The works of Nathaniel Lardner - The Christian Researcher - Home

TiiEOGNOsTus. A. D. 282. 149
Stephen Gobar*^ says that Atlianasi us had often mentioned
Orig-en and Theonostiis in an honourable manner : whether
he means only these two phues, or whether there M'ere stiU
some more in Avhich Tlieognostus >vas mentioned by Atha-
nasius, we cannot say positively.
In the Fragment of Philip Sidetes, published by Mr.
Dodwell, it is said that Theognostus was president of the
christian or catechetical school at Alexandria. The order
of those presidents, according- to that writer, is this ; Origen^
Mas the fourth : after Origen, Heraclas ; after him Dionysius
; after him Pierius; after Pierius, Theognostus. What
regard ought to be had to Philip, 1'' cannot certainly say ;
but as we are not able to disprove w hat he writes, so I think
likewise that it is not safe to depend entirely upon him.
From Photius we learn that' Theognostus published a
Avork called Hypotuposes, or Institutions, in seven books or
discourses. The title of the work in Photius's copy was
this :
' The Institutions of the blessed Theognostus, an Alex-
' andrian, and Exegetus ;' mIiIcIi last wonl I rendered by
some learned men, commentator and interpreter of the sacred
books : but that meaning appears to me at least doubtful
nor can I assign any other with w hich I am fully satisfied.
Mr. Dodwell, in his notes'' uj)on the forecited passage of
Philip, says that the title of the work was borrowed from
Clement, and that the title given the author denotes his
public office of teaching in the school of Alexandria.
Photius says, ' that' in the first book Theognostus dis-
' courseth of the Father, and endeavours to prove him crea-
' tor, even against those who supposed matter coeternal with
' God.' One may be apt to think that this part of our
author's work was very curious and philosophical. Afterwards
Photius expresseth his dislike of the doctrine of the
first six books of the Institutions in several respects, saying
that the author"^ speaks of a Son as a creature ;
that he too
'On Qpiytvtjv Kai Bfoyj/wTov 6, re fiiyciQ AQavaawg o AXe^avdpung tv
TTcXXotg aniSfxiro Xoyoic- ap. Phot. Cod. 232. p. 904.
6 Teraproc Trpoe^e rt]Q xpfjiaw/CTje ^larpi^rig Qpiyev»je' Mera Qpiyevriv
l^ura TIupiov QtoyviO'roq. Fragm. Ph. Sid. ap. Dodw. Diss. Iren. p. 488.
*• See before, Vol. ii. chap, xviii. ' AvtyvwdOriaav
Gtoyvwra
AXt^avSptioQ Xoyoi itrra' wv tj Emypacj))], rs /xaKapin Qtoyvtorn A\t^avVpii>)Q
Krti ih]yr}Ts vTT-OTVTrtofTHQ. Phot. Cod. cv. 280. in.
'' Ipsum illius operis titukim a Clemente sumptum decesaore coiisttit. Et
quidein locum ilkini scliolie cafccheticae magistraleni denotat, docendiqiie
nuinus publicum vox ilia eKr^yTjTrjg. Dodwell, ut supr. p. 512.
' Ev fiei' av t 7rpu)T({) \oy(;j huXanfiuvu Tript th irarpoc km oti eti drj/ii-
^PyOQ, iiriXHpiov StiKvvvai, km Kara tojv viroriQsvTiov (Tvvatdwv vXrjv T Oecf).
Phot. ib. p. 280. in. " Ywv dt XiyMV, KTia^xa avrov a-irofmvei, lb.
;