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| Chapter VI.—The threefold kind of man feigned by these heretics: good works needless for them, though necessary to others: their abandoned morals. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter VI.—The threefold kind of man
feigned by these heretics: good works needless for them, though necessary to
others: their abandoned morals.
1. There being thus
three kinds of substances, they declare of all that is material (which
they also describe as being “on the left hand”) that it must
of necessity perish, inasmuch as it is incapable of receiving any
afflatus of incorruption. As to every animal existence (which they
also denominate “on the right hand”), they hold that,
inasmuch as it is a mean between the spiritual and the material, it
passes to the side to
which inclination draws it. Spiritual
substance, again, they describe as having been sent forth for this end,
that, being here united with that which is animal, it might assume shape,
the two elements being simultaneously subjected to the same discipline.
And this they declare to be “the salt”2734 and “the light of the world.” For the animal
substance had need of training by means of the outward senses; and on
this account they affirm that the world was created, as well as that the
Saviour came to the animal substance (which was possessed of free-will),
that He might secure for it salvation. For they affirm that He received
the first-fruits of those whom He was to save [as follows], from Achamoth
that which was spiritual, while He was invested by the Demiurge with the
animal Christ, but was begirt2735
2735 “The doctrine of Valentinus, therefore,”
says Harvey, “as regards the human nature of Christ, was
essentially Docetic. His body was animal, but not material,
and only visible and tangible as having been formed κατ’ οἰκονομίαν and
κατεσκευασμένον
ἀῤῥήτῳ τέχνῃ.”
| by a [special] dispensation with a body endowed with an animal
nature, yet constructed with unspeakable skill, so that it might be
visible and tangible, and capable of enduring suffering. At the same
time, they deny that He assumed anything material [into His nature],
since indeed matter is incapable of salvation. They further hold that the
consummation of all things will take place when all that is spiritual has
been formed and perfected by Gnosis (knowledge); and by this they mean
spiritual men who have attained to the perfect knowledge of God, and been
initiated into these mysteries by Achamoth. And they represent themselves
to be these persons.
2. Animal men, again, are instructed in animal things;
such men, namely, as are established by their works, and by a mere faith,
while they have not perfect knowledge. We of the Church, they say, are
these persons.2736
Wherefore also they maintain that good works are necessary to us, for
that otherwise it is impossible we should be saved. But as to
themselves, they hold that they shall be entirely and undoubtedly saved,
not by means of conduct, but because they are spiritual by nature.2737
2737 On account of what they had
received from Achamoth. | For, just as it is impossible that
material substance should partake of salvation (since, indeed, they
maintain that it is incapable of receiving it), so again it is impossible
that spiritual substance (by which they mean themselves) should ever come
under the power of corruption, whatever the sort of actions in which they
indulged. For even as gold, when submersed in filth, loses not on that
account its beauty, but retains its own native qualities, the filth
having no power to injure the gold, so they affirm that they cannot in
any measure suffer hurt, or lose their spiritual substance, whatever the
material actions in which they may be involved.
3. Wherefore also it comes
to pass, that the “most perfect” among them addict themselves
without fear to all those kinds of forbidden deeds of which the
Scriptures assure us that “they who do such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God.”2738 For
instance, they make no scruple about eating meats offered in sacrifice to
idols, imagining that they can in this way contract no defilement. Then,
again, at every heathen festival celebrated in honour of the idols, these
men are the first to assemble; and to such a pitch do they go, that some
of them do not even keep away from that bloody spectacle hateful both to
God and men, in which gladiators either fight with wild beasts, or singly
encounter one another. Others of them yield themselves up to the lusts of
the flesh with the utmost greediness, maintaining that carnal things
should be allowed to the carnal nature, while spiritual things are
provided for the spiritual. Some of them, moreover, are in the habit of
defiling those women to whom they have taught the above doctrine, as has
frequently been confessed by those women who have been led astray by
certain of them, on their returning to the Church of God, and
acknowledging this along with the rest of their errors. Others of them,
too, openly and without a blush, having become passionately attached to
certain women, seduce them away from their husbands, and contract
marriages of their own with them. Others of them, again, who pretend at
first to live in all modesty with them as with sisters, have in course of
time been revealed in their true colours, when the sister has been found
with child by her [pretended] brother.
4. And committing many other abominations and
impieties, they run us down (who from the fear of God guard against
sinning even in thought or word) as utterly contemptible and ignorant
persons, while they highly exalt themselves, and claim to be perfect, and
the elect seed. For they declare that we simply receive grace for use,
wherefore also it will again be taken away from us; but that they
themselves have grace as their own special possession, which has
descended from above by means of an unspeakable and indescribable
conjunction; and on this account more will be given them.2739 They maintain, therefore, that in every way it
is always necessary for them to practise the mystery of conjunction. And
that they may persuade the thoughtless to believe this, they are in the
habit of using these very words, “Whosoever being in this
world does not so love a woman as to
obtain possession of
her, is not of the truth, nor shall attain to the truth. But whosoever
being of2740 this world has intercourse with woman, shall not attain to the
truth, because he has so acted under the power of concupiscence.”
On this
account, they tell us that it is necessary for us whom they call
animal men, and describe as being of the world, to practise
continence and good works, that by this means we may attain at length to
the intermediate habitation, but that to them who are called “the
spiritual and perfect” such a course of conduct is not at all
necessary. For it is not conduct of any kind which leads into the
Pleroma, but the seed sent forth thence in a feeble, immature state, and
here brought to perfection.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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