Simon Magus
Simon Magus is a figure from Samaria described in the Acts of the Apostles and later Christian writers.
Established Acts 8:9–24 describes Simon, a magician in Samaria, who offers the apostles money for the power to confer the Holy Spirit; the word "simony" comes from this episode.[1] Tradition / belief Second-century writers made Simon the founder of all heresies. Irenaeus (Against Heresies 1.23) reports that he taught with a companion called Helen.[2] The Clementine Recognitions tell of his contests with Peter.[3] Scholarly debate Justin Martyr wrote that Rome had a statue inscribed to Simon as a god; an inscription found on the Tiber Island in 1574 reads "Semoni Sanco deo fidio", to the Sabine god Semo Sancus, and many scholars think Justin misread a similar inscription.[4]
References
- ↑ Acts 8:9–24, King James Version (1611) or American Standard Version (1901); public domain.
- ↑ Irenaeus, Against Heresies (c. 180 CE). 1.23.
- ↑ (Pseudo-Clement), Recognitions (3rd–4th c. CE). Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 8 (1886).
- ↑ Justin Martyr, First Apology 26 (Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 1, 1885); discussion in modern commentaries.
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