P. Derek Overfield PhD Thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

l49A sindlar descent is described in Epistula Apostolorurn
13; and, with less detail, in the Naassene Hymn as
preserved by Hippolytus, Ellench V,lO; cf J. Danielou,
The Theology of Jewish Christianity, London: 1964;
pp.206-l4.
150The dating of the Ascension is no easy matter.
R.H. Charles, The AScension of Isaiah, London: 1900;
pp.x1ivf dates the sections dealing -wi-th the Martyrdom
(I:1,2a,6b-13a; 11:1-111=12) as first century; the
Testament of Hezekiah (III:13b-IV:18) between 88-l00AD
and the Vision of Isaiah (VI-IX!40) as second or even third
sentury; cf E. Hennecke, 12':,:::~# Tes-tament Apocrvpha, II,
London: 1965; pp. 642ff, H. Rist, u'l'he Ascension of Isaiah"
IDB II, pp. 744-46. Hembold, QP. ci -t., po 222, suggests
that the prevalence of the rno-tifs in -the Ascension which
are also found in the doclli~ents of the Nag Harnmadi
library would seem to verify a second century date for
the 'Vision' at least. This of course does not preclude
the possibility that the l'~scension may contain Gnostic
traditions of a much earlier date which themselves may
have influenced Eph 4:8-10.
151Cf CH 10:25, 11:21.
l52Since Ephesians seems to be aquainted with the majority
of Pauline epistles no early dating is probable. If the
epistle is not by Paul himself then its likely date is
80-100AD, or, if by Paul, then 63-64AD; cf W. G. Kfirnmel
Introduction to the NEvI Testament, New York: 1965; p.258.
l53Th e d e f' lnl . t' lons 0 f G nos t" lClsm are l' eglon, varylng -
from those whl.ch insist -that I Gnosticism' is a name
that can only be given to a fully developed religious
system, to those who understand -the -term to describe
a movement of thought which need not necessarily be
systematized. For enumeration and discussion of the
varying definitions cf E. Yamauchi, Pre-Christian
Gnosticism?, London: 1973; pp.13-21. We accept that
a distinction must be made between 'Gnosticism' and
'Gnosis'; by the former we refer to a system of thought
centering in a belief in a Redeemed Redeemer and by the
latter we refer to a more broadly based movement (as
opposed to a distinct system) of thought.
154In their respective works as follows: A Historv of
Dogma, London: 1897; Church and Gnosis, Cambridge: 1932;
The Teaching of Jesus, Cambridge~ 1931; IlGnosticism",
HTR 57 (1964): the following statement by Nock (p.276)
xlii