Epiphanius of Salamis (about 375 CE) imagines a synod in which Marcion stood before the elders of the church and posed a question about Jesus’ sayings: “What is the meaning of, ‘They do not pour new wine into old skins’ or [sew] ‘a patch of an unfulled cloth on an old garment . . .’?” The “elders” had their own explanation of the sayings (informed, it seems, by Epiphanius’ imagination), but when Marcion insisted on other explanations, they refused to admit him into their assembly, and Marcion cried that he would rend the Roman church.[1]

So goes the play. But these sorts of church synods featuring exegetical wrangling, ambitions for ecclesial office, and schisms caused by jealousy were more characteristic of Epiphanius’ own day than they were of the second century. Some of these same prooftexts (G 5:36-37; 6:43) do appear on the lips of Marcionite debaters in later sources.[2] Perhaps Epiphanius or his source projected these debates back onto Marcion’s time.

What I imagine happening is rather less flashy.

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[1] Epiphanius, Pan. 42.2.1-8.

[2] Adamantius 2.16; cf. 1.28 (821c.10-14).