formed out of the theory concerning the good and bad (God).
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
But Marcion, a native of Pontus, far more frantic than these (heretics), omitting the majority of the tenets of the greater number (of speculators), (and) advancing into a doctrine still more unabashed, supposed (the existence of) two originating causes of the universe, alleging one of them to be a certain good (principle), but the other an evil one.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
What is the folly of Marcion, and that his tenet is not new, nor (taken) out of the Holy Scriptures, but that he obtains it from Empedocles.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
...rds spoken against them through the Apostle Paul. For he, predicting the new teachings that certain heretics would later try to introduce without success, said this: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will depart from sound doctrine, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding marriage, and commanding people to abstain from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and by those who know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." 1 Timothy 4:1-5. So then, this statement of the blessed Paul is enough to refute those who live in this way and pride themselves on being righteous, and also to prove that this teaching of the Encratites is a heresy. But although some other heresies have also been named—I mean those of the Cainites, Ophites, Noachites, and others of this kind—I have not thought it necessary to explain what they say or do, lest for that reason they might think themselves important or worthy of attentio
Common Questions
Did early Christians think Marcion was a heretic?
Yes. Writers like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, and Cyprian describe Marcion as a false teacher or heretic who opposed the Creator and the church.
What did early Christians say Marcion taught?
They say he taught another god besides the Creator and rejected the Christ predicted by the prophets.
Did early Christians say Marcion changed the Bible?
Yes. Irenaeus and Tertullian say Marcion mutilated Scripture and cut away parts of Luke and other books.
Source Index for Marcion and Marcionism
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 188 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 100
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Didache, Connection to 2 Peter 2:1
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Ignatius, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Long Version)
Bible Passages 80 shown of 88
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.