Chapter XX.—The Heresy of Carpocrates; Wicked Doctrines Concerning Jesus Christ; Practise Magical Arts; Adopt a Metempsychosis.

Carpocrates861    See [vol. i. p. 350] Irenæus, i. 25; [vol. iii. p. 203] Tertullian, De Anima, c. xxiii.–xxv., and Præscript., c. xlviii.; Eusebius, Hist. Ecclesiast., iv. 7, Epiphanius, Hær., xxvii. sec. 2; Theodoret, Hær. Fab., i. 5; and St. Augustine, Hær., c. vii. The entire of this article is taken from Irenæus, and equally coincides with the account given of Carpocrates by Epiphanius. affirms that the world and the things in it were made by angels, far inferior to the unbegotten Father; and that Jesus was generated of Joseph, and that, having been born similar to (other) men, He was more just than the rest (of the human race).  And (Carpocrates asserts) that the soul (of Jesus), inasmuch as it was made vigorous and undefiled, remembered the things seen by it in its converse with the unbegotten God. And (Carpocrates maintains) that on this account there was sent down upon (Jesus) by that (God) a power, in order that through it He might be enabled to escape the world-making (angels). And (he says) that this power, having passed through all, and having obtained liberty in all, again ascended862    Or, “came.” to God (Himself). And (he alleges) that in the same condition with (the soul of Jesus are all the souls) that embrace similar objects of desire with the (power just alluded to). And they assert that the soul of Jesus, (though,) according to law, it was disciplined in Jewish customs, (in reality) despised them. And (he says) that on this account (Jesus) received powers whereby He rendered null and void the passions incidental to men for their punishment. And (he argues), therefore, that the (soul), which, similarly with that soul of Christ, is able to despise the world-making Archons, receives in like manner power for the performance of similar acts. Wherefore, also, (according to Carpocrates, there are persons who) have attained unto such a degree of pride as to affirm some of themselves to be equal to Jesus Himself, whereas others among them to be even still more powerful. But (they also contend) that some enjoy an excellence above the disciples of that (Redeemer), for instance Peter and Paul, and the rest of the Apostles, and that these are in no respect inferior to Jesus. And (Carpocrates asserts) that the souls of these have originated from that supernal power, and that consequently they, as equally despising the world-making (angels), have been deemed worthy of the same power, and (of the privilege) to ascend to the same (place). If, however, any one would despise earthly concerns more than did that (Saviour, Carpocrates says) that such a one would be able to become superior to (Jesus. The followers of this heretic) practise their magical arts and incantations, and spells and voluptuous feasts. And (they are in the habit of invoking the aid of) subordinate demons and dream-senders, and (of resorting to) the rest of the tricks (of sorcery), alleging that they possess power for now acquiring sway over the Archons and makers of this world, nay, even over all the works that are in it.

(Now these heretics) have themselves been sent forth by Satan, for the purpose of slandering before the Gentiles the divine name of the Church. (And the devil’s object is,) that men hearing, now after one fashion and now after another, the doctrines of those (heretics), and thinking that all of us are people of the same stamp, may turn away their ears from the preaching of the truth, or that they also, looking, (without abjuring,) upon all the tenets of those (heretics), may speak hurtfully of us. (The followers of Carpocrates) allege that the souls are transferred from body to body, so far as that they may fill up (the measure of) all their sins. When, however, not one (of these sins) is left, (the Carpocratians affirm that the soul) is then emancipated, and departs unto that God above of the world-making angels, and that in this way all souls will be saved. If, however, some (souls), during the presence of the soul in the body for one life, may by anticipation become involved in the full measure of transgressions, they, (according to these heretics,) no longer undergo metempsychosis. (Souls of this sort,) however, on paying off at once all trespasses, will, (the Carpocratians say,) be emancipated from dwelling any more in a body. Certain, likewise, of these (heretics) brand863    Literally, “cauterize.” their own disciples in the back parts of the lobe of the right ear. And they make counterfeit images of Christ, alleging that these were in existence at the time (during which our Lord was on earth, and that they were fashioned) by Pilate.864    Epiphanius alludes in the same manner to these images.

[32] Καρποκράτης τὸν μὲν κόσμον καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῷ ὑπὸ ἀγγέλων πολὺ ὑποβεβηκότων τοῦ ἀγεν[ν]ήτου Πατρὸς γεγενῆσθαι λέγει, τὸν δὲ Ἰησοῦν ἐξ Ἰωσὴφ γεγεν[ν]ῆσθαι, καὶ ὅμοιον τοῖς [λοιποῖς] ἀνθρώποις γεγονότα δικαιότερον τῶν λοιπῶν γενέσθαι. τὴν γὰρ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ, εὔτονον καὶ καθαρὰν γεγονυῖαν, διαμνημονεῦσαι τὰ ὁρα[θέν]τα [μὲν] αὐτῇ ἐν τῇ μετὰ τοῦ ἀγεν[ν]ήτου θεοῦ περιφορᾷ: καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ὑπ' ἐκείνου αὐτ(ῇ) καταπεμφθῆναι δύναμιν, ὅπως τοὺς κοσμοποιοὺς ἐκφυγεῖν δι' αὐτῆς δυνηθῇ, [ἦν] καὶ διὰ πάντων χωρήσασαν ἐν πᾶσί τε ἐλευθερωθεῖσαν [ἀν]εληλύθῃ πρὸς αὐτόν, [καὶ τὰς] τὰ ὅμοια αὐτῇ ἀσπαζομένας [ὁμοίως]. τὴν δὲ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ λέγουσι ψυχήν, ἐννόμως ἠσκημέ(ν)ην ἐν Ἰουδαϊκοῖς ἔθεσι, καταφρονῆσαι αὐτῶν, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο δυνάμεις ἐπιτετελεκέναι, δι' ὧν κατήργησε τὰ ἐπὶ κολάσε[σ]ι πάθη προσόντα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. Τὴν οὖν ὁμοίως ἐκείνῃ τῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ψυχῇ δυναμένην καταφρονῆσαι τῶν κοσμοποιῶν ἀρχόντων ὁμοίως λαμβάνειν δύναμιν πρὸς τὸ πρᾶξαι τὰ ὅμοια. διὸ καὶ εἰς τοῦτο το[ῦ] τύφου κατεληλύθασιν, ὥστε τοὺς μὲν [αὐτῶν] ὁμοίους αὐτῷ εἶναι λέγειν τῷ Ἰησοῦ, τοὺς δ' ἔτι καὶ [αὐτοῦ] δυνατωτέρους, τινὰς δὲ καὶ διαφορωτέρους τῶν ἐκείνου μαθητῶν, οἷον Πέτρου καὶ Παύλου καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν ἀποστόλων. τούτους δὲ κατὰ μηδὲν ἀπολείπεσθαι τοῦ Ἰησοῦ: τὰς γὰρ ψυχὰς αὐτῶν, ἐκ τῆς [αὐτῆς] ὑπερκειμένης ἐξουσίας παρούσας καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ὡσαύτως καταφρονούσας τῶν κοσμοποιῶν, [διὰ] τῆς αὐτῆς ἠξιῶσθαι δυνάμεως καὶ αὖθις εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ χωρῆσαι. εἰ δέ τις ἐκείνου πλέον καταφρονήσειεν τῶν ἐνταῦθα, δύνασθαι διαφορώτερον αὐτοῦ ὑπάρχειν. Τέχνας οὖν μαγικὰς ἐξεργάζονται [καὶ αὐτοὶ] καὶ ἐπαοιδάς, φίλτρα τε καὶ χαριτήσια, παρέδρους τε καὶ ὀνειροπόμπους καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ κακουργήματα, φάσκοντες [αὑτοὺς] ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν πρὸς τὸ κυριεύειν ἤδη τῶν ἀρχόντων καὶ ποιητῶν τοῦδε τοῦ κόσμου, οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ἐν αὐτῷ ποιημάτων ἁπάντων. _οἵτινες καὶ αὐτοὶ εἰς διαβολὴν τοῦ θείου τῆς ἐκκλησίας ὀνόματος [ὡς ἂν Χριστιανοὶ] πρὸς τὰ ἔθνη ὑπὸ τοῦ Σατανᾶ προεβλήθησαν, ἵνα κατ' ἄλλον καὶ ἄλλον τρόπον τὰ ἐκείνων ἀκούοντες ἄνθρωποι, καὶ δοκοῦντες ἡμᾶς πάντας τοιούτους ὑπάρχειν, ἀποστρέφωσι τὰς ἀκοὰς αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ τῆς ἀληθείας κηρύγματος, [ἢ καὶ] βλ(έ)ποντες τὰ ἐκείνων ἅπαντα[ς] ἡμᾶς βλασφημῶσιν. _ Εἰς τοσοῦτον δὲ μετενσωματοῦσθαι [ἀεὶ] φάσκουσι τὰς ψυχάς, [εἰς] ὅσον πάντα τὰ ἁμαρτήματα πληρώσωσιν: ὅταν δὲ μηδὲν λείπῃ [αὐτῇ], τότε ἐλευθερωθεῖσαν ἀπαλλαγῆναι πρὸς ἐκεῖνον τὸν ὑπεράνω τῶ(ν) (κο)σμοποιῶν ἀγγέλων θεόν. καὶ οὕτως [δὲ] σωθήσεσθαι πάσας τὰς ψυχάς: [εἰ] τινὲς μὲν φθάσασαι ἐν μιᾷ παρουσίᾳ ἀναμιγῆναι πάσαις [ταῖς] ἁμαρτίαις οὐκέτι μετενσωματοῦνται, [τινὲς δὲ σῶμα ἐκ σώματος μετ]αλλά[σσουσαι] πάντα [τε] ὁμοῦ [ἐκπληρώσασαι καὶ] ἀποδοῦσαι τὰ ὀφλήματα, ἐλευθερωθήσονται τοῦ μηκέτι γενέσθαι ἐν σώματι. Τούτων [δέ] τινες καὶ καυτηριάζουσι τοὺς ἰδίους μαθητὰς ἐν τοῖς ὀπίσω μέρεσι τοῦ λοβοῦ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ὠτός. καὶ εἰκόνας δὲ κατασκευάζουσι τοῦ Χριστοῦ, λέγοντες ὑπὸ Πιλάτου τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ [γε]γενῆσθαι.