Against Heresies: Book I

MAINTAIN: then, that in the invisible and indescribable heights above, there exists a perfect, pre-existing Æon, whom they call Proarche, Propator, and Bythus, and describe as being invisible and incomprehensible. Eternal and uncreated, he remained throughout countless cycles of ages in profound serenity and stillness. Along with him existed Ennœa, whom they also call Charis and Sige. Eventually, this Bythus decided to bring forth the beginning of all things, and placed this creation (which he had planned to bring forth) in his companion Sige, just as a seed is placed in the womb.

She then, having received this seed and becoming pregnant, gave birth to Nous, who was both similar and equal to him who had produced him, and was the only one capable of understanding his father’s greatness. They also call this Nous Monogenes, and Father, and the Beginning of all Things. Along with him, Aletheia was also produced; and these four formed the first and first-born Pythagorean Tetrad, which they also call the root of all things. For first there are Bythus and Sige, and then Nous and Aletheia.

And Monogenes, understanding the purpose for which he had been produced, also sent forth Logos and Zoe, being the father of all those who were to come after him, and the beginning and shaping of the entire Pleroma. From the union of Logos and Zoe came Anthropos and Ecclesia; and thus was formed the first-born Ogdoad, the root and substance of all things, called by these four names: Bythus, Nous, Logos, and Anthropos. For each of these is male-female, as follows: Propator was united with his Ennœa; then Monogenes, that is Nous, with Aletheia; Logos with Zoe, and Anthropos with Ecclesia.

2. These Æons were created for the glory of the Father, and wanting to achieve this goal by their own efforts, sent forth emanations through union. Logos and Zoe, after creating Anthropos and Ecclesia, sent forth ten other Æons, whose names are as follows: Bythius and Mixis, Ageratos and Henosis, Autophyes and Hedone, Acinetos and Syncrasis, Monogenes and Macaria. These are the ten Æons they claim were created by Logos and Zoe. They then add that Anthropos, together with Ecclesia, created twelve Æons, to whom they give the following names: Paracletus and Pistis, Patricos and Elpis, Metricos and Agape, Ainos and Synesis, Ecclesiasticus and Macariotes, Theletos and Sophia.

Here are the thirty Æons in the flawed system of these men, described as being wrapped, so to speak, in silence and known to no one except these supposed teachers. They claim that their invisible and spiritual Pleroma is divided into three parts: an Ogdoad, a Decad, and a Duodecad. For this reason, they assert that the "Savior"—since they do not wish to call Him "Lord"—did no public work for thirty years, thus revealing the mystery of these Æons. They also believe that these thirty Æons are clearly indicated in the parable of the laborers sent into the vineyard. Some are sent at the first hour, others at the third, others at the sixth, others at the ninth, and others at the eleventh. If we add up the numbers of the hours mentioned, the total is thirty: one, three, six, nine, and eleven add up to thirty. They claim that the hours signify the Æons while stating that these are great, wonderful, and previously unspeakable mysteries which it is their special purpose to interpret. They proceed in this way whenever they find anything in the many things within the Scriptures that they can adapt to their speculative ideas.