1. Theological Constructs a). Gnostic Mythology The diagram below serves as a „companion‟ to follow the argument in Adversus Haereses, seeing the need for a guide through the complexity, which demonstrates the various groupings. Gnostic Mythology

Ennoea AEon, pre-existent Charis Proarche Numerology: First Pythagorean Tetrad Sige Propator Parable of workers in vineyard 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 11th hour = 30 Bythus Ogdoad =tetrad + ogdoad + AEons 10+ AEons 12 coupled pairs

Produces by sends forth the Produces by Pleroma: Aletheia All AEons means of S. beginning of all means of M. Horos Power Groups: Large Nous Stauros Main name: Bold alone capable of comprehending the greatness of Bythus Lytrotes Carpistes Father Beginning of All Logos Anthropos Horothetes Ecclesia Monogenes Zoe Metagoges

AEons 10 AEons 12 restrains Sophia from Christ Holy Spirit overextending herself Bythius Mixis Paracletus Pistis Savior All Ageratos Henosis Patricos Elpis Metricos Agape Autophyes Hedone wants to comprehend Ainos Synesis the Father Acinetos Syncrasis Ecclesiasticus Macariotes Monogenes Macaria Theletos Sophia

Material substance product of ignorance, grief fear, bewilderment

Enthymesis Achamoth

b). Gnostic Construct Included here is the interaction of the mythology with the world, and with Christ in particular. Gnostic Construct

Eschatology

Pleroma AEon, Achamoth enters pre-existent Gnostics leave souls, Ennoea Proarche Pleroma become pure spirit Produces by All AEons Charis Propator Intermediary means of M. psychikoi enter Aletheia Intermediate Demiurge enters Sige Bythus Horos Place Power Matter, flesh cannot receive incorruptible Stauros Produces by sends forth the inspiration. means of S. beginning of all Lytrotes All will be destroyed Anthropology Christology Carpistes Most Humanity imperfect by Soteriology Horothetes nature Resurrection only an allegory Nous Metagoges Human Classes Beginning of All Logos Anthropos restrains Sophia from overextending herself Flesh not saved Father Monogenes hiloi – carnal, hopeless Ethics Zoe Ecclesia psychikoi – immature psychikoi saved by good works AEons 10 AEons 12 pneumatikoi – Gnostic Virtue, good works, adepts Bythius Mixis Paracletus Pistis chastity Perfect by nature pneumatikoi saved Patricos Elpis alone capable of Ageratos Henosis by their nature Freedom for all wants to comprehend Body is inferior comprehending Metricos Agape pleasure the greatness of Bythus Autophyes Hedone the Father unessential to human being Jesus was merely a Ainos Synesis Receptacle of Christ Vice: [need to Acinetos Syncrasis experience and redeem] Ecclesiasticus Macariotes Monogenes Macaria Theletos Sophia Humanity Material substance Savior descended at baptism First product of ignorance, grief Body Holy Spirit fear, bewilderment Pythagorean Spiritual men Spirit Jesus Tetrad seed of Enthymesis Soul Christ Achamoth Achamoth Imparts form Sophia II implants Ecclesia II Ogdoad All Holy Spirit II coupled pairs Mother Spirit of Christ Spiritual substance given at baptism Sends the Savior taken away at Pilate generates Demiurge Pleroma: Terms from ignorant of his mother Pneumatology All AEons the Prologue Cosmology ignorant of true source of spiritual life Paraclete Devil Savior Cosmocrator teaches

c). Arian Cosmology The horizontal lines represent being: divine, Logos, and the rest of creation. The major left angle is the division of eternity from creation, while the smaller one extending to lower right indicates the „event horizon‟ of creation. The wide arrows indicate the action of creation: first the Logos created, then creating. Noted at *10 is “the beginning” of Genesis 1 and John 1. Arian Cosmology

God‟s act of Creating the Logos out of Nothing *3 God *2 Spirit Potentiality *41 Possible to God Alone *6 Father *12 Eternal Not made Almighty Divinity Worshipped Unchanging Maker, from nothing Infinite The Judge Logic? * Wisdom? *14 *15 *16 *17 *18 *19 20 *21

Son *13 Potentiality Divine Worshipped? Maker, from nothing Judge or Dependent on God *7 Logos *22 There was a time Power? *24 *27 Judged? Logic Wisdom when it was not *42 *4 Creature Worshiper? Made from nothing *29 *30 *31 *23 *25 *26 *28

en arch Beginning of Time *9 Made from nothing Weak *10 Creature Worshiper There was a time Judged Ignorance Illogical Not making Fallible apo *11 *32 *33 when it was not *37 *38 *39 *34 rom nothing. *36 *35 Potentiality Actuality Dependent on Logos *8 Dependent on Logos *5

KEY Divine oval Logos rounded rectangle Creature rectangle Creation *40

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d). St. Athanasius’ Cosmology Here note the lack of an intermediate band, and the resulting simplicity, with a clear demarcation of Creator from creature. The “beginning” is twofold, indicated by arrows from *10: one is eternal, in the Father (of John 1:1); the other is at the nexus of lines, where the event horizon of creation begins (Genesis 1). The curved wide arrow traces the involvment of the Logos in creation as Creator, and then “coming into the world” (John 1:9) by the Incarnation at *5 (John 1:14), indicatedSAth by the Cosmologystraight wide arrow.

God‟s act of Creating God out of *2 Nothing *3 Father *12

Logoj Potentiality Begotten en Spirit *22 of God Alone *6 *4 Eternally Son *13 arch Eternal Not made Almighty *10 Divinity Worshipped Unchanging Logic Wisdom Maker, from nothing Infinite The Judge *14 *15 *16 *20 *21 *17 *18 *19

en *9 Potentiality Creature Worshiper There was a time Illogic Ignorance Made from nothing Weak Judged Dependent apo *11 *23 *24 when it was not *26 *27 Not making anything Fallible *30 on God *7 *25 from nothing. *29 Mary *28 *32 Created & time Begotten in

Logoj Became Flesh Actuality *5 Dependent on God *8 KEY Divine oval Creation Logos rounded rectangle Creature rectangle *31

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