Did Marcion call the creator 'God'?

Journal article

Litwa, M. David. (2021). Did Marcion call the creator 'God'? Journal of Theological Studies. 72(1), pp. 231-246. https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/flab010
AuthorsLitwa, M. David
Abstract

Scholars often assert that Marcion believed in two Gods or supported a ditheistic theology. This essay argues that Marcion and his followers avoided calling the creator ‘God’ in an absolute sense. Instead, they preferred terms like ‘creator’ and ‘cosmocrator’. It is unlikely that Marcion would have described himself as a believer in two Gods (a type of polytheist). He maintained that there was one true God superior to the creator, without independently affirming the creator’s deity in an absolute sense. For Marcion(ites), the creator was not truly God, because the creator was not entirely good.

Year2021
JournalJournal of Theological Studies
Journal citation72 (1), pp. 231-246
PublisherOxford University Press
ISSN0022-5185
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/flab010
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range231-246
Publisher's version
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All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online18 Oct 2021
Publication process dates
Deposited01 Mar 2022
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