Ted Hoffman

No. But Vork has pretty much sealed shut the crack you were trying to jam your foot through. I hope he didn't crush your toes. We dont want you attending any business meetings limping in bandages .

Now that we have addressed Quadratus and Melito (thanks btw, I didn't think of the dating of Melito's works), are we in agreement that Doherty's argument concerning second century apologists is sound and complete?
I am glad you are conforming to the 180 CE cutoff. Also, conform to the "defense of Christianity to the pagans" clause and all will be well.

If we are not in agreement that Doherty's case is secure, whats the new argument?

Ted Hoffman

Yep. Marcionites, for example, were considered floating sewage and were excorgitated from the raging river that was orthodox Christianity. And when the HJ variants syncretized with the gospel HJ, and 'heresy' got a real meaning, other variations of Jesus became like gadflies in the leaping flanks of the orthodox bull. They dropped off like ticks, scriptures were banned or burnt and it became a state religion. Interpolations, harmonizations, embellishments, councils etc followed. The rest is history.

I think it can be argued.

GakuseiDon

You're welcome.

No new argument, I'm afraid. Thanks for your time.