Five books against the heretic Marcion, who rejected the Old Testament God entirely. Tertullian's longest and most systematic theological work — a sustained demolition of Marcion's two-god theology.
Start ReadingTertullian attacks Marcion's rejection of the Old Testament God as a cruel demiurge, defending the unity and goodness of the Creator.
Tertullian examines Marcion's doctrine of two gods and dismantles the philosophical foundations of his dualism.
Tertullian defends the identity of the God of the Old Testament with the Father of Jesus Christ, against Marcion's separation of them.
Tertullian analyses the Gospel of Luke (the only Gospel Marcion accepted, in edited form), showing that even Marcion's own text supports the unity of the Creator and the God of Christ.
Tertullian examines the Pauline epistles (the only apostolic writings Marcion accepted), demonstrating that Paul's theology confirms the God of the Old Testament as the Father of Christ.