Philosophumena; or, The refutation of all heresies, Volume II
David Hume · en
15. Justinus also daring to [advance] things like these, says thus:
“There are three unbegotten principles of the universals, two male
[and] one female.” Of the male, one is a certain principle called the
Good, and is alone thus called, having foreknowledge of the universals.
But the other [male] is the Father of all begotten ones, and has no
foreknowledge and is unknown and unseen and is called, they say,
Elohim. [But] the female is without foreknowledge, inclined to passion,
double-minded, double-bodied, as in the stories about her[37] which we
have above related in detail, the upper parts of her down to the groin
being a virgin and those [below] a viper. The same is called Edem and
Israel. And he declares that these are the principles of the universals
wherefrom all things came into being. And [he says] that Elohim
came without foreknowledge to desire for the composite virgin, and,
companying with her, begat [Sidenote: p. 495.] twelve angels. The names
of these are....[38] And of these the paternal ones take sides with
the (father); but the maternal ones with the mother. The same are (the
trees of Paradise)[39] whereof Moses, speaking allegorically, wrote in
the Law. And all things were made by Elohim and Edem; and the animals
together with the rest of [creation] come from the beast-like parts,
but man from those above the groin. And Edem deposited in [man] the
soul which is her power (but Elohim the spirit). But he declares that
Elohim having learned [of the light above him] ascended to the presence
of the Good One and left Edem behind. Whereat she being angered makes
every plot against the spirit of Elohim which is deposited in man. And
for his sake, the Father sent Baruch and commanded the Prophets (to
speak) so that he might set free the spirit of Elohim and draw all
men away from Edem. But he [Sidenote: p. 496.] declares that Heracles
became a prophet and that he was worsted by Omphale, that is by Babel,
whom they name Aphrodite. And at last in the days of Herod Jesus became
the son of Mary and Joseph, to Whom he declares Baruch to have spoken.
And that Edem plotted against Him, but could not beguile Him, and
therefore made Him to be crucified. Whose spirit [Justinus] says went
on high to the Good One. And thus (the spirits) of all who believe
these silly and feeble stories will be saved; but the body and soul
belonging to Edem, whom the foolish Justinus calls the Earth,[40] will
be left behind.[41]
8. _The Docetae._