Misunderstanding the New Paul: Marcion's Transformation of the Sonderzeit Paul

Abstract

The study of Marcion's reception of Paul has not kept pace with changes in the historical-critical interpretation of Paul's letters. This study seeks to understand Marcion's view of the future of the Jewish people by means of the "two paths" interpretation of Paul. I argue that Marcion's doctrine of the two Christs both transforms and preserves something of Paul's conception of the special way into salvation that he offered to Gentiles. Marcion's transformation of Paul consists in the ubiquitous second-century containment or removal of Paul's intense eschatology. Marcion participates in this wider movement in second-century Christianity but stands as a rare instance of preserving distinct salvific paths for Jews and Gentiles.