Against Heresies: Book IV

The person, however, who would undertake their conversion must have an accurate understanding of their systems or schemes of doctrine. It is impossible for anyone to heal the sick if they have no knowledge of the patients' disease. This was the reason my predecessors—much superior to myself—were nevertheless unable to successfully refute the Valentinians, because they were ignorant of these men’s system. I have carefully presented this to you in the first book, in which I have also shown that their doctrine is a recapitulation of all the heretics. For this reason, in the second book, we have clearly witnessed their complete defeat. For those who oppose these men (the Valentinians) by the right method also oppose all who are of a wicked mind, and those who overthrow them, in fact, overthrow every kind of heresy.

For their system is more blasphemous than all others, since they claim that the Maker and Framer, who is one God, as I have shown, was created from a defect or apostasy. They also blaspheme against our Lord by separating and dividing Jesus from Christ, Christ from the Saviour, the Saviour from the Word, and the Word from the Only-begotten. And because they allege that the Creator originated from a defect or apostasy, they have also taught that Christ and the Holy Spirit were emitted due to this defect, and that the Saviour was a product of those Æons who arose from a defect; thus, there is only blasphemy to be found among them. In the preceding book, the apostles' ideas on all these points have been presented, showing that not only did they, "who from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word" of truth, reject such opinions, but they also preached to us to avoid these doctrines, foreseeing through the Spirit those weak-minded individuals who would be led astray.

Just as the serpent deceived Eve by promising her something he did not possess, these men also claim to have superior knowledge and to understand unfathomable mysteries. By promising entrance into what they describe as the Pleroma, they lead those who believe them into death, making them turn away from their Maker. At that time, the rebellious angel, having caused the disobedience of humans using the serpent, thought he escaped the Lord’s notice; thus, God gave him the form and name of a serpent.

But now, since the end times are upon us, evil has spread among people, not only turning them into apostates but also raising blasphemers against the Creator through various heretics already mentioned. Although these heretics come from different places and share different views, they all share the same blasphemous goal, striking people unto death by teaching blasphemy against God our Maker and Sustainer, and diminishing human salvation. Humans, formed as a combination of soul and flesh, were created in God's likeness and shaped by His hands, specifically by the Son and Holy Spirit, to whom He said, “Let Us make man.” The aim of the one who envies our life is to make people disbelieve in their salvation and blaspheme against God the Creator.

No matter how solemnly all these heretics present their ideas, they ultimately blaspheme the Creator and deny the salvation of God’s handiwork, which truly includes the flesh. I have shown in various ways that the Son of God carried out the entire plan of mercy, and I have demonstrated that no one is called God by the Scriptures except the Father of all, the Son, and those who possess the adoption.