Marcion

Marcion, founder of a sect of Christian ascetics, in the 2nd century, was a shipowner at Sinope. About the year 139 he came to Rome, and, being unable to find acceptance for his peculiar doctrines, headed a schism five years later. When he died, some 20 years after, numerous branches of the sect had been formed in all parts of the Roman Empire, and for five centuries the leading fathers of the Church wrote much in refutation of its doctrines. The main feature of these was the interpretation of Pauline doctrine as conveying the existence of two gods, the god of the Old Testament, who represented stern justice, and that of the New, redemption and mercy. In the speculations arising from this some confusion became apparent, [Manicheans.]