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| The Melchisedecians; The Nicolaitans.
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Chapter XXIV.—The Melchisedecians; The
Nicolaitans.
While, however, different questions have arisen
among them, a certain (heretic), who himself also was styled Theodotus,
and who was by trade a banker,890
| 890
Concerning the younger Theodotus, see [vol. iii. p. 654]
Tertullian, Præscript., c. liii.; Epiphanius,
Hær., lv.; and Theodoret, Hær. Fab., ii.
6. |
attempted to establish (the doctrine), that a certain Melchisedec
constitutes the greatest power, and that this one is greater than
Christ. And they allege that Christ happens to be according to
the likeness (of this Melchisedec). And they themselves,
similarly with those who have been previously spoken of as adherents of
Theodotus, assert that Jesus is a (mere) man, and that, in conformity
with the same account (already given), Christ descended upon
him.
There are, however, among the Gnostics diversities
of opinion; but we have decided that it would not be worth while to
enumerate the silly doctrines of these (heretics), inasmuch as they are
(too) numerous and devoid of reason, and full of blasphemy. Now,
even those (of the heretics) who are of a more serious turn in regard
of891
| 891 Or,
“in reference to” (Bunsen). | the Divinity, and
have derived their systems of speculation from the Greeks, must stand
convicted892
| 892 Or,
“have been adduced” (Miller). | (of these
charges). But Nicolaus893
| 893
See [ut supra] Irenæus, i. 26; [ut supra]
Tertullian, Præscript., c. xlv.; Epiphanius,
Hær., c. xxv.; Eusebius, Hist. Ecclesiast., iii. 29;
Theodoret, Hær. Fab., i. 15; and St.
Augustine, Hær., c. v. [But see Clement, vol.
ii. p. 373, this series.] |
has been a cause of the wide-spread combination of these wicked
men. He, as one of the seven (that were chosen) for the
diaconate,894
was appointed by
the Apostles. (But Nicolaus) departed from correct doctrine, and
was in the habit of inculcating indifferency of both life and
food.895
| 895 Or,
“knowledge.” Bunsen suggests βρώσεως, as translated
above. | And when
the disciples (of Nicolaus) continued to offer insult to the Holy
Spirit, John reproved them in the Apocalypse as fornicators and eaters
of things offered unto idols.896
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