Chapter XVII.—Origin of the Greek Philosophy.

The origin, then, from which Plato derived his theory in the Timæus, is (the) wisdom of the Egyptians.632    See Timæus, c. vii. ed. Bekker. For from this source, by some ancient and prophetical tradition, Solon633    Or, “Solomon,” evidently a mistake. taught his entire system concerning the generation and destruction of the world, as Plato says, to the Greeks, who were (in knowledge) young children, and were acquainted with no theological doctrine of greater antiquity. In order, therefore, that we may trace accurately the arguments by which Valentinus established his tenets, I shall now explain what are the principles of the philosophy of Pythagoras of Samos,—a philosophy (coupled) with that Silence so celebrated by the Greeks. And next in this manner (I shall elucidate) those (opinions) which Valentinus derives from Pythagoras and Plato, but refers with all solemnity of speech to Christ, and before Christ to the Father of the universe, and to Silence conjoined with the Father.

[22] Ἡ μὲν οὖν ἀρχὴ τῆς ὑποθέσεώς ἐστιν ἐν τῷ Τιμαίῳ τῷ Πλάτωνι σοφία Αἰγυπτίων: ἐκεῖθεν γὰρ ὁ Σόλων τὴν ὅλη(ν) ὑπόθεσιν περὶ τῆς [τοῦ] κόσμου γενέσεως καὶ φθορᾶς πα(λ)αιῷ τινι λόγῳ καὶ προφητικῷ, ὥς φησιν ὁ Πλάτων, τοὺς Ἕλληνας ἐδίδαξε, παῖδας νέους ὄντας καὶ πρεσβύτερον ἐπισταμένους μάθημα θεολογούμενον οὐδέν. ἵν' οὖν παρακολουθήσωμεν τοῖς λόγοις οἷς καταβέβληται Οὐαλεντῖνος, προεκθήσομαι νῦν τίνα ἐστὶν ἃ Πυθαγόρας ὁ Σάμιος μετὰ τῆς ὑμνουμένης ἐκείνης παρὰ τοῖς Ἕλλησι [σι]γῆς φιλοσοφεῖ, εἶθ' [ὡσ]αύτως ταῦτα ἃ [παρὰ] Πυθαγόρου λαβὼν καὶ Πλάτωνος Οὐαλεντῖνος σεμνολογῶν ἀνατίθησι Χριστῷ καὶ πρὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ τῷ Πατρὶ τῶν ὅλων καὶ Σιγῇ, τῇ συνεζευγμένῃ τῷ Πατρί.