Chapter XLI.--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 [746] of those (powers) which embrace even the entire number of the elements. For suppose that there are some letters that are mute--nine of them--of Pater and Aletheia, from the fact that these are mute--that is, ineffable and unutterable. And (again, assume) that there are other (letters that are) semi-vowels--eight of them--of the Logos and of Zoe, from the fact that these are intermediate between consonants and vowels, and receive the emanation [747] of the (letters) above them, but the reflux of those below them. [748] And (likewise take for granted) that there are vowels--and these are seven--of Anthropos and Ecclesia, inasmuch as the voice of Anthropos proceeded forth, and imparted form to the (objects of the) universe. For the sound of the voice produced figure, and invested them with it. From this it follows that there are Logos and Zoe, which have eight (semi-vowels); and Anthropos and Ecclesia, which have seven (vowels); and Pater and Aletheia, which have nine (mutes). But from the fact that Logos wanted [749] (one of being an ogdoad), he who is in the Father was removed (from his seat on God's right hand), and came down (to earth). And he was sent forth (by the Father) to him from whom he was separated, for the rectification of actions that had been committed. (And his descent took place) in order that the unifying process, which is inherent in Agathos, of the Pleromas might produce in all the single power that emanates from all. And thus he who is of the seven (vowels) acquired the power of the eight [750] (semi-vowels); and there were produced three topoi, corresponding with the (three) numbers (nine, seven, and eight),--(these topoi) being ogdoads. And these three being added one to the other, exhibited the number of the twenty-four (letters). And (he maintains), of course, that the three elements,--(which he himself affirms to be (allied) with the three powers by conjugal union, and which (by this state of duality) become six, and from which have emanated the twenty-four elements,--being rendered fourfold by the Quaternion's ineffable word, produce the same number (twenty-four) with these. And these, he says, belong to Anonomastus. And (he asserts) that these are conveyed by the six powers into a similarity with Aoratus. And (he says) that there are six double letters of these elements, images of images, which, being reckoned along with the twenty-four letters, produce, by an analogical power, the number thirty.
[746] eikonikas. This is Irenæus' reading. Miller has eikonas (representations).
[747] aporrhoian: some read aporian, which is obviously erroneous.
[748] hup' auta: Irenæus reads huper auten, and Massuet hupenerthen.
[749] The deficiency consisted in there not being three ogdoads. The sum total was twenty-four, but there was only one ogdoad--Logos and Zoe. The other two--Pater and Aletheia, and Anthropos and Ecclesia--had one above and one below an ogdoad.
[750] ton okto has been substituted for to noeto, an obviously corrupt reading. The correction is supplied by Irenæus.
Chapter XLII.--His System Applied to Explain Our Lord's Life and Death.
And he says, as the result of this computation and that proportion, [751] that in the similitude of an image He appeared who after the six days Himself ascended the mountain a fourth person, and became the sixth. [752] And (he asserts) that He (likewise) descended and was detained by the Hebdomad, and thus became an illustrious Ogdoad. And He contains in Himself of the elements the entire number which He manifested, as He came to His baptism. (And the symbol of manifestation was) the descent of the dove, which is O[mega] and Alpha, and which by the number manifested (by these is) 801. [753] And for this reason (he maintains) that Moses says that man was created on the sixth day. And (he asserts) that the dispensation of suffering (took place) on the sixth day, which is the preparation; (and so it was) that on this (day) appeared the last man for the regeneration of the first man. And that the beginning and end of this dispensation is the sixth hour, at which He was nailed to the (accursed) tree. For (he says) that perfect Nous, knowing the sixfold number to be possessed of the power of production and regeneration, manifested to the sons of light the regeneration that had been introduced into this number by that illustrious one who had appeared. Whence also he says that the double letters [754] involve the remarkable number. For the illustrious number, being intermingled with the twenty-four elements, produced the name (consisting) of the thirty letters.
[751] Or, "economy."
[752] Christ went up with the three apostles, and was therefore the fourth Himself; by the presence of Moses and Elias, He became the sixth: Matt. xvii. 1; Mark ix. 2.
[753] The Greek word for dove is peristera, the letters of which represent 801, as may be seen thus:-- p = 80 e = 5 r = 100 i = 10 s = 200 t = 300 e = 5 r = 100 a = 1 ___ 801 This, therefore, is equipollent with Alpha and Omega, as a is equal to 1, and o to 800. [Stuff! Bunsen, very naturally, exclaims.]
[754] grammata: some read pragmata.