Chapter XX.—Futility of the arguments adduced to demonstrate the sufferings
of the twelfth Æon, from the parables, the treachery of Judas, and the passion
of our Saviour.
1. That they improperly and illogically apply both the parables and the actions of the
Lord to their falsely-devised system, I prove as follows: They endeavour, for instance, to
demonstrate that passion which, they say, happened in the case of the twelfth Æon, from
this fact, that the passion of the Saviour was brought about by the twelfth apostle, and
happened in the twelfth month. For they hold that He preached [only] for one year after
His baptism. They maintain also that the same thing was clearly set forth in the case of her
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who suffered from the issue of blood. For the woman suffered during twelve years, and
through touching the hem of the Saviour’s garment she was made whole by that power
which went forth from the Saviour, and which, they affirm, had a previous existence. For
that Power who suffered was stretching herself outwards and flowing into immensity, so
that she was in danger of being dissolved into the general substance [of the Æons]; but then,
touching the primary Tetrad, which is typified by the hem of the garment, she was arrested,
and ceased from her passion.
2. Then, again, as to their assertion that the passion of the twelfth Æon was proved
through the conduct of Judas, how is it possible that Judas can be compared [with this Æon]
as being an emblem of her—he who was expelled from the number of the twelve,450 and
never restored to his place? For that Æon, whose type they declare Judas to be, after being
separated from her Enthymesis, was restored or recalled [to her former position]; but Judas
was deprived [of his office], and cast out, while Matthias was ordained in his place, according
to what is written, “And his bishopric let another take.”451 They ought therefore to maintain
that the twelfth Æon was cast out of the Pleroma, and that another was produced, or sent
forth to fill her place; if, that is to say, she is pointed at in Judas. Moreover, they tell us that
it was the Æon herself who suffered, but Judas was the betrayer, [and not the sufferer.] Even
they themselves acknowledge that it was the suffering Christ, and not Judas, who came to
[the endurance of] passion. How, then, could Judas, the betrayer of Him who had to suffer
for our salvation, be the type and image of that Æon who suffered?
3. But, in truth, the passion of Christ was neither similar to the passion of the Æon, nor
did it take place in similar circumstances. For the Æon underwent a passion of dissolution
and destruction, so that she who suffered was in danger also of being destroyed. But the
Lord, our Christ, underwent a valid, and not a merely452 accidental passion; not only was
450 Or, “from the twelfth number”—the twelfth position among the apostles.
451 Acts i. 20, from Ps. cix. 8.
452 The text is here uncertain. Most editions read “et quæ non cederet,” but Harvey prefers “quæ non accederet”
(for “accideret”), and remarks that the corresponding Greek would be καὶ οὐ τυχόν, which we have translated
as above.
Chapter XX.—Futility of the arguments adduced to demonstrate the sufferings of the twelfth Æon, from the parables, the treachery of Judas, and the passion of our Saviour.
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Chapter XX.—Futility of the arguments adduced to demonstrate the sufferings…