[277]. Grüber, Die Ophiten, Würzburg, 1864, pp. 173 sqq., points out that the Ophites, like the Valentinians, seem to have used the Peshitto or Syriac version of the Canonical Books for their quotations. He says the fact had been already noticed by Harvey. It is, of course, another indication of the Anatolian or Syrian origin of the sect.
[278]. Irenaeus, I. 28, c. 5, p. 237, Harvey, gives a list of the books which they assigned to each planetary power, Jaldabaoth taking the lion’s share with the Hexateuch, Amos and Habbakuk.
[279]. Hippolytus, op. cit. Bk V. c. 7, p. 150, Cruice. Proverbs xxiv. 16 seems the text referred to.
[280]. Hippolytus, op. cit. Bk V. c. 25, pp. 226, 227, Cruice. Sophia is evidently the serpent in this combination.
[281]. The Ebionites, or whatever other Judaeo-Christian sect is responsible for the Clementines, make St Peter affirm that Jesus “did not proclaim Himself to be God,” and that “that which is begotten cannot be compared with that which is unbegotten or self-begotten.” See Clem. Hom. XVI. cc. 15, 16.
[282]. The same may be said of practically all Christians of the Apostolic age. See Hatch, H.L. p. 124. It was the reproach which Celsus cast at the whole Christian community in the reign of Marcus Aurelius. See Origen, cont. Cels. Bk III. c. 44. Origen, op. cit. Bk III. c. 9, retorts that “now” (i.e. circa 230 A.D.) not only rich but highly-placed men and well-born ladies are to be found among the Christians. The change probably took place during the reign of Commodus; Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. Bk V. c. 21. Origen and Eusebius agree that this entry of educated men into the Church brought heresy along with it. See Origen, op. cit. Bk III. c. 12.
[283]. Bréhier, “La Cosmologie Stoicienne,” R.H.R. t. LXIV. (1911), pp. 1-9.
[284]. A. W. Benn, The Philosophy of Greece, 1898, pp. 246, 255.
[285]. Kenyon, Handbook to the Textual Criticism of the N. T., 1901, p. 138, says, “Mr Gwilliam, whose opinion, as editor of the Peshitto, is entitled to all respect, believes it to be the original translation of the Scriptures into Syriac,” but thinks the question not yet decided.
[286]. Kenyon, Greek Papyri, p. 83.