FORERUNNERS AND RIVALS OF CHRISTIANITY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS C. F. CLAY, MANAGER London: FETTER LANE, E.C. Edinburgh: 100 PRINCES STREET New York: G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS Bombay, Calcutta and Madras: MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD. Toronto: J. M. DENT AND SONS, LTD. Tokyo: THE MARUZEN-KABUSHIKI-KAISHA _All rights reserved_ FORERUNNERS AND RIVALS OF CHRISTIANITY BEING STUDIES IN RELIGIOUS HISTORY FROM 330 B.C. TO 330 A.D. BY F. LEGGE, F.S.A. (Honorary) Foreign Secretary Society of Biblical Archaeology, Member of Council Royal Asiatic Society, Member of Committee Egypt Exploration Fund, &c. “The ghosts of words and dusty dreams” “Old memories, faiths infirm and dead” SWINBURNE, _Félise_. IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. II Cambridge: at the University Press 1915 Cambridge: PRINTED BY JOHN CLAY, M.A. AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS CONTENTS CHAPTER VII POST-CHRISTIAN GNOSTICS Expectation of Parusia causes Gnosticism to be ignored by Apostolic writers—Change in Christian teaching at end of Ist century—Destruction of Temple of Jerusalem forces Christians to separate from Jews—Some compromise with heathenism necessary—Coveted position of Christian bishops—Founders of Gnostic sects—Only evidence of their teaching till lately, Irenaeus and Epiphanius, both unsatisfactory—Discovery of _Philosophumena_ of Hippolytus, and Salmon and Stähelin’s attacks on its credibility—The _Pistis Sophia_ and _Bruce Papyrus_—General features of Post-Christian Gnostics—Their belief in Divinity and Historicity of Jesus—Difficulties arising from this and their various solutions—Secrecy of doctrine common among Gnostics and consequent calumnies—Many Gnostic doctrines still doubtful—Parallel between the Gnostic and Protestant sects—Gnosticism bridge between heathenism and Christianity—Effect of this on Catholic practice and doctrine 1-24 CHAPTER VIII POST-CHRISTIAN GNOSTICS:—THE OPHITES