The Stromata, or Miscellanies, Book VI

Book VI

• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.1 — Plan. The sixth and also the seventh Miscellany of gnostic notes, in accordance with the true philosophy, having delineated as well as possible the ethical argument conveyed in them, and having exhibited what the…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.2 — The Subject of Plagiarisms Resumed. The Greeks Plagiarized from One Another. Before handling the point proposed, we must, by way of preface, add to the close of the fifth book what is wanting. For since we have shown…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.3 — Plagiarism by the Greeks of the Miracles Related in the Sacred Books of the Hebrews. And now they are convicted not only of borrowing doctrines from the Barbarians, but also of relating as prodigies of Hellenic…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.4 — The Greeks Drew Many of Their Philosophical Tenets from the Egyptian and Indian Gymnosophists. We shall find another testimony in confirmation, in the fact that the best of the philosophers, having appropriated their…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.5 — The Greeks Had Some Knowledge of the True God. And that the men of highest repute among the Greeks knew God, not by positive knowledge, but by indirect expression, Peter says in the Preaching: “Know then that there…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.6 — The Gospel Was Preached to Jews and Gentiles in Hades. But as the proclamation [of the Gospel] has come now at the fit time, so also at the fit time were the Law and the Prophets given to the Barbarians, and…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.7 — What True Philosophy Is, and Whence So Called. As we have long ago pointed out, what we propose as our subject is not the discipline which obtains in each sect, but that which is really philosophy, strictly…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.8 — Philosophy is Knowledge Given by God. For Paul too, in the Epistles, plainly does not disparage philosophy; but deems it unworthy of the man who has attained to the elevation of the Gnostic, any more to go back to…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.9 — The Gnostic Free of All Perturbations of the Soul. The Gnostic is such, that he is subject only to the affections that exist for the maintenance of the body, such as hunger, thirst, and the like. But in the case of…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.10 — The Gnostic Avails Himself of the Help of All Human Knowledge. For to him knowledge (gnosis) is the principal thing. Consequently, therefore, he applies to the subjects that are a training for knowledge, taking from…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.11 — The Mystical Meanings in the Proportions of Numbers, Geometrical Ratios, and Music. As then in astronomy we have Abraham as an instance, so also in arithmetic we have the same Abraham. “For, hearing that Lot was…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.12 — Human Nature Possesses an Adaptation for Perfection; The Gnostic Alone Attains It. By which consideration is solved the question propounded to us by the heretics, Whether Adam was created perfect or imperfect? Well,…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.13 — Degrees of Glory in Heaven Corresponding with the Dignities of the Church Below. He, then, who has first moderated his passions and trained himself for impassibility, and developed to the beneficence of gnostic…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.14 — Degrees of Glory in Heaven. Such, according to David, “rest in the holy hill of God,” in the Church far on high, in which are gathered the philosophers of God, “who are Israelites indeed, who are pure in heart, in…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.15 — Different Degrees of Knowledge. The Gnostic, then, is impressed with the closest likeness, that is, with the mind of the Master; which He being possessed of, commanded and recommended to His disciples and to the…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.16 — Gnostic Exposition of the Decalogue. Let the Decalogue be set forth cursorily by us as a specimen for gnostic exposition. That ten is a sacred number, it is superfluous to say now. And if the tables that were written…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.17 — Philosophy Conveys Only an Imperfect Knowledge of God. But, as appears, the philosophers of the Greeks, while naming God, do not know Him. But their philosophical speculations, according to Empedocles, “as passing…vatican.va
• The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.18 — The Use of Philosophy to the Gnostic. Now our Gnostic always occupies himself with the things of highest importance. But if at any time he has leisure and time for relaxation from what is of prime consequence, he…vatican.va