is no one.” But his mother, hearing him speak thus, cried out against him, “Do not lie,
Ialdabaoth: for the father of all, the first Anthropos (man), is above thee; and so is Anthropos
the son of Anthropos.” Then, as all were disturbed by this new voice, and by the unexpected
proclamation, and as they were inquiring whence the noise proceeded, in order to lead them
away and attract them to himself, they affirm that Ialdabaoth exclaimed, “Come, let us make
man after our image.”324 The six powers, on hearing this, and their mother furnishing them
with the idea of a man (in order that by means of him she might empty them of their original
power), jointly formed a man of immense size, both in regard to breadth and length. But as
he could merely writhe along the ground, they carried him to their father; Sophia so labouring
in this matter, that she might empty him (Ialdabaoth) of the light with which he had been
sprinkled, so that he might no longer, though still powerful, be able to lift up himself against
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the powers above. They declare, then, that by breathing into man the spirit of life, he was
secretly emptied of his power; that hence man became a possessor of nous (intelligence)
and enthymesis (thought); and they affirm that these are the faculties which partake in sal-
vation. He [they further assert] at once gave thanks to the first Anthropos (man), forsaking
those who had created him.
7. But Ialdabaoth, feeling envious at this, was pleased to form the design of again
emptying man by means of woman, and produced a woman from his own enthymesis,
whom that Prunicus [above mentioned] laying hold of, imperceptibly emptied her of power.
But the others coming and admiring her beauty, named her Eve, and falling in love with
her, begat sons by her, whom they also declare to be the angels. But their mother (Sophia)
cunningly devised a scheme to seduce Eve and Adam, by means of the serpent, to transgress
the command of Ialdabaoth. Eve listened to this as if it had proceeded from a son of God,
and yielded an easy belief. She also persuaded Adam to eat of the tree regarding which God
had said that they should not eat of it. They then declare that, on their thus eating, they at-
tained to the knowledge of that power which is above all, and departed from those who had
created them.325 When Prunicus perceived that the powers were thus baffled by their own
creature, she greatly rejoiced, and again cried out, that since the father was incorruptible,
he (Ialdabaoth) who formerly called himself the father was a liar; and that, while Anthropos
and the first woman (the Spirit) existed previously, this one (Eve) sinned by committing
adultery.
8. Ialdabaoth, however, through that oblivion in which he was involved, and not paying
any regard to these things, cast Adam and Eve out of Paradise, because they had transgressed
his commandment. For he had a desire to beget sons by Eve, but did not accomplish his
wish, because his mother opposed him in every point, and secretly emptied Adam and Eve
324 Gen. i. 26.
325 That is, from Ialdabaoth, etc. [Philastr. (ut supra), Oehler, i. p. 38.]
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Chapter XXX.—Doctrines of the Ophites and Sethians.