Sign-In
Cart
The Testamentum: The First Christian Holy Bible
Paperback
General ChristianityOther Bible Translations
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Nov 16 2022
Pages: 596
Weight: 1.73
Height: 1.21 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
The Testamentum was assembled by Marcion of Sinope around 128 C.E. It stands as the first codified Christian Biblical canon, nearly 300 years before the standard Biblical canon adopted by most mainline Christians today.
Unlike later Bibles shaped by the emerging Catholic tradition, the Testamentum was not divided into Old and New testaments. It was shorter, purer in focus and theologically coherent. It contained only those writings proclaiming the Good News of the previously unknown God revealed through Jesus Christ.
Marcionite Christians held that the Hebrew Bible-and the god and lower powers within it-were incompatible with the gospel of Jesus and Paul. The wrathful, tribal deity of the Hebrew Scriptures, Yahweh, stood in opposition to the loving Father revealed by Christ. These could not be reconciled. Marcion rejected the Hebrew Bible entirely, holding that its inclusion in the canon produced confusion.
Marcion taught that Jesus did not come to fulfill the Hebrew law but to abolish it. He believed Jesus came not from Yahweh, but from the true God, unknown to the prophets and patriarchs. This rupture defined the Marcionite worldview and shaped their canon.
The Testamentum was divided into unified sections. The first was the Evangelicon, or Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It presents Christ's teachings, free from Judaizing later Gospel interpolations. Next came the Apostolicon: Galatians, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Romans, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, Laodiceans, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians.
The Antilegicon included four disputed Pauline letters: Titus, I Timothy, II Timothy, and Alexandrians. Though treated with caution, they were preserved for study and pastoral use, secondary to the Apostolicon.
To enrich worship and teaching, the Marcionite tradition preserved additional writings. The Psalmicon contained forty-two psalms, the earliest known Christian hymnbook. These psalms offered poetic theology centered on the grace of the true God and the mission of His Son.
The Homileticon featured Marcion's Homily to Diognetus, an early surviving Christian apologetic work. It reflects Marcion's theological clarity and pastoral zeal. In this work, Marcion defends the distinction between the Father of Jesus Christ and the god of the Hebrews with philosophical depth.
The Synaxicon compiled seven pastoral letters written by Marcion: Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Romans, Philadelphians, Smyrnaeans, and the letter to Metrodorus. These epistles show the devotion, order, and mission of the Marcionite Church. They offer insight into early Pauline congregations faithful to the gospel of liberty, rejecting legalism. They demonstrate the ecclesial identity of the Marcionite movement, with its bishops, liturgies, and disciplines.
The Didascalicon preserves the catechetical teaching of the Marcionite Church, setting forth its doctrine in ordered lessons on confession, canon, scripture, history, theology, Christology, cosmology, anthropology, salvation, the last things, liturgy, sacraments, the calendar, the Church, ethics, and apologetics.
The Litourgicon preserves the Church's liturgical order, holy mysteries, rites, prayers, and appointed worship. The Dialekticon preserves Marcionite dialogues and disputations defending doctrine. The Chronicon sets forth the sacred chronology of the Marcionite dispensation, from the revelation of Christ through the Pauline and Marcionite Church.
Marcion's canon rejected the Hebrew Bible and the later catholic arrangement of gospels, acts, and letters that defined the standard Old Testament and New Testament structure. These later texts were seen as reactions to his purity-a reassertion of Jewish influence over the faith. The Testamentum remains the earliest and most coherent expression of the gospel as proclaimed by Paul: a Christianity unburdened by law, liberated by grace, and devoted to the one true God.
Also in
Other Bible Translations
The 210-Book Holy Bible, Apocrypha, and Ancient History Master Collection: Surpassing the Ethiopian Bible
Coalition, Covenant Christian
Press, Covenant
Hardcover
The Complete ETHIOPIAN BIBLE in English: Groundbreaking Translation and Critical Commentary Including Apocrypha, Enoch, Jubilees, and Other Rare Texts
Thompson, Michael Haile
Paperback
Orthodox Study Bible-OE-With Some NKJV: Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today's World
Thomas Nelson
Hardcover
Biblia Reina Valera 1960 Letra Grande. Tapa Dura, Tela Rosada Con Flores, Tamaño Manual / Bible Rvr 1960. Handy Size, Large Print, Hardcover, Pink (Large Print Edition)
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
Nvi, Santa Biblia, Revisión 2022, Edición Económica, Tapa Rústica
Vida
Nueva Versión Internacional
Paperback
First Nations Version Psalms and Proverbs: An Indigenous Bible Translation
Wildman, Terry M.
Paperback
The complete Ethiopian Bible: unveiling the world's oldest and most complete biblical canon
Vale, Seren
Paperback
First Nations Version: An Indigenous Bible Translation of the New Testament
Wildman, Terry M.
Paperback
The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: The Oldest Known Bible Translated for the First Time Into English
Flint, Peter
Abegg, Martin G., Jr.
Ulrich, Eugene
Paperback
Biblia Compacta Ntv de Zíper, Con Filament (Sentipiel, Jardín Coral)
Nueva Traducción Viviente
Hardcover
Streams in the Desert: 1925 Original 366 Daily Devotional Readings
Cowman, Lettie B.
Cowman, Chas E.
Paperback
The Complete Jewish Study Bible (Hardcover): Illuminating the Jewishness of God's Word
Rubin, Rabbi Barry
Hardcover
The 120-Book Holy Bible and Apocrypha Collection: Literal Standard Version (LSV)
Coalition, Covenant Christian
Press, Covenant
Hardcover
Biblia Rvr 1960 Letra Grande Tamaño Manual, Tapa Dura León de Juda Con Índice / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Handy Size Large Print Hardcover Lion of Judah
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
Ancient Eastern Text Bible-OE: George M. Lamsa's Translations from the Aramaic of the Peshitta
Lamsa, George M.
Paperback
Biblia Reina Valera 1960 Letra Grande. Tela Rosada Con Flores, Manual Con Índice / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960, Large Print, Pink Floral Cloth with Index
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
La Historia NVI: La Biblia En Un Relato Ininterrumpido Acerca de Dios Y Su Pueblo
Frazee, Randy
Lucado, Max
Paperback
PAPERback 15th Edition MARCH 2026 MIRROR STUDY BIBLE 516p VOLUME 3 OF 3 John's Writings; Gospel; 1st Epistle & Apocalypse
Du Toit, Francois
Paperback
Bible Translations for Everyone: A Guide to Finding a Bible That's Right for You
Wildsmith, Tim
Paperback
Bible Study Guide for Beginners: Each of the 66 Books Explained for Getting Started
Gugas, Brian
Paperback
The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible
Muecke, Chrissie
Pittman Morrell, Jasmin
Kim Pecinovsky, Teresa
Hardcover
Nbla, Santa Biblia, AMA a Dios Grandemente, Interior a Cuatro Colores Leathersoft, Oro Rosa, Comfort Print
Nbla-Nueva Biblia de Las Américas
Vida
Hardcover
The Passion Translation New Testament (2020 Edition) Hc Peony: With Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs
Simmons, Brian
Hardcover
Bible Word Search Puzzle Book (Large Print): Verses of Encouragement: Scripture Verses on Hope, Faith & Strength - For Adults & Teens (Large Print Edition)
For His Glory Publications
Paperback
Niv, Nkjv, Nlt, the Message, (Contemporary Comparative) Parallel Bible, Hardcover
Zondervan
Hardcover
The Living Bible Large Print Red Letter Edition (Large Print Edition)
New Living Translation
Hardcover
Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible: With Prefaces to 1st, Revised, & 3rd Editions
Young, Robert
Paperback
Biblia Reina Valera 1960 Letra Grande, Tamaño Manual, Tapa Dura Rosas Rosadas / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Handy Size Large Print Hc Pink Roses
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
Biblia Rvr 1960 Letra Grande León de Judá Edición Especial Bronce / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Large Print Imitation Leather Lion of Judah Special Edition
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
Biblia Rvr 1960 Letra Grande Tamaño Manual, Piel Rosada Con Índice / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Handy Size Large Print Leathersoft Pink with Index
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Paperback
Geneva Bible 1560 Edition (Annotated) with Apocrypha: The Complete English Scriptures with 80 Books of the Old Testament, Lost Apocrypha & New Testame
Gilby, Anthony
Wittingham, William
Paperback
The Ethiopian Complete Bible Decoded: Definitive English Edition Revealing Hidden Biblical Symbols from the 88-Book Canon, Including the Book of Enoch
Amanuel, Yared Tesfahun
Paperback
Biblia Valor Prémium Ntv, Letra Grande Con Filament (Sentipiel, Rosa)
Nueva Traducción Viviente
Hardcover
Graded Reader of Biblical Hebrew, Second Edition: A Guide to Reading the Hebrew Bible
Van Pelt, Miles V.
Pratico, Gary D.
Paperback
Biblia Inspira Ntv, Letra Grande Con Filament (Sentipiel, Primaveral) (Large Print Edition)
Nueva Traducción Viviente
Hardcover
The Holy Bible: Oldest Manuscripts in English: The Leningrad Codex and The Codex Sinaiticus
Simmons, Matthew
Paperback
Biblia Rvr 1960 Letra Grande, Manual, Tapa Dura Con Nombres de Dios, Flores Azul / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Handy Size, Lp, Hc with Names of God, Blue F
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
Rsv2ce, Thinline Large Print Catholic Bible, Brown Leathersoft, Comfort Print
Catholic Bible Press
Hardcover
The Chosen Presents: A Blended Harmony of the Gospels
Jenkins, Dallas
Laube, Steve
Jenkins, Amanda
Hardcover
Rsv2ce, Thinline Large Print Catholic Bible, Black Leathersoft, Comfort Print
Catholic Bible Press
Hardcover
Streams in the Desert: 1925 Original 366 Daily Devotional Readings
Cowman, Chas E.
Cowman, Lettie B.
Hardcover
Amplified Bible-Am-Compact: Captures the Full Meaning Behind the Original Greek and Hebrew
Zondervan
Hardcover
Biblia de la Mujer Conforme Al Corazón de Dios Rvr60 (a Woman After God's Own Heart Bible): Tapa Dura
George, Elizabeth
Hardcover
Biblia Católica, Edición Económica, Tapa Rústica, Comfort Print
Católica, Editorial
América, Biblia de
Paperback
Trimorphic Protennoia: The Three-Formed First Thought - An Essential Gnostic Text of Mystical Revelation, Divine Wisdom, and Ancient Spiritual Mysteri
Anonymous (Early Gnostic Writers)
Paperback
Biblia Bilingüe Reina Valera 1960 (Esv) Letra Grande Símil Piel Marrón Con Índice/ Bilingual Bible Rvr 1960 (Esv) Large Print Brown Leathersoft with T
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Paperback
Love Is Good Religion: A 30-Day Journey to Compassion, Contemplation, and Connection
Ferguson, Trey
Paperback
Interlinear for the Rest of Us: The Reverse Interlinear for New Testament Word Studies
Mounce, William D.
Paperback
Nvi, Santa Biblia, Revisión 2022, Edición Económica, Letra Grande, Tapa Rústica
Nueva Versión Internacional
Vida
Paperback
Biblia Reina Valera 1960 Letra Grande, Tapa Dura, Tamaño Manual Corazón (Rosada) / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960. Handy Size, Large Print, Hardcover, Pink
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
Latest PAPERback MAY 2026 Edition TEXT ONLY Mirror Bible Including complete ACTS [Without Commentary & Study notes]
Du Toit, Francois
Paperback
The Hypostasis of the Archons: The Reality of the Rulers - An Essential Gnostic Text from the Nag Hammadi Library on the Demiurge, Cosmic Powers, and
Anonymous Gnostic Authors
Paperback
Rsv2ce, Thinline Large Print Catholic Bible, Crimson Leathersoft, Comfort Print
Catholic Bible Press
Hardcover
Mary's Secret Gospel: Apocryphal Writings on the Mother of Jesus-Lost Texts Beyond the New Testament
Writers, Early Christian
Paperback
Biblia Rvr 1960 Letra Grande Tamaño Manual, Piel Gris Con Índice / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Handy Size Large Print Leathersoft Gray with Index
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Paperback
The Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible: Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (Rsv2ce)
Ave Maria Press
Hardcover
Bible Day by Day: Minute Meditations for Every Day Based on Selected Text of the Holy Bible
Kersten, John C.
Hardcover
ESV Spanish/English Parallel Bible (La Santa Biblia Rvr 1960 / The Holy Bible Esv, Paperback)
Esv Bibles
Paperback
Rvr60, Santa Biblia, Premio Y Regalo, Letra Grande, Tapa Dura, Negro, Palabras de Jesús En Rojo, Comfort Print
Rvr 1960- Reina Valera 1960
Vida
Hardcover
First Nations Version Psalms and Proverbs: An Indigenous Bible Translation
Wildman, Terry M.
Hardcover