Marcion

Marcion (d. A.D. 160), founder of a heretical Christian sect. He joined the church in Rome c.140 but was excommunicated in 144. Influenced by gnosticism, he taught that there were 2 rival Gods: one, the tyrannical creator and lawgiver of the Old Testament; the other, the unknown God of love and mercy who sent Jesus to purchase salvation from the creator God. Marcion rejected almost the complete bible. This forced the orthodox church to fix its canon of Scripture. Marcionism spread widely but by the end of the 3rd century had mostly been absorbed by Manichaeism.

See also: Christianity.