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Document Details : Title: Rehabilitating Some Early Heretics Subtitle: The Rhetoric of Heresy and Christian Diversity in the Second Century Author(s): EURELL, John-Christian Journal: Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses Volume: 98 Issue: 2 Date: 2022 Pages: 313-330 DOI: 10.2143/ETL.98.2.3290793 Abstract : This article examines the issue of orthodoxy and heresy in second-century Christianity. Through examination of the examples of Valentinus, Marcion, Montanus, and the movements connected to their heritage in later centuries, the nature of the relationship between these figures and other contemporary Christians is discerned. These three alleged heretics likely never separated from the larger church in their lifetime. Their condemnation rather stems from conflicts with their alleged disciples. As teachers they were simply part of the lively theological debates in the second-century church. The division between orthodoxy and heresy in the church fathers should thus be viewed as a social construction rather than an apt description of the situation. |
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