Marcionism (Noun)
Meaning
The Christian heresy of the 2nd and 3rd centuries that rejected the Old Testament and denied the incarnation of God in Jesus as a human.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- Marcionism was a significant threat to the early Christian church, as it rejected the authority of the Old Testament and the divinity of Jesus Christ.
- The early Christian theologian Tertullian wrote extensively against Marcionism, arguing that it was a heresy that undermined the very foundations of Christianity.
- Marcionism was characterized by its rejection of the material world and its emphasis on the spiritual realm, which led many to view it as a form of Gnosticism.
- The Marcionite church was a rival to the orthodox Christian church, with its own scriptures and rituals that were distinct from those of the mainstream Christian community.
- Despite its influence in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, Marcionism was eventually declared a heresy by the Christian church and its teachings were largely suppressed.