Chapter XX.--Christ the Only Prophet Has Appeared in Different Ages.
"But give heed to my first discourse of the truth. If any one do not allow the man fashioned by the hands of God to have had the Holy Spirit of Christ, how is he not guilty of the greatest impiety in allowing another born of an impure stock to have it? But he would act most piously, if he should not allow to another to have it, but should say that he alone has it, who has changed his forms and his names from the beginning of the world, and so reappeared again and again in the world, until coming upon his own times, and being anointed with mercy for the works of God, he shall enjoy rest for ever. His honour it is to bear rule and lordship over all things, in air, earth, and waters. But in addition to these, himself having made man, he had breath, the indescribable garment of the soul, that he might be able to be immortal.
Chapter XXI.--The Eating of the Forbidden Fruit Denied.
"He himself being the only true prophet, fittingly gave names to each animal, according to the merits of its nature, as having made it. For if he gave a name to any one, that was also the name of that which was made, being given by him who made it. [965] How, then, had he still need to partake of a tree, that he might know what is good and what is evil, if he was commanded not to eat of it? But this senseless men believe, who think that a reasonless beast was more powerful than the God who made these things.
[965] Gen. ii. 20.
Chapter XXII.--Male and Female.
"But a companion was created along with him, a female nature, much differing from him, as quality from substance, as the moon from the sun, as fire from light. She, as a female ruling the present world as her like, [966] was entrusted to be the first prophetess, announcing prophecy with all amongst those born of woman. [967] But the other, as the son of man, being a male, prophesies better things to the world to come as a male.
[966] That is, the present world is female, and is under the rule of the female; the world to come is male, and is under the rule of the male.
[967] The allusion is to the fact that John the Baptist is called the greatest of those born of woman, while Christ is called the Son of man.
Chapter XXIII.--Two Kinds of Prophecy.
"Let us then understand that there are two kinds of prophecy: [968] the one male; and let it be defined that the first, being the male, has been ranked after the other in the order of advent; but the second, being female, has been appointed to come first in the advent of the pairs. This second, therefore, being amongst those born of woman, as the female superintendent of this present world, wishes to be thought masculine. [969] Wherefore, stealing the seeds of the male, and sowing them with her own seeds of the flesh, she brings forth the fruits--that is, words--as wholly her own. And she promises that she will give the present earthly riches as a dowry, wishing to change the slow for the swift, the small for the greater.
[968] Literally, "Let there be to us two genuine prophecies."
[969] [The doctrine of these chapters is tinged with Gnostic dualism; much of the matter might, according to tradition, have been equally well put in the mouth of Simon.--R.]
Chapter XXIV.--The Prophetess a Misleader.
"However, she, not only presuming to say and to hear that there are many gods, but also believing herself to be one, and in hope of being that which she had not a nature to be, and throwing away what she had, and as a female being in her courses at the offering of sacrifices, is stained with blood; and then she pollutes those who touch her. But when she conceives and brings forth temporary kings, she stirs up wars, shedding much blood; and those who desire to learn truth from her, by telling them all things contrary, and presenting many and various services, she keeps them always seeking and finding nothing, even until death. For from the beginning a cause of death lies upon blind men; for she, prophesying deceit, and ambiguities, and obliquities, deceives those who believe her.