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Marcionite

Marcionite

1 9.9
Relating to the teachings of Marcion, an early Christian who rejected the Old Testament
  • adjective
  • /ˈmɑrʃənˌaɪt/
  • Specialized
: marcionita
  • The Marcionite view of scripture differed greatly from that of mainstream Christianity.

Examples

  • A Marcionite gospel excluded many books found in the traditional New Testament.

  • Some early church councils condemned Marcionite beliefs as heretical.

  • The Marcionite beliefs were controversial among early Christians.

  • Many historians study Marcionite texts to understand early Christianity.

  • The Marcionite movement emphasized the distinction between the God of the Old Testament and the God revealed in Jesus.

  • Scholars often debate the implications of Marcionite teachings on the development of early Christian doctrine.

  • The Marcionite interpretation of the Gospel emphasizes the rejection of Jewish law.

Surface Forms

Marcionite positive

Morphology

Marcionite = Marcion (opaque) = Marcion + ite

The word is derived from the proper noun 'Marcion' with the suffix '-ite', but the meaning requires specific historical and theological knowledge not accessible from the parts alone.

Etymology

The word Marcionite comes from the name Marcion and the ending -ite, which means 'belonging to' or 'follower'. It describes ideas or things from his teachings, so a Marcionite view is one that follows Marcion's beliefs.