Ante-Nicene Fathers • VOLUME 5
Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius & Novatian
SECTION 81
Chapter XXI.--The System of Cerinthus Concerning Christ.
Chapter XXI.--The System of Cerinthus Concerning Christ. But a certain Cerinthus, [884] himself being disciplined in the teaching of the Egyptians, asserted that the world was not made by the primal Deity, but by some virtue which was an offshoot from that Power which is above all things, and which (yet) is ignorant of the God …
758 wordsSECTION 82Chapter XXIV.--The Melchisedecians; The Nicolaitans.
Chapter XXIV.--The Melchisedecians; The Nicolaitans. While, however, different questions have arisen among them, a certain (heretic), who himself also was styled Theodotus, and who was by trade a banker, [890] attempted to establish (the doctrine), that a certain Melchisedec constitutes the greatest power, and that this one is …
1,111 wordsSECTION 83Book VIII. [903]
Book VIII. [903] ------------------------ Contents. The following are the contents of the eighth book of the Refutation of all Heresies:-- What are the opinions of the Docetæ, and that they have formed the doctrines which they assert from natural philosophy. How Monoïmus [904] trifles, devoting his attention to poets, and g…
1,082 wordsSECTION 84Chapter II.--Docetic Notion of the Incarnation; Their Doctrines of Æons; Their Account of Creation; Their Notion of a Fiery God.
Chapter II.--Docetic Notion of the Incarnation; Their Doctrines of Æons; Their Account of Creation; Their Notion of a Fiery God. And these (heretics) suppose that this is what is spoken by the Saviour: "A sower went forth to sow; and that which fell on the fair and good ground produced, some a hundred-fold, and some sixty-fold,…
852 wordsSECTION 85Chapter III.--Christ Undoes the Work of the Demiurge; Docetic Account of the Baptism and Death of Jesus; Why He Lived for Thirty Years on Earth.
Chapter III.--Christ Undoes the Work of the Demiurge; Docetic Account of the Baptism and Death of Jesus; Why He Lived for Thirty Years on Earth. This fiery deity, then, after he became fire from light, proceeded to create the world in the manner which Moses describes. He himself, however, as devoid of subsistence, employs the d…
1,211 wordsSECTION 86Chapter IV.--Docetic Doctrine Derived from the Greek Sophists.
Chapter IV.--Docetic Doctrine Derived from the Greek Sophists. These (statements), therefore, I consider sufficient to properly-constituted minds for the purpose of attaining unto a knowledge of the complicated and unstable heresy of the Docetæ. (But) those who have propounded attempted arguments about inaccessible and incompre…
962 wordsSECTION 87Chapter VII.--Monoïmus on the Sabbath; Allegorizes the Rod of Moses; Notion Concerning the Decalogue.
Chapter VII.--Monoïmus on the Sabbath; Allegorizes the Rod of Moses; Notion Concerning the Decalogue. The world, then, as Moses says, was made in six days, that is, by six powers, which (are inherent) in the one tittle of the iota. (But) the seventh (day, which is) a rest and Sabbath, has been produced from the Hebdomad, which …
753 wordsSECTION 88Chapter VIII.--Monoïmus Explains His Opinions in a Letter to Theophrastus; Where to Find God; His System Derived from Pythagoras.
Chapter VIII.--Monoïmus Explains His Opinions in a Letter to Theophrastus; Where to Find God; His System Derived from Pythagoras. Monoïmus himself, accordingly, in his letter to Theophrastus, expressly makes the following statement: "Omitting to seek after God, and creation, and things similar to these, seek for Him from (out o…
817 wordsSECTION 89Chapter XI.--The Quartodecimans.
Chapter XI.--The Quartodecimans. And certain other (heretics), contentious by nature, (and) wholly uninformed as regards knowledge, as well as in their manner more (than usually) quarrelsome, combine (in maintaining) that Easter should be kept on the fourteenth day [944] of the first month, according to the commandment of the l…
781 wordsSECTION 90Chapter XIII.--The Doctrines of the Encratites. [950]
Chapter XIII.--The Doctrines of the Encratites. [950] Others, however, styling themselves Encratites, acknowledge some things concerning God and Christ in like manner with the Church. In respect, however, of their mode of life, they pass their days inflated with pride. They suppose, that by meats they magnify themselves, while …
1,251 wordsSECTION 91Chapter III.--Noetianism an Offshoot from the Heraclitic Philosophy.
Chapter III.--Noetianism an Offshoot from the Heraclitic Philosophy. But since we have exhibited the succession of their genealogy, it seems expedient next that we should also explain the depraved teaching involved in their doctrines. For this purpose we shall first adduce the opinions advanced by Heraclitus "the Obscure," [968…
981 wordsSECTION 92Chapter V.--Heraclitus' Estimate of Hesiod; Paradoxes of Heraclitus; His Eschatology; The Heresy of Noetus of Heraclitean Origin; Noetus' View of the Birth and Passion of Our Lord.
Chapter V.--Heraclitus' Estimate of Hesiod; Paradoxes of Heraclitus; His Eschatology; The Heresy of Noetus of Heraclitean Origin; Noetus' View of the Birth and Passion of Our Lord. In this manner Heraclitus assigns to the visible an equality of position and honour with the invisible, as if what was visible and what was invisibl…
2,411 wordsSECTION 93But as time wore on, as happens to take place in such cases, brethren repaired to Carpophorus, and entreated him that he would release the f
But as time wore on, as happens to take place in such cases, brethren repaired to Carpophorus, and entreated him that he would release the fugitive serf from punishment, on the plea of their alleging that Callistus acknowledged himself to have money lying to his credit with certain persons. But Carpophorus, as a devout man, said…
2,231 wordsSECTION 94Chapter VIII.--Sect of the Elchasaites; Hippolytus' Opposition to It.
[1003] The cemetery of Callistus was situated in the Via Appia. [The catacombs near the Church of St. Sebastian still bear the name of this unhappy man, and give incidental corroboration to the incident.] [1004] [Here Wordsworth's note is valuable, p. 80. Callistus had doubtless sent letters to announce his consecration to othe…
862 wordsSECTION 95Chapter IX.--Elchasai Derived His System from Pythagoras; Practised Incantations.
Chapter IX.--Elchasai Derived His System from Pythagoras; Practised Incantations. This Elchasai puts forward as a decoy a polity (authorized in the) Law, alleging that believers ought to be circumcised and live according to the Law, (while at the same time) he forcibly rends certain fragments from the aforesaid heresies. And he…
805 wordsSECTION 96Chapter XI.--Precepts of Elchasai.
Chapter XI.--Precepts of Elchasai. But in very many other respects he talks folly, inculcating the use of these sentences also for those afflicted with consumption, and that they should be dipped in cold water forty times during seven days; and he prescribes similar treatment for those possessed of devils. Oh inimitable wisdom …
1,071 wordsSECTION 97Chapter XIV.--The Tenets of the Esseni.
Chapter XIV.--The Tenets of the Esseni. And they despise wealth, and do not turn away from sharing their goods with those that are destitute. No one amongst them, however, enjoys a greater amount of riches than another. For a regulation with them is, that an individual coming forward to join the sect must sell his possessions, …
817 wordsSECTION 98Chapter XVIII.--The Tenets of the Esseni Continued.
Chapter XVIII.--The Tenets of the Esseni Continued. But to those who wish to become disciples of the sect, they do not immediately deliver their rules, unless they have previously tried them. Now for the space of a year they set before (the candidates) the same food, while the latter continue to live in a different house outsid…
854 wordsSECTION 99Chapter XXI.--Different Sects of the Esseni.
Chapter XXI.--Different Sects of the Esseni. The Essenes have, however, in the lapse of time, undergone divisions, and they do not preserve their system of training after a similar manner, inasmuch as they have been split up into four parties. For some of them discipline themselves above the requisite rules of the order, so tha…
774 wordsSECTION 100Chapter XXIII.--Another Sect of the Esseni: the Pharisees.
Chapter XXIII.--Another Sect of the Esseni: the Pharisees. There is then another order of the Essenes who use the same customs and prescribed method of living with the foregoing sects, but make an alteration from these in one respect, viz., marriage. Now they maintain that those who have abrogated matrimony commit some terrible…
777 wordsSECTION 101Chapter XXV.--The Jewish Religion.
Chapter XXV.--The Jewish Religion. Since, therefore, we have explained even the diversities among the Jews, it seems expedient likewise not to pass over in silence the system of their religion. The doctrine, therefore, among all Jews on the subject of religion is fourfold-theological, natural, moral, and ceremonial. And they af…
792 wordsSECTION 102Chapter XXVI.--Conclusion to the Work Explained.
Chapter XXVI.--Conclusion to the Work Explained. It now seems to us that the tenets of both all the Greeks and barbarians have been sufficiently explained by us, and that nothing has remained unrefuted either of the points about which philosophy has been busied, or of the allegations advanced by the heretics. And from these ver…
999 wordsSECTION 103Chapter III.--Summary of the Opinions of Philosophers Continued.
Chapter III.--Summary of the Opinions of Philosophers Continued. But among those who derive all entities from more things than one, and from numerable quantities, the poet Homer asserts that the universe consists of two substances, namely earth and water; at one time expressing himself thus:-- "The source of gods was Sea and M…
805 wordsSECTION 104Chapter VI.--The Peratæ.
Chapter VI.--The Peratæ. The Peratæ, however, viz., Ademes the Carystian, and Euphrates the Peratic, say that there is some one world,--this is the denomination they use,--and affirming that it is divided into three parts. But of the threefold division, according to them, there is one principle, just like an immense fountain, c…
1,349 wordsSECTION 105Chapter VIII.--Simon Magus.
Chapter VIII.--Simon Magus. But that very sapient fellow Simon makes his statement thus, that there is an indefinite power, and that this is the root of the universe. And this indefinite power, he says, which is fire, is in itself not anything which is simple, as the gross bulk of speculators maintain, when they assert that the…
778 wordsSECTION 106Chapter X.--Basilides.
Chapter X.--Basilides. But Basilides also himself affirms that there is a non-existent God, who, being non-existent, has made the non-existent world, that has been formed out of things that are not, by casting down a certain seed, as it were a grain of mustard-seed, having in itself stem, leaves, branches, and fruit. Or this se…
741 wordsSECTION 107Chapter XI.--Justinus.
Chapter XI.--Justinus. But Justinus also himself attempted to establish similar opinions with these, and expresses himself thus: That there are three unbegotten principles of the universe, two males and one female. And of the males one principle is denominated "Good." Now this alone is called after this mode, and is endued with…
945 wordsSECTION 108Chapter XIII.--Monoïmus.
Chapter XIII.--Monoïmus. But the followers of Monoïmus the Arabian assert that the originating principle of the universe is a primal man and son of man; and that, as Moses states, the things that have been produced were produced not by the primal man, but by the Son of that primal man, yet not by the entire Son, but by part of …
727 wordsSECTION 109Chapter XVI.--Apelles.
Chapter XVI.--Apelles. But Apelles, a disciple of this heretic, was displeased at the statements advanced by his preceptor, as we have previously declared, and by another theory supposed that there are four gods. And the first of these he alleges to be the "Good Being," whom the prophets did not know, and Christ to be His Son. …
719 wordsSECTION 110Chapter XXI.--The Phrygians or Montanists.
Chapter XXI.--The Phrygians or Montanists. The Phrygians, however, derive the principles of their heresy from a certain Montanus, and Priscilla, and Maximilla, and regard these wretched women as prophetesses, and Montanus as a prophet. In respect, however, of what appertains to the origin and creation of the universe, the Phryg…
754 wordsSECTION 111Chapter XXV.--The Elchasaites.
Chapter XXV.--The Elchasaites. But certain others, introducing as it were some novel tenet, appropriated parts of their system from all heresies, and procured a strange volume, which bore on the title page the name of one Elchasai. These, in like manner, acknowledge that the principles of the universe were originated by the Dei…
1,201 wordsSECTION 112Chapter XXVII.--Jewish Chronology Continued.
Chapter XXVII.--Jewish Chronology Continued. But since it does not seem irrational to prove that these nations that had their attention engrossed with the speculations of philosophy are of more modern date than those that had habitually worshipped the true God, [1070] it is reasonable that we should state both whence the family…
1,226 wordsSECTION 113Chapter XXIX.--The Doctrine of the Truth Continued.
Chapter XXIX.--The Doctrine of the Truth Continued. Therefore this solitary and supreme Deity, by an exercise of reflection, brought forth the Logos first; not the word in the sense of being articulated by voice, but as a ratiocination of the universe, conceived and residing in the divine mind. Him alone He produced from existi…
2,182 wordsSECTION 114Chapter XXX.--The Author's Concluding Address.
Chapter XXX.--The Author's Concluding Address. Such is the true doctrine in regard of the divine nature, O ye men, Greeks and Barbarians, Chaldeans and Assyrians, Egyptians and Libyans, Indians and Ethiopians, Celts, and ye Latins, who lead armies, and all ye that inhabit Europe, and Asia, and Libya. [1098] And to you I am beco…
2,245 wordsSECTION 115Bunsen, with all respect, does not comprehend the primitive system, and reads it backward, from the modern system, which travesties antiquit
Bunsen, with all respect, does not comprehend the primitive system, and reads it backward, from the modern system, which travesties antiquity even in its apparent conformities. These conformities are only the borrowing of old names for new contrivances. Thus, he reads the cardinals of the eleventh century into the simple presbyt…
2,211 wordsSECTION 116XII.
XII. (Our condemnatory sentence, p. 131.) Again: Hippolytus refers to the action of the suburbicarian bishops in provincial council. And here is the place to express dissatisfaction with the apologetic tone of some writers, who seem to think Hippolytus too severe, etc. As if, in dealing with such "wolves in sheep's clothing," …
1,212 wordsSECTION 117XVIII.
XVIII. (For Christ is the God, p. 153.) Dr. Wordsworth justly censures Bunsen for his rendering of this passage, [1134] also for manufacturing for Hippolytus a "Confession of Faith" out of his tenth book. [1135] I must refer the student to that all-important chapter in Dr. Wordsworth's work (cap. xi.) on the "Development of Ch…
2,323 wordsSECTION 118Gen. xlix. 12-15 His eyes are gladsome with wine, and his teeth white as milk. Zabulun shall dwell by the sea, and he shall be by a haven of
Gen. xlix. 12-15 His eyes are gladsome with wine, and his teeth white as milk. Zabulun shall dwell by the sea, and he shall be by a haven of ships, and he shall extend to Sidon. Issachar desired the good part, resting in the midst of the lots. And seeing that rest was good, and that the land was fat, he set his shoulder to toil,…
2,294 wordsSECTION 119After something from Apollinaris:--
After something from Apollinaris:-- Hipp. The word of prophecy passes again to Immanuel Himself. For, in my opinion, what is intended by it is just what has been already stated in the words, "giving increase of beauty in the case of the shoot." For he means that He increased and grew up into that which He had been from the begi…
2,500 wordsSECTION 120[1191] Jerome introduces this citation from the Commentary of Hippolytus on Genesis in these terms: "Since, then, we promised to add what th
[1191] Jerome introduces this citation from the Commentary of Hippolytus on Genesis in these terms: "Since, then, we promised to add what that (concerning Isaac and Rebecca, Gen. xxvii.) signifies figuratively, we may adduce the words of the martyr Hippolytus, with whom our Victorinus very much agrees: not that he has made out e…
2,373 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.