Marcionites: the first "anti-Nomians"
(Nomos, Greek for "law", or "torah" depending on the context)
Torah means "Teaching", it is composed of the 1st five books of TaNaKh (acronym for Torah, Novi'eem and The Kessuv'eem.- Instruction, Prophets, and the writings).
Early historical records state that the first "anti-Nomians" were the Marcionites. Appx 110 C.E. (A.D.), this was the beginning of the false doctrine called LAW VS. GRACE, in which they TWIST the words of Rabbi Sha'ul (Paul) when he was speaking against justification by works (Galations, and other places in the B'ris Chadasha.)
Marcion,who was the son of a Bishop, and a he was also wealthy shipbuilder. Marcion was from from Sinope, which is now northern Turkey, and was born about 85 C.E. (A.D.), he passed in the year 160 C.E. (A.D.)
After he arrived in Rome, he became a student of Cerdo, a Gnostic Christian, who believed that there was a difference between the God of the “Old Testament” and the God of the “New Testament”. Marcion became convinced through a misinterpretation of the Epistles of Rabbi Sha'ul (Paul) to the Congregations, that "the Torah (Instruction) was fully done away with in Yeshua". He decided that "all things Jewish" in the body of Moshiach must be done away, removed. He even went so far as to demand that the body of believers remove the Torah from the Canon of Scripture, since, in his view, "the "Law" was DONE AWAY WITH in Yeshua, and no one was under it" any more. He began to raise a following.
Marcion rejected all that was Hebrew. He rejected the Tenach, calling it the Old Testament, making the first distinction as “Old” and “New”. He rejected the books written by Mattisyohu (Matthew), Markus (Mark) and Yonason (John), because of Jewish influences. He accepted the book of Luke, but edited it, removing any Jewish influences. Marcion claimed that Paul was the only true “apostle”. He gathered 10 of Paul’s letters, excluding 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus and Ibriym (Hebrews). Of the 10 that he selected, Marcion edited them, removing what he called, “Jewish corruptions.” As to the other shaliachim (sent out ones, i.e. “apostles”), Marcion claimed that they were apostates who corrupted the teachings of Yeshua by mixing in legalism. Marcion rejected Toirah (teaching) and replaced it with his own ideas of love and grace.
In 138 A.D. when he was in Rome he placed his opinions and doctrine before the early Kehilas (Congreagtional) leadership of the body of Moshiach. They did not Rule immediately, but thought it would "dry up" and be forgotten in time. It did not go away, and his followers increased, and began to create strife and division in the believing comminity, all throughout the Empire, asserting that the "Law was over", and not for "true Christians". Their misconception of what "Grace" is was wholesale "rejection of HASHEM's Torah". Thus also coining the terms "OLD" Testiment and "NEW" testiment. One replaces the other. Today in replacement theology (supercessionism) the "Church" supposedly replaces Yisroel.
Marcion wrote his own “gospel” and presented it at meeting he had with the Church of Rome. He gave them 200,000 sesterces. After reading his gospel, the Church refused it and gave back the money. Marcion was a Ruled a Heretic and was Excommunicated.
Marcion's gospel was corrupted and void of all Hebrew references. Due to the listing of “acceptable” books, by Marcion, the Church was forced to determine what books, circulating in the Church, would be authorized. This was the first attempt at an official canon of what came to be known as the New Testament. Most of it was finalized by 200 CE. It was said by Justin Martyr (who was not a lover of the Jewish believers himself) that the Marcionites were "THE MOST dangerous sect". Because of the size of the Empire, many still secretly held to these heretical teachings undetected.
Yermeyahu (Jeremiah) 31:31 says is a merely a revision in the covenant (The covenant called Torah), a renewal of Torah (B'ris Chadasha) which will be written on our hearts. The office of Kohen haGadol, or High priest is transfered to Yeshua haMoshiach. As always, we obey the laws of the land in which we dwell when it comes to criminal rulings, but all else of Torah still stands.
Yisroel is actually The Olive tree of Romans 11, which is composed of Messianic Jews,and non-Jewish believers who are merely grafted in such as the sojourner we know as "Rus" (Ruth).
NOTE:By the way, it is historiclly recorded in The Talmud that Rus decided on her own free will and went through full Jewish conversion. Full conversion for Non-Jewish believers in Yeshua haMoshiach to become Jews is not required, but on the other hand not forbidden, as long as their motive is correct, meaning it has nothing to do with getting into the world to come (i.e. the kingdom of G-d).
Today, there is a resurgence of this anti-Nomian Heresy. They might be called "neo-Marcionites" after their original Heretic leader. Many Churches, and some Congregations "claiming" to be under the banner of Messianic Judaism nowadays, unknowingly still teach Marcion's heretical LAW VS. GRACE beliefs, not even aware of where they originated!
I am sure that Rabbi Sha'ul would be upset knowing that his disputation against "justification/attonement by man's own works" would be twisted into making him seem to be against obedience to HASHEM's Torah! (Torah: G-d's Instruction).
My wishes are not to offend here, but to educate, so we can have t'shuvah (a turning) from this cancer! We need to share the truth in HASHEM's ahavah (G-d's love).
© Copyright 1999 by ©T.O.M.J BEIS
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