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| Basilides and Isidorus Allege Apostolic Sanction for Their Systems; They Really Follow Aristotle.
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Chapter VIII.—Basilides and Isidorus Allege Apostolic
Sanction for Their Systems; They Really Follow Aristotle.
Basilides, therefore, and Isidorus, the true son
and disciple of Basilides, say that Matthias815
| 815 Miller
erroneously reads “Matthew.” | communicated to them secret discourses,
which, I being specially instructed, he heard from the Saviour.
Let us, then, see how clearly Basilides, simultaneously with Isidorus,
and the entire band of these (heretics), not only absolutely belies
Matthias, but even the Saviour Himself. (Time) was, says
(Basilides), when there was nothing. Not even, however, did that
nothing constitute anything of existent things; but, to express myself
undisguisedly and candidly, and without any quibbling, it is altogether
nothing. But when, he says, I employ the expression
“was,” I do not say that it was; but (I speak in this way)
in order to signify the meaning of what I wish to elucidate. I
affirm then, he says, that it was “altogether
nothing.” For, he says, that is not absolutely ineffable
which is named (so),—although undoubtedly we call this
ineffable,—but that which is “non-ineffable.”
For that which is “non-ineffable” is not denominated
ineffable, but is, he says, above every name that is named. For,
he says, by no means for the world are these names sufficient, but so
manifold are its divisions that there is a deficiency (of names).
And I do not take it upon myself to discover, he says, proper
denominations for all things. Undoubtedly, however, one ought
mentally, not by means of names, to conceive, after an ineffable
manner, the peculiarities (of things) denominated. For an
equivocal terminology, (when employed by teachers,) has created for
their pupils confusion and a source of error concerning objects.
(The Basilidians), in the first instance, laying hold on this borrowed
and furtively derived tenet from the Peripatetic (sage), play upon the
folly of those who herd together with them. For Aristotle, born
many generations before Basilides, first lays down a system in The
Categories concerning homonymous words. And these heretics
bring this (system) to light as if it were peculiarly their own, and as
if it were some novel (doctrine), and some secret disclosure from the
discourses of Matthias.816
| 816 (See
Bunsen, i. v. 86. A fabulous reference may convey a truth.
This implies that Matthias was supposed to have preached and left
results of his teachings.] | E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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