The Refutation of All Heresies, Book VI

Book VI

• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.1 — The Ophites the Progenitors of Subsequent Heresies. Whatever opinions, then, were entertained by those who derived the first principles (of their doctrine) from the serpent, and in process of time deliberately…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.2 — Simon Magus. It seems, then, expedient likewise to explain now the opinions of Simon, a native of Gitta, a village of Samaria; and we shall also prove that his successors, taking a starting-point from him, have…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.3 — Story of Apsethus the Libyan. Apsethus the Libyan inordinately longed to become a god; but when, after repeated intrigues, he altogether failed to accomplish his desire, he nevertheless wished to appear to have…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.4 — Chapter IV.—Simon’s Forced Interpretation of Scripture; Plagiarizes from Heraclitus and Aristotle; Simon’s System of Sensible and Intelligible Existences. In this way we must think concerning Simon the magician, so…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.5 — Simon Appeals to Scripture in Support of His System. And this, he says, is what has been written in Scripture: “For the vineyard of the Lord of Sabaoth is the house of Israel, and the man of Judah is His beloved…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.6 — Simon's System Expounded in the Work, Great Announcement; Follows Empedocles. Now, to express myself briefly, inasmuch as the fire is of this description, according to Simon, and since all things are visible and…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.7 — Simon's System of a Threefold Emanation by Pairs. For, he says, he is in the habit of considering that all these portions of the fire, both visible and invisible, are possessed of perception and a share of…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.8 — Further Progression of This Threefold Emanation; Co-Existence with the Double Triad of a Seventh Existence. Chapter VIII.—Further Progression of This Threefold Emanation; Co-Existence with the Double Triad of a…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.9 — Simon's Interpretation of the Mosaic Hexaëmeron; His Allegorical Representation of Paradise. Chapter IX.—Simon’s Interpretation of the Mosaic Hexaëmeron; His Allegorical Representation of Paradise. When, therefore,…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.10 — Simon's Explanation of the First Two Books of Moses. The river, therefore, he says, which proceeds out of Edem is divided into four principles, four channels—that is, into four senses, belonging to the creature that…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.11 — Simon's Explanation of the Three Last Books of the Pentateuch. What is spoken by the Gentiles is sufficient for a knowledge of the universe to those who have ears (capable) of hearing. For whosoever, he says, has…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.12 — Fire a Primal Principle, According to Simon. According to Simon, therefore, there exists that which is blessed and incorruptible in a latent condition in every one—(that is,) potentially, not actually; and that this…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.13 — His Doctrine of Emanation Further Expanded. Therefore, according to this reasoning, Simon became confessedly a god to his silly followers, as that Libyan, namely, Apsethus—begotten, no doubt, and subject to passion,…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.14 — Chapter XIV.—Simon Interprets His System by the Mythological Representation of Helen of Troy; Gives an Account of Himself in Connection with the Trojan Heroine; Immorality of His Followers; Simon’s View of Christ;…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.15 — Simon's Disciples Adopt the Mysteries; Simon Meets St. Peter at Rome; Account of Simon's Closing Years. Chapter XV.—Simon’s Disciples Adopt the Mysteries; Simon Meets St. Peter at Rome; Account of Simon’s Closing…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.16 — Heresy of Valentinus; Derived from Plato and Pythagoras. The heresy of Valentinus is certainly, then, connected with the Pythagorean and Platonic theory. For Plato, in the Timæus, altogether derives his impressions…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.17 — Origin of the Greek Philosophy. The origin, then, from which Plato derived his theory in the Timæus, is (the) wisdom of the Egyptians. For from this source, by some ancient and prophetical tradition, Solon taught his…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.18 — Pythagoras' System of Numbers. Pythagoras, then, declared the originating principle of the universe to be the unbegotten monad, and the generated duad, and the rest of the numbers. And he says that the monad is the…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.19 — Pythagoras' Duality of Substances; His “Categories.”. There are, then, according to Pythagoras, two worlds: one intelligible, which has the monad for an originating principle; and the other sensible. But of this…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.20 — Pythagoras' Cosmogony; Similar to that of Empedocles. The Pythagoreans therefore declare their opinion concerning the continuance of the world in some such manner as this:— “For heretofore it was and will be; never,…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.21 — Other Opinions of Pythagoras. Pythagoras, then, became a student of these doctrines likewise, in which he speaks both by enigmas and some such expressions as these: “When you depart from your own (tabernacle), return…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.22 — The “Sayings” Of Pythagoras. But since also we have chosen to mention the sayings darkly expressed by Pythagoras to his disciples by means of symbols, it seems likewise expedient to remind (the reader) of the rest…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.23 — Pythagoras' Astronomic System. These, then, and such like assertions, the Pythagoreans put forward; and the heretics, imitating these, are supposed by some to utter important truths. The Pythagorean system, however,…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.24 — Valentinus Convicted of Plagiarisms from the Platonic and Pythagoric Philosophy; The Valentinian Theory of Emanation by Duads. Chapter XXIV.—Valentinus Convicted of Plagiarisms from the Platonic and Pythagoric…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.25 — The Tenet of the Duad Made the Foundation of Valentinus' System of the Emanation of Æons. Chapter XXV.—The Tenet of the Duad Made the Foundation of Valentinus’ System of the Emanation of Æons. Logos himself also, and…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.26 — Valentinus' Explanation of the Existence of Christ and the Spirit. Ignorance, therefore, having arisen within the Pleroma in consequence of Sophia, and shapelessness in consequence of the offspring of Sophia,…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.27 — Valentinus' Explanation of the Existence of Jesus; Power of Jesus Over Humanity. Chapter XXVII.—Valentinus’ Explanation of the Existence of Jesus; Power of Jesus Over Humanity. After, then, there ensued some one…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.28 — The Valentinian Origin of the Creation. As, therefore, the primary and greatest power of the animal essence came into existence, an image (of the only begotten Son); so also the devil, who is the ruler of this world,…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.29 — The Other Valentinian Emanations in Conformity with the Pythagorean System of Numbers. Chapter XXIX.—The Other Valentinian Emanations in Conformity with the Pythagorean System of Numbers. The quaternion, then,…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.30 — Chapter XXX.—Valentinus’ Explanation of the Birth of Jesus; Twofold Doctrine on the Nature of Jesus’ Body; Opinion of the Italians, that Is, Heracleon and Ptolemæus; Opinion of the Orientals, that Is, Axionicus and…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.31 — Further Doctrines of Valentinus Respecting the Æons; Reasons for the Incarnation. Chapter XXXI.—Further Doctrines of Valentinus Respecting the Æons; Reasons for the Incarnation. Let, then, those (heretics) pursue…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.32 — Valentinus Convicted of Plagiarisms from Plato. I think that the heresy of Valentinus which is of Pythagorean (origin), has been sufficiently, indeed more than sufficiently, delineated. It therefore seems also…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.33 — Secundus' System of Æons; Epiphanes; Ptolemæus. A certain (heretic) Secundus, born about the same time with Ptolemæus, expresses himself thus: (he says) that there is a right tetrad and a left tetrad,—namely, light…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.34 — System of Marcus; A Mere Impostor; His Wicked Devices Upon the Eucharistic Cup. Chapter XXXIV.—System of Marcus; A Mere Impostor; His Wicked Devices Upon the Eucharistic Cup. A certain other teacher among them,…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.35 — Further Acts of Jugglery on the Part of Marcus. And this (Marcus), infusing (the aforesaid) mixture into a smaller cup, was in the habit of delivering it to a woman to offer up the Eucharistic prayer, while he…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.36 — The Heretical Practices of the Marcites in Regard of Baptism. Such and other (tricks) this impostor attempted to perform. And so it was that he was magnified by his dupes, and sometimes he was supposed to utter…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.37 — Marcus' System Explained by Irenæus; Marcus' Vision; The Vision of Valentinus Revealing to Him His System. Chapter XXXVII.—Marcus’ System Explained by Irenæus; Marcus’ Vision; The Vision of Valentinus Revealing to…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.38 — Marcus' System of Letters. But the generic and expressed names of the elements he called Æons, and Logoi, and Roots, and Seeds, and Pleromas, and Fruits. (And he maintains) that every one of these, and what was…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.39 — The Quaternion Exhibits “Truth.”. And (Marcus alleged) that the Quaternion, after having explained these things, spoke as follows: “Now, I wish also to exhibit to you Truth herself, for I have brought her down from…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.40 — The Name of Christ Jesus. But, after uttering these words, (Marcus details) that Truth, gazing upon him, and opening her mouth, spoke the discourse (just-alluded to). And (he tells us) that the discourse became a…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.41 — Marcus' Mystic Interpretation of the Alphabet. Know, (therefore,) that these letters which with you are (reckoned at) twenty-four, are emanations from the three powers, and are representative of those (powers) which…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.42 — His System Applied to Explain Our Lord's Life and Death. And he says, as the result of this computation and that proportion, that in the similitude of an image He appeared who after the six days Himself ascended the…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.43 — Letters, Symbols of the Heavens. He has, however, employed the instrumentality of the aggregate of the seven numbers, in order that the result of the self-devised (counsel) might be manifested. Understand, he says,…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.44 — Respecting the Generation of the Twenty-Four Letters. And so far for these points. Respecting, however, the generation of the twenty-four elements, he expresses himself thus: that Henotes coexists with Monotes, and…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.45 — Why Jesus is Called Alpha. Now Jesus possesses this ineffable generation. For from the mother of the universe, I mean the first tetrad, proceeded forth, in the manner of a daughter, the second tetrad. And it became…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.46 — Marcus' Account of the Birth and Life of Our Lord. But concerning the creation of this (Jesus), he expresses himself thus: That powers emanating from the second tetrad fashioned Jesus, who appeared on earth, and that…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.47 — The System of Marcus Shown to Be that of Pythagoras, by Quotations from the Writings of Marcus' Followers. Chapter XLVII.—The System of Marcus Shown to Be that of Pythagoras, by Quotations from the Writings of…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.48 — Their Cosmogony Framed According to These Mystic Doctrines of Letters. And by the Mother, they allege, were created first the four elements, which, they say, are fire, water, earth, air; and these have been projected…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.49 — The Work of the Demiurge Perishable. And in addition to these (points, they lay down) that the Demiurge of the supernal Ogdoad, desirous of imitating the indefinite, and everlasting, and illimitable (one), and (the…vatican.va
• The Refutation of All Heresies VI.50 — Marcus and Colarbasus Refuted by Irenæus. These assertions, then, those who are of the school of Valentinus advance concerning both the creation and the universe, in each case propagating opinions still more empty.…vatican.va