Table Of Content

ANF05. Fathers of the Third Century: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian, Appendix Author(s): Schaff, Philip (1819-1893) (Editor) Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library Description: Originally printed in 1885, the ten-volume set, Ante-Nicene Fathers, brings together the work of early Christian thinkers. In particular, it brings together the writings of the early Church fathers prior to the fourth century Nicene Creed.These volumes are noteworthy for their inclusion of entire texts, and not simply fragments or excerpts from these great writings. The translations are fairly literal, providing both readers and scholars with a good approximation of the originals.This volume contains works by third century thinkers St. Hippoly- tus, St. Cyprian, Caius, and Novatian.These writings were heavily influential on the early Church, and for good reason, as they are inspirational and encouraging.These volumes also come with many useful notes, providing the reader with new levels of understanding. Overall, Ante-Nicene Fathers, or any part of it, is a welcome addition to one's reading list. Tim Perrine CCEL Staff Writer Subjects: Christianity Early Christian Literature. Fathers of the Church, etc. i Contents Title Pages. 1 Preface. 2 Hippolytus. 5 Title Page. 5 Introductory Notice. 6 The Refutation of All Heresies. 14 Book I. 14 Contents. 14 The Proœmium.--Motives for Undertaking the Refutation; Exposure of the 16 Ancient Mysteries; Plan of the Work; Completeness of the Refutation; Value of the Treatise to Future Ages. Thales; His Physics and Theology; Founder of Greek Astronomy. 19 Pythagoras; His Cosmogony; Rules of His Sect; Discoverer of Physiognomy; 20 His Philosophy of Numbers; His System of the Transmigration of Souls; Zaratas on Demons; Why Pythagoras Forbade the Eating of Beans; The Mode of Living Adopted by His Disciples. Empedocles; His Twofold Cause; Tenet of Transmigration. 24 Heraclitus; His Universal Dogmatism; His Theory of Flux; Other Systems. 25 Anaximander; His Theory of the Infinite; His Astronomic Opinions; His 26 Physics. Anaximenes; His System of “An Infinite Air;” His Views of Astronomy and 27 Natural Phenomena. Anaxagoras; His Theory of Mind; Recognises an Efficient Cause; His 29 Cosmogony and Astronomy. Archelaus; System Akin to that of Anaxagoras; His Origin of the Earth and 31 of Animals; Other Systems. Parmenides; His Theory of “Unity;” His Eschatology. 33 Leucippus; His Atomic Theory. 34 ii Democritus; His Duality of Principles; His Cosmogony. 35 Xenophanes; His Scepticism; His Notions of God and Nature; Believes in a 36 Flood. Ecphantus; His Scepticism; Tenet of Infinity. 37 Hippo; His Duality of Principles; His Psychology. 38 Socrates; His Philosophy Reproduced by Plato. 39 Plato; Threefold Classification of Principles; His Idea of God; Different 40 Opinions Regarding His Theology and Psychology; His Eschatology and System of Metempsychosis; His Ethical Doctrines; Notions on the Free-Will Question. Aristotle; Duality of Principles; His Categories; His Psychology; His Ethical 44 Doctrines; Origin of the Epithet “Peripatetic.” The Stoics; Their Superiority in Logic; Fatalists; Their Doctrine of 46 Conflagrations. Epicurus; Adopts the Democritic Atomism; Denial of Divine Providence; The 47 Principle of His Ethical System. The Academics; Difference of Opinion Among Them. 48 The Brachmans; Their Mode of Life; Ideas of Deity; Different Sorts Of; Their 49 Ethical Notions. The Druids; Progenitors of Their System. 51 Hesiod; The Nine Muses; The Hesiodic Cosmogony; The Ancient Speculators, 52 Materialists; Derivative Character of the Heresies from Heathen Philosophy. Book IV. 54 System of the Astrologers; Sidereal Influence; Configuration of the Stars. 54 Doctrines Concerning Æons; The Chaldean Astrology; Heresy Derivable from 55 It. The Horoscope the Foundation of Astrology; Indiscoverability of the 56 Horoscope; Therefore the Futility of the Chaldean Art. Impossibility of Fixing the Horoscope; Failure of an Attempt to Do This at 58 the Period of Birth. Another Method of Fixing the Horoscope at Birth; Equally Futile; Use of the 60 Clepsydra in Astrology; The Predictions of the Chaldeans Not Verified. Zodiacal Influence; Origin of Sidereal Names. 62 Practical Absurdity of the Chaldaic Art; Development of the Art. 63 iii Prodigies of the Astrologers; System of the Astronomers; Chaldean Doctrine 64 of Circles; Distances of the Heavenly Bodies. Further Astronomic Calculations. 66 Theory of Stellar Motion and Distance in Accordance with Harmony. 67 Theory of the Size of the Heavenly Bodies in Accordance with Numerical 69 Harmonies. Waste of Mental Energy in the Systems of the Astrologers. 70 Mention of the Heretic Colarbasus; Alliance Between Heresy and the 71 Pythagorean Philosophy. System of the Arithmeticians; Predictions Through Calculations; Numerical 72 Roots; Transference of These Doctrines to Letters; Examples in Particular Names; Different Methods of Calculation; Prescience Possible by These. Quibbles of the Numerical Theorists; The Art of the Frontispicists 76 (Physiognomy); Connection of This Art with Astrology; Type of Those Born Under Aries. Type of Those Born Under Taurus. 78 Type of Those Born Under Gemini. 79 Type of Those Born Under Cancer. 80 Type of Those Born Under Leo. 81 Type of Those Born Under Virgo. 82 Type of Those Born Under Libra. 83 Type of Those Born Under Scorpio. 84 Type of Those Born Under Sagittarius. 85 Type of Those Born Under Capricorn. 86 Type of Those Born Under Aquarius. 87 Type of Those Born Under Pisces. 88 Futility of This Theory of Stellar Influence. 89 System of the Magicians; Incantations of Demons; Secret Magical Rites. 90 Display of Different Eggs. 93 Self-Slaughter of Sheep. 94 Method of Poisoning Goats. 95 Imitations of Thunder, and Other Illusions. 96 The Burning Æsculapius; Tricks with Fire. 97 iv The Illusion of the Sealed Letters; Object in Detailing These Juggleries. 99 The Divination by a Cauldron; Illusion of Fiery Demons; Specimen of a 100 Magical Invocation. Mode of Managing an Apparition. 102 Illusive Appearance of the Moon. 103 Illusive Appearance of the Stars. 104 Imitation of an Earthquake. 105 Trick with the Liver. 106 Making a Skull Speak. 107 The Fraud of the Foregoing Practices; Their Connection with Heresy. 108 Recapitulation of Theologies and Cosmogonies; System of the Persians; Of 109 the Babylonians; The Egyptian Notion of Deity; Their Theology Based on a Theory of Numbers; Their System of Cosmogony. Egyptian Theory of Nature; Their Amulets. 112 Use of the Foregoing Discussions. 113 The Astrotheosophists; Aratus Imitated by the Heresiarchs; His System of the 114 Disposition of the Stars. Opinions of the Heretics Borrowed from Aratus. 115 Invention of the Lyre; Allegorizing the Appearance and Position of the Stars; 116 Origin of the Phœnicians; The Logos Identified by Aratus with the Constellation Canis; Influence of Canis on Fertility and Life Generally. Symbol of the Creature; And of Spirit; And of the Different Orders of Animals. 119 Folly of Astrology. 120 The Hebdomadarii; System of the Arithmeticians; Pressed into the Service of 121 Heresy; Instances Of, in Simon and Valentinus; The Nature of the Universe Deducible from the Physiology of the Brain. Note. 124 Book V. 125 Contents. 125 Recapitulation; Characteristics of Heresy; Origin of the Name Naasseni; The 126 System of the Naasseni. Naasseni Ascribe Their System, Through Mariamne, to James the Lord's 128 Brother; Really Traceable to the Ancient Mysteries; Their Psychology as Given in the “Gospel According to Thomas;” Assyrian Theory of the Soul; The v Systems of the Naasseni and the Assyrians Compared; Support Drawn by the Naasseni from the Phrygian and Egyptian Mysteries; The Mysteries of Isis; These Mysteries Allegorized by the Naasseni. Further Exposition of the Heresy of the Naasseni; Profess to Follow Homer; 136 Acknowledge a Triad of Principles; Their Technical Names of the Triad; Support These on the Authority of Greek Poets; Allegorize Our Saviour's Miracles; The Mystery of the Samothracians; Why the Lord Chose Twelve Disciples; The Name Corybas, Used by Thracians and Phrygians, Explained; Naasseni Profess to Find Their System in Scripture; Their Interpretation of Jacob's Vision; Their Idea of the “Perfect Man;” The “Perfect Man” Called “Papa” By the Phrygians; The Naasseni and Phrygians on the Resurrection; The Ecstasis of St. Paul; The Mysteries of Religion as Alluded to by Christ; Interpretation of the Parable of the Sower; Allegory of the Promised Land; Comparison of the System of the Phrygians with the Statements of Scripture; Exposition of the Meaning of the Higher and Lower Eleusinian Mysteries; The Incarnation Discoverable Here According to the Naasseni. Further Use Made of the System of the Phrygians; Mode of Celebrating the 144 Mysteries; The Mystery of the “Great Mother;” These Mysteries Have a Joint Object of Worship with the Naasseni; The Naasseni Allegorize the Scriptural Account of the Garden of Eden; The Allegory Applied to the Life of Jesus. Explanation of the System of the Naasseni Taken from One of Their Hymns. 148 The Ophites the Grand Source of Heresy. 149 The System of the Peratæ; Their Tritheism; Explanation of the Incarnation. 150 The Peratæ Derive Their System from the Astrologers; This Proved by a 152 Statement of the Astrological Theories of the Zodiac; Hence the Terminology of the Peratic Heretics. System of the Peratæ Explained Out of One of Their Own Books. 155 The Peratic Heresy Nominally Different from Astrology, But Really the Same 158 System Allegorized. Why They Call Themselves Peratæ; Their Theory of Generation Supported 159 by an Appeal to Antiquity; Their Interpretation of the Exodus of Israel; Their System of “The Serpent;” Deduced by Them from Scripture; This the Real Import of the Doctrines of the Astrologers. Compendious Statement of the Doctrines of the Peratæ. 162 The Peratic Heresy Not Generally Known. 164 The System of the Sethians; Their Triad of Infinite Principles; Their Heresy 165 Explained; Their Interpretation of the Incarnation. vi The Sethians Support Their Doctrines by an Allegorical Interpretation of 169 Scripture; Their System Really Derived from Natural Philosophers and from the Orphic Rites; Adopt the Homeric Cosmogony. The Sethian Theory Concerning “Mixture” And “Composition;” Application 172 of It to Christ; Illustration from the Well of Ampa. The Sethian Doctrines to Be Learned from the “Paraphrase of Seth.” 174 The System of Justinus Antiscriptural and Essentially Pagan. 175 The Justinian Heresy Unfolded in the “Book of Baruch.” 176 The Cosmogony of Justinus an Allegorical Explanation of Herodotus' Legend 177 of Hercules. Justinus' Triad of Principles; His Angelography Founded on This Triad; His 178 Explanation of the Birth, Life, and Death of Our Lord. Oath Used by the Justinian Heretics; The Book of Baruch; The Repertory of 184 Their System. Subsequent Heresies Deducible from the System of Justinus. 186 Book VI. 187 Contents. 187 The Ophites the Progenitors of Subsequent Heresies. 188 Simon Magus. 189 Story of Apsethus the Libyan. 190 Simon's Forced Interpretation of Scripture; Plagiarizes from Heraclitus and 191 Aristotle; Simon's System of Sensible and Intelligible Existences. Simon Appeals to Scripture in Support of His System. 193 Simon's System Expounded in the Work, Great Announcement; Follows 194 Empedocles. Simon's System of a Threefold Emanation by Pairs. 195 Further Progression of This Threefold Emanation; Co-Existence with the 196 Double Triad of a Seventh Existence. Simon's Interpretation of the Mosaic Hexaëmeron; His Allegorical 197 Representation of Paradise. Simon's Explanation of the First Two Books of Moses. 199 Simon's Explanation of the Three Last Books of the Pentateuch. 200 Fire a Primal Principle, According to Simon. 201 His Doctrine of Emanation Further Expanded. 203 vii Simon Interprets His System by the Mythological Representation of Helen of 204 Troy; Gives an Account of Himself in Connection with the Trojan Heroine; Immorality of His Followers; Simon's View of Christ; The Simonists' Apology for Their Vice. Simon's Disciples Adopt the Mysteries; Simon Meets St. Peter at Rome; 206 Account of Simon's Closing Years. Heresy of Valentinus; Derived from Plato and Pythagoras. 208 Origin of the Greek Philosophy. 209 Pythagoras' System of Numbers. 210 Pythagoras' Duality of Substances; His “Categories.” 211 Pythagoras' Cosmogony; Similar to that of Empedocles. 212 Other Opinions of Pythagoras. 213 The “Sayings” Of Pythagoras. 214 Pythagoras' Astronomic System. 216 Valentinus Convicted of Plagiarisms from the Platonic and Pythagoric 217 Philosophy; The Valentinian Theory of Emanation by Duads. The Tenet of the Duad Made the Foundation of Valentinus' System of the 219 Emanation of Æons. Valentinus' Explanation of the Existence of Christ and the Spirit. 221 Valentinus' Explanation of the Existence of Jesus; Power of Jesus Over 223 Humanity. The Valentinian Origin of the Creation. 225 The Other Valentinian Emanations in Conformity with the Pythagorean 226 System of Numbers. Valentinus' Explanation of the Birth of Jesus; Twofold Doctrine on the Nature 228 of Jesus' Body; Opinion of the Italians, that Is, Heracleon and Ptolemæus; Opinion of the Orientals, that Is, Axionicus and Bardesanes. Further Doctrines of Valentinus Respecting the Æons; Reasons for the 230 Incarnation. Valentinus Convicted of Plagiarisms from Plato. 231 Secundus' System of Æons; Epiphanes; Ptolemæus. 233 System of Marcus; A Mere Impostor; His Wicked Devices Upon the Eucharistic 235 Cup. Further Acts of Jugglery on the Part of Marcus. 236 viii The Heretical Practices of the Marcites in Regard of Baptism. 237 Marcus' System Explained by Irenæus; Marcus' Vision; The Vision of 238 Valentinus Revealing to Him His System. Marcus' System of Letters. 240 The Quaternion Exhibits “Truth.” 241 The Name of Christ Jesus. 242 Marcus' Mystic Interpretation of the Alphabet. 243 His System Applied to Explain Our Lord's Life and Death. 245 Letters, Symbols of the Heavens. 246 Respecting the Generation of the Twenty-Four Letters. 247 Why Jesus is Called Alpha. 248 Marcus' Account of the Birth and Life of Our Lord. 249 The System of Marcus Shown to Be that of Pythagoras, by Quotations from 250 the Writings of Marcus' Followers. Their Cosmogony Framed According to These Mystic Doctrines of Letters. 252 The Work of the Demiurge Perishable. 253 Marcus and Colarbasus Refuted by Irenæus. 254 Book VII. 255 Contents. 255 Heresy Compared to (1) the Stormy Ocean, (2) the Rocks of the Sirens; Moral 256 from Ulysses and the Sirens. The System of Basilides Derived from Aristotle. 257 Sketch of Aristotle's Philosophy. 258 Aristotle's General Idea. 259 Nonentity as a Cause. 260 Substance, According to Aristotle; The Predicates. 261 Aristotle's Cosmogony; His “Psychology;” His “Entelecheia;” His Theology; 263 His Ethics; Basilides Follows Aristotle. Basilides and Isidorus Allege Apostolic Sanction for Their Systems; They 265 Really Follow Aristotle. Basilides Adopts the Aristotelian Doctrine of “Nonentity.” 266 Origin of the World; Basilides' Account of the “Sonship.” 267 The “Great Archon” Of Basilides. 270 ix