A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

109The following passage appears, from the context, to have beenwritten with the teaching of Ptolemæus especially in mind.It should be compared with the account further on in the [094]same book, I, 11: 1-3. The syzygies are characteristic of theValentinian teaching, and the symbolism of marriage playsan important part in the “system” of all the Valentinians. Inthe words of Duchesne (Hist. ancienne de l'église, sixth ed.,p. 171): “Valentinian Gnosticism is from one end to the othera ‘marriage Gnosticism.’ From the most abstract origins ofbeing to their end, there are only syzygies, marriages, andgenerations.” For the connection between these conceptionsand antinomianism, see Irenæus, Adv. Hær., I, 6:3 f. For theirsacramental application, ibid., I, 21:3. Cf. I, 13:3, a passagewhich seems to belong to the sacrament of the bridal chamber.They [the Valentinians] say that in the invisible and ineffableheights above there exists a certain perfect, pre-existent Eon,and him they call Proarche, Propator, and Bythos; and that heis invisible and that nothing is able to comprehend him. Sincehe is comprehended by no one, and is invisible, eternal, andunbegotten, he was in silence and profound quiescence in theboundless ages. There existed along with him Ennœa, whomthey call Charis and Sige. And at a certain time this Bythos determinedto send forth from himself the beginnings of all things,and just as seed he wished to send forth this emanation, and hedeposited it in the womb of her who was with him, even of Sige.She then received this seed, and becoming pregnant, generatedNous, who was both similar and equal to him who had senthim forth 47 and alone comprehended his father's greatness. ThisNous they also call Monogenes and Father and the Beginningof all Things. Along with him was also sent forth Aletheia; and47 The term used for a sending forth is προβολή or emanation, and is constantlyused in Gnosticism; hence the objection on the part of the majority of Christiantheologians to the use of the term in describing the relations of the members ofthe Trinity.