Chapter XVIII.—Blasphemous Opinion Concerning the Origin of the Demiurge, Supposed to Be the Creator of the Universe.

Having become a better proficient189    Exercitior. in practical conduct by the authority which, we may well suppose,190    Scilicet. accrued to her from her three children, she determined to impart form to each of the natures. The spiritual one however, she was unable to touch, inasmuch as she was herself spiritual. For a participation in the same nature has, to a very great extent,191    Fere. disqualified like and consubstantial beings from having superior power over one another. Therefore192    Eo animo. she applies herself solely to the animal nature, adducing the instructions of Soter193    See above, chap. xvi. p. 512. (for her guidance). And first of all (she does) what cannot be described and read, and heard of, without an intense horror at the blasphemy thereof: she produces this God of ours, the God of all except of the heretics, the Father and Creator194    Demiurgum. and King of all things, which are inferior to him. For from him do they proceed. If, however, they proceed from him, and not rather from Achamoth, or if only secretly from her, without his perceiving her, he was impelled to all that he did, even like a puppet195    Et velut sigillario. “Sigillarium est νευρόσπαστον,” Oehler. which is moved from the outside. In fact, it was owing to this very ambiguity about the personal agency in the works which were done, that they coined for him the mixed name of (Motherly Father),196    The Father acting through and proceeding from his Mother. whilst his other appellations were distinctly assigned according to the conditions and positions of his works:  so that they call him Father in relation to the animal substances to which they give the place of honour197    Commendant. on his right hand; whereas, in respect of the material substances which they banish198    Delegant. to his left hand, they name him Demiurgus; whilst his title King designates his authority over both classes, nay over the universe.199    Communiter in universitatem.

CAPUT XVIII.

Hac auctoritate trium scilicet liberorum agendis rebus exercitior facta, formare singula genera constituit. Sed spiritale quidem non ita potuit attingere , ut et ipsa spiritalis. Fere enim paria et consubstantiva, in alterutrum valere societas naturae negavit. Eo animo, unum ad animale convertit; prolatis Soteris disciplinis. Et primum (quod cum magno horrore blasphemiae et pronuntiandum, et legendum est et audiendum) Deum fingit hunc nostrum et omnium, praeter haereticorum, patrem, et Demiurgum, et regem universorum quae post illum. Ab illo enim omnia , si tamen ab illo, et non 0573A ab ipsa potius Achamoth, a qua occulto nihil sentiens ejus, et velut sigillario extrinsecus ductu, in omnem operationem movebatur. Denique ex hac personarum in operibus ambiguitate, nomen illi Metropatoris miscuerunt, distinctis appellationibus caeteris secundum status et situs operum: ut animalium quidem substantiarum quas ad dexteram commendant, patrem nuncupent: materialium vero quas ad laevam delegant, Demiurgum nominent: Regem autem communiter in universitatem .