The evil creator : origins of an early Christian idea / M. David Litwa.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Litwa, M. David, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Marcion, of Sinope, active 2nd century.

Marcion.

Bible. New Testament--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Bible. New Testament.

God (Christianity)--History of doctrines--Early church, ca. 30-600.

God (Christianity).

God (Christianity)--History of doctrines.

God (Christianity)--History of doctrines--Early church.

Good and evil--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Good and evil.

Gnosticism.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

211 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2021]

Summary:

"This book examines the origins of the evil creator idea chiefly in light of early Christian biblical interpretation. It is divided into two parts. In Part I, the focus is on Gnostic Christian interpretation. First, ancient Egyptian assimilation of the Jewish god to the evil deity Seth-Typhon is studied to understand its reapplication by alternative (Sethian, "Ophite" and "gnostic") Christians to the Judeo-catholic creator. Second, an alternative Christian reception of John 8:44 (understood to refer to the devil's father) is shown to implicate the Judeo-catholic creator in murdering Christ. Part II focuses on Marcionite Christian biblical interpretations. It begins with Marcionite interpretations of the creator's character in the Old Testament (chap 3), analyzes the reception of 2 Corinthians 4:4 (in which "the god of this world" blinds people, chap 4), examines Christ's so-called destruction of the Law (Eph 2:15) and the Lawgiver (chaps 5-6), and shows how Christ finally succumbs to the curse of the Law (Gal 3:13) inflicted by the creator (chap 7). A concluding chapter sums up the findings and shows how still today readers of the Bible conclude that the creator is evil"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: pt. I EGYPTIAN AND JOHANNINE APPROACHES TO THE EVIL CREATOR

Introduction: Why the Evil Creator?

1. The Donkey Deity

2. The Father of the Devil

pt. II MARCIONITE APPROACHES TO THE EVIL CREATOR

Introduction to Marcion

3. Creator of Evils

4. The God of This World

5. Destroyer of the Law I

6. Destroyer of the Law II

7. The Curse of the Creator.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Other Format:

Online version: Litwa, M. David. The evil creator

ISBN:

9780197566428

0197566421

OCLC:

1242910911

Publisher Number:

99988674294