Against Heresies: Book II

Let's return to the mentioned question regarding the production of the Æons. First, let them explain why the production of Æons is such that they do not interact with anything related to creation. They claim that the higher things were not made for creation, but rather creation was made for them; and that the lower things are not images of the higher, but the higher of the lower. Since they give a reason for these images by saying the month has thirty days because of the thirty Æons, the day has twelve hours, and the year twelve months, because of the twelve Æons within the Pleroma, along with other such nonsense, let them now also explain the reason for the production of the Æons, why it was of such a kind, and why the first and first-begotten Ogdoad was sent forth, and not a Pentad, Triad, or Septenad, or any other defined by a different number. Furthermore, how is it that from Logos and Zoe, ten Æons were sent forth, and neither more nor less; while from Anthropos and Ecclesia, twelve proceeded, although these could have been either more or less numerous?

2. And then, again, regarding the entire Pleroma, why is it divided into these three parts—an Ogdoad, a Decad, and a Duodecad—rather than some other different number? Furthermore, concerning the division itself, why has it been made into three parts and not four, or five, or six, or some other number that has no connection with those numbers associated with creation? For they describe those Æons above as being more ancient than the created things below, and they ought to possess their principle of being within themselves, one that existed before creation and not patterned after creation, all agreeing on this point.

THE ACCOUNT WE GIVE OF CREATION ALIGNS WITH THE REGULAR ORDER OF THINGS PREVAILING IN THE WORLD: because our explanation fits the things that have actually been made. However, those who can't explain the nature of the beings that existed before creation, and were perfected by themselves, face great confusion. When they question us about creation, they either refer to mere human emotions or rely on the harmony seen in creation, incorrectly answering with details about secondary matters instead of the primary ones they claim to know. We don't ask them about creation's harmony or human feelings, but about their octiform, deciform, and duodeciform Pleroma, which they say creation imitates. They must admit that their Father formed it without reason if they assume He did so thoughtlessly, thus attributing imperfection to Him. Alternatively, if they claim the Pleroma was created according to the Father's foresight for the sake of creation, meaning He organized its essence symmetrically, then the Pleroma is no longer its own purpose but is made for creation, which is its image. Like a clay model not molded for its own sake but for a statue to be made in brass, gold, or silver, creation would have more honor than the Pleroma if those things above were made for creation's sake.