Philosophumena; or, The refutation of all heresies, Volume II — David Hume — John Shaqi
Philosophumena; or, The refutation of all heresies, Volume II
David Hume · en
[Footnote 8: As Salmon (_ubi cit._) points out, in the Valentinian
system, the male heads of the first three series of Aeons, _i. e._
Nous, Logos and Anthropos occupy a position corresponding to these
three first “principles” or ἀρχαί. The fact that their spouses or
syzygies are not here mentioned is accounted for by the statement
(on p. 101 _infra_) that they are all androgyne, or as is here said
“lacking nothing for generation,” _i. e._ capable of production without
assistance.]
[Footnote 9: Cf. Deut. v. 22. These words have already been quoted
in the chapter on the Sethians (I, p. 165 _supra_). Although here
attributed to Moses, they can hardly be taken from Deuteronomy, which
describes Moses’ death.]
[Footnote 10: Like the Bythos or Unknowable Father of Valentinus.]
[Footnote 11: Lit., “that the perfect being numbered is ten.”]
[Footnote 12: Lit., “all the aeons were thirty.”]
[Footnote 13: The words μετρήσας, κατέλαβεν, νοήσας here all seem to be
equivalent to “multiplied himself,” and to have been used as a play on
the double sense of the other words.]
[Footnote 14: This may possibly be an allusion to the Valentinian Horus
surrounding and guarding the Pleroma.]
[Footnote 15: Matt. xiii. 3, uses δίδωμι, “yield,” for ἐποίει as here.
Cf. Mark iv. 3, 8, ἔφερεν, “bore.” Luke viii. 3-5 stops short at a
“hundred-fold.”]
[Footnote 16: οὐκ ἔστι πάντων ἀκούσματα, “not the hearing of all.”]
[Footnote 17: See n. on previous page.]
[Footnote 18: τὸν μέσον αὐτῶν γέννημα κοινὸν ... τῶν ἐν μεσότητι Σωτῆρα
πάντων. Cruice, whom Macmahon follows, would translate “a common fruit,
a mediator ... the Saviour of all those who are in meditation”; but I
cannot make the sense out of the Greek. Miller, by transferring the
word Μαρίας to a place after μεσότητι, would make it read “through the
interposition of Mary.”]
[Footnote 19: κεκοσμημένων, perhaps “set in order or arranged.”]
[Footnote 20: Μονογενής. One of the very few instances in Gnostic
literature, where the word can be thus translated rather than as “one
of a kind,” or Unique. The explanation in parenthesis shows that it is
so intended here, but is probably of a late date.]
[Footnote 21: πῆξιν, “fixedness.”]
[Footnote 22: So the part of the _Pistis Sophia_ which is most plainly
Valentinian, has constant allusions to τριδυναμεις or triple powers.]
[Footnote 23: χαρακτῆρας, “impresses” or “marks.”]
[Footnote 24: ἄφθονον, “devoid of envy.”]
[Footnote 25: Στερεώσας οὖν κάτωθεν, καὶ διεχώρισεν ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ
σκότους καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ φωτός. _Firmamentum igitur quum ab imo
confirmasset, divisit per medium tenebras et per medium lucem._
Macmahon follows Cruice, but ignores the repeated ἀνὰ μέσον.]
[Footnote 26: Cf. Gen. 1. 4-7.]
[Footnote 27: ἐκτύπωμα.]
[Footnote 28: Gen. i. 1.]
[Footnote 29: See _supra_, Vol. I. p. 128, for this fiery God, there
called the Demiurge Jaldabaoth.]
[Footnote 30: A pun on βάτος, “bush,” and βατός, “passable.”]