Hippolytus

Footnotes

^[779] Cruice thinks that for stars we should read “numbers,” but gives no explanation of the meaning of μετέωρα. This word, as applied to numbers, might refer to “the astrological phenomena” deducible by means of numerical calculations.

^[780] A comparison of Hippolytus with Irenæus, as regards what follows, manifests many omissions in the former.

^[781] Following Irenæus, the passage would be rendered thus: “And therefore, on account of its having the remarkable (letter) concomitant with it, they style the dodecade a remarkable passion.” Massuet, in his Annotations on Irenæus, gives the following explanation of the above statement, which is made by Hippolytus likewise. From the twelfth number, by once abstracting the remarkable (number), which does not come into the order and number of the letters, eleven letters remain. Hence in the dodecade, the πάθος, or what elsewhere the heretics call the “Hysterema,” is a defect of one letter. And this is a symbol of the defect or suffering which, upon the withdrawal of one Æon, happened unto the last dodecade of Æons.

^[782] Hippolytus’ statement is less copious and less clear than that of Irenæus, who explains the defect of the letter to be symbolical of an apostasy of one of the Æons, and that this one was a female.

^[783] Luke xv. 4-10.

^[784] Marcus’ explanation of this, as furnished by Irenæus, is more copious than Hippolytus’.

^[785] The allusion here seems to be to the habit among the ancients of employing the fingers for counting, those of the left hand being used for all numbers under 100, and those of the right for the numbers above it. To this custom the poet Juvenal alludes, when he says of Nestor:—

Atque suos jam dextera computat annos.

That is, that he was one hundred years old.

Chapter XLVIII.—Their Cosmogony Framed According to These Mystic Doctrines of Letters.

^[786] Or, “sketched out” (Irenæus).

^[787] Or, “radiant.”

^[788] Or, “measured.”

^[789] Massuet gives the following explanation: The sun each day describes a circle which is divided into twelve parts of 30 degrees each, and consists of 360 degrees. And as for each of the hours, where days and nights are equal, 15 degrees are allowed, it follows that in two hours, that is, in the twelfth part of a day, the sun completes a progress of 30 degrees.

^[790] Or, “of the same substance.”

Chapter XLIX.—The Work of the Demiurge Perishable.

^[791] Or, “blamelessness.”

Chapter L.—Marcus and Colarbasus Refuted by Irenæus.

^[792] Or, “strange.”

^[793] [The Apostle John delights to call himself a presbyter, and St. Peter claims to be co-presbyter with the elders whom he exhorts. The Johannean school of primitive theologians seem to love this expression pre-eminently. It was almost as little specific in the primitive age as that of pastor or minister in our own.]

Contents.

^[794] [Here our author’s theory concerning the origin of heresy in heathen philosophy begins to be elaborated.]

^[795] Satronilus (Miller).

^[796] Or, “in no respect formed his system from the Scriptures, but from the tenets propounded by the Egyptians.”

^[797] Cruice would prefer, “from the Gnostics,” on account of Cerinthus being coupled with the Gnostics and Ebionæans by Hippolytus, when he afterwards indicates the source from which Theodotus derived his heretical notions of Christ.

^[798] Miller has “Sacerdon.”

^[799] The word μόνος occurs in Miller’s text, but ought obviously to be expunged. It has probably, as Cruice conjectures, crept into the ms. from the termination of γενόμενος. Duncker suggests ὁμοίως.

10 per page

Search Comments

This page has been visited 0196 times.

Contents