Irenaeus and the Gnostic System Free Essay Example, 3500 words

Irenaeus establishes what has roused him to react in Book 1 and disproves it in Book 2. The remnants of his work reveal that his rejoinder transcends the motivation (Johnson, 2004, 28). Irenaeus initiates with a thorough description of a Valentinian myth which is the labor of a generation succeeding Valentinus and Ptolemy. The credit to Ptolemy is an interpretation; yet the writers were most probably Valentinians who, even as referring to themselves students of Valentinus, were actually students of Ptolemy. The work demonstrates four movements, namely, extension, dispersion, concentration in saviour, and return to unity by saviour, and alludes into six periods, namely, the first principle and first emanations; the passion of Sophia and the new emanations; the formation of Achamoth; three substances; creation of the cosmos; Christ and consummation (Cullman, 1959, 102). All things germinate from the rightness of the pro-father, pro-first principle, chasm, who is unfathomable, furthe r than apprehension, unseen, perpetual, serene in deep restfulness. With him subsists indivisibly reflection (ennoia) who is also silence (sige) and elegance (chairs). From this creation originate three pairs of emanations to the splendor of the Father and to create the Ogdoad: Nous (or Monogenes) and Aletheia, Logos, and Zoe, Anthropos and Ecclesia (ibid, 103). We will write a custom essay sample on Irenaeus and the Gnostic System or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page However, the remaining of the thirty eons, Sophia, surrenders to an unmanageable motive to detain his limitless greatness which changes her through ardor.