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| Valentinus.
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Chapter
IX.—Valentinus.
Valentinus,1049
| 1049 This
section differs considerably from what Hippolytus has already stated
concerning Valentinus. [“Sige,” vol. i. p. 62, note
5.] | however, and the adherents of this school,
though they agree in asserting that the originating principle of the
universe is the Father, still they are impelled into the
adoption of a contrary opinion respecting Him. For some of
them maintain that (the Father) is solitary and generative;
whereas others hold the impossibility, (in His as in other
cases,) of procreation without a female. They therefore add Sige
as the spouse of this Father, and style the Father
Himself Bythus. From this Father and His spouse some
allege that there have been six projections,—viz., Nous
and Aletheia, Logos and Zoe, Anthropos and Ecclesia,—and that
this constitutes the procreative Ogdoad. And the Valentinians
maintain that those are the first projections which have
taken place within the limit, and have been again denominated
“those within the Pleroma;” and the second are
“those without the Pleroma;” and the third, “those
without the Limit.” Now the generation of these constitutes
the Hysterema Acamoth. And he asserts that what has been
generated from an Æon, that exists in the Hysterema
and has been projected (beyond the Limit), is the Creator.
But Valentinus is not disposed to affirm what is thus
generated to be primal Deity, but speaks in detractive terms both
of Him and the things made by Him. And (he asserts) that Christ
came down from within the Pleroma for the salvation of the spirit who
had erred. This spirit, (according to the Valentinians,) resides
in our inner man; and they say that this inner man obtains
salvation on account of this indwelling spirit.
Valentinus, however, (to uphold the doctrine,) determines that
the flesh is not saved, and styles it “a leathern tunic,”
and the perishable portion of man. I have (already)
declared these tenets in the way of an epitome, inasmuch as in their
systems there exists enlarged matter for discussion, and a variety of
opinions. In this manner, then, it seems proper also to the
school of Valentinus to propound their
opinions.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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