Other Turgid and Ridiculous Theories About the Origin of the Æons and Creation, Stated and Condemned.

Chapter XXXVII.—Other Turgid and Ridiculous Theories About the Origin of the Æons and Creation, Stated and Condemned.

Now listen to some other buffooneries ⁶⁹²⁴ of a master who is a great swell among them, ⁶⁹²⁵ and who has pronounced his dicta with an even priestly authority. They run thus: There comes, says he, before all things Pro-arche, the inconceivable, and indescribable, and nameless, which I for my own part call Monotes (Solitude). With this was associated another power, to which also I give the name of Henotes (Unity). Now, inasmuch as Monotes and Henotes—that is to say, Solitude and Union—were only one being, they produced, and yet not in the way of production, ⁶⁹²⁶ the intellectual, innascible, invisible beginning of all things, which human language ⁶⁹²⁷ has called Monad (Solitude). ⁶⁹²⁸ This has inherent in itself a consubstantial force, which it calls Unity ⁶⁹²⁹ These powers, accordingly, Solitude or Solitariness, and Unity, or Union, propagated all the other emanations of Æons. ⁶⁹³⁰ Wonderful distinction, to be sure! Whatever change Union and Unity may undergo, Solitariness and Solitude is profoundly supreme. Whatever designation you give the power, it is one and the same.

Footnotes

520:6924

Oehler gives good reasons for the reading “ingenia circulatoria,” instead of the various readings of other editors.

520:6925

Insignioris apud eos magistri.

520:6926

Non proferentes. Another reading is “non proserentes” (not generating).

520:6927

Sermo.

520:6928

Or, solitariness.

520:6929

Or, Union.

520:6930

Compare our Irenæus, I. 2, 3. [Vol. I. p. 316.]