Valentinianism
Valentinianism was a Christian movement founded by the teacher Valentinus.
Established Valentinus was active in Rome from about 136 to 160 CE. His followers, including Ptolemy and Heracleon, developed an elaborate myth of divine emanations (aeons) and the fall of Sophia.[1][2] Established Ptolemy's Letter to Flora survives because Epiphanius quoted it (Panarion 33), and fragments of Heracleon's commentary on John survive in Origen.[3] Tradition / belief Valentinians taught that people differ in nature (spiritual, psychic and material) and that knowledge restores the spiritual to the divine fullness (plērōma).[4] Scholarly debate Some scholars identify the Nag Hammadi Gospel of Truth with a work Irenaeus attributes to the Valentinians; the attribution to Valentinus himself is debated.[5]
References
- ↑ Irenaeus, Against Heresies (c. 180 CE). book 1; Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 1 (1885).
- ↑ Tertullian, Against the Valentinians (c. 207 CE). Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 3 (1885).
- ↑ G.R.S. Mead, Fragments of a Faith Forgotten (1900). public domain; translations of the fragments.
- ↑ Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.1–8.
- ↑ Irenaeus 3.11.9; modern discussion cited in Robinson (1988). Cited only.
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