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| Further Doctrines of Valentinus Respecting the Æons; Reasons for the Incarnation.
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Chapter
XXXI.—Further Doctrines of Valentinus Respecting the Æons;
Reasons for the Incarnation.
Let, then, those (heretics) pursue these inquiries among
themselves, (and let others do so likewise,) if it should prove
agreeable to anybody else to investigate (such points.
Valentinus) subjoins,
however, the following statement: That the trespasses
appertaining to the Æons within (the Pleroma) had been corrected;
and likewise had been rectified the trespasses appertaining to the
Ogdoad, (that is,) Sophia, outside (the Pleroma); and also (the
trespasses) appertaining to the Hebdomad (had been rectified).
For the Demiurge had been taught by Sophia that He is not Himself God
alone, as He imagined, and that except Himself there is not another
(Deity). But when taught by Sophia, He was made to recognise the
superior (Deity). For He was instructed715
| 715
κατηχήθη.
Miller’s text has κατήχθη, which is
properly corrected by Bunsen into the word as translated above. | by her, and initiated and indoctrinated
into the great mystery of the Father and of the Æons, and divulged
this to none. This is, as he says, what (God) declares to
Moses: “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob; and my name I have not announced to
them;”716
that is, I have
not declared the mystery, nor explained who is God, but I have
preserved the mystery which I have heard from Sophia in secrecy with
myself. When, then, the trespasses of those above had been
rectified, it was necessary, according to the same consequence, that
the (transgressions) here likewise should obtain rectification.
On this account Jesus the Saviour was born of Mary that he might
rectify (the trespasses committed) here; as the Christ who, having been
projected additionally from above by Nous and Aletheia, had corrected
the passions of Sophia—that is, the abortion (who was) outside
(the Pleroma). And, again, the Saviour who was born of Mary came
to rectify the passions717
| 717 Or,
“the multitudes.” |
of the soul. There are therefore, according to these (heretics),
three Christs: (the first the) one additionally projected by Nous
and Aletheia, along with the Holy Spirit; and (the second) the
“Joint Fruit of the Pleroma,” spouse of Sophia, who was
outside (the Pleroma). And she herself is likewise styled Holy
Spirit, but one inferior to the first (projection). And the third
(Christ is) He who was born of Mary for the restoration of this world
of ours.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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