[85] 1 Tim. iv. 1-5, verbatim save as in last note.
[86] It follows from this that Hippolytus is indebted to no other writer than himself for the facts in this chapter.
[87] Νοαχιτῶν. The Codex has Νοχαϊτων.
[88] The Cainites are described by Irenæus (I, xxxi) as anterior to Valentinus. The Noachites are mentioned by no other writer. It is difficult to account for the remarks of Hippolytus about the Ophites in this passage in view of the fact that the greater part of Book V has been devoted to the doctrines of the “Naassenes”—a word which he evidently recognized as identical with “Ophites.” Unless we are to believe that Ὀφιτῶν is here a copyist’s error for the name of some other sect, we are almost compelled to accept the theory given in the Introduction, i. e. that the materials for Book V only came into Hippolytus’ hands after the rest of the book was written, and that their heresy was then suddenly pitchforked into the place in which we find it without due consideration of its accord with passages like the present. In that case the “seven Books before this” on p. 397 Cr. must originally have read “five,” unless we are to suppose that their place was occupied by the description of the Jewish sects later transferred to Book IX.
p. 424.
BOOK IX
NOETUS, CALLISTUS, AND OTHERS
1. These are the contents of the 9th (Book) of the Refutation of All Heresies.
2. What is the blasphemous folly of Noetus and that he gave heed to the doctrines of Heraclitus the Obscure and not to those of Christ.
3. And how Callistus having mingled the heresy of Cleomenes, Noetus’ disciple, with that of Theodotus, set up another and newer heresy, and what was his life.