Valentinus shares the dubious title of 'arch-heretic' with another second century figure, Marcion.
Valentinus taught in Rome in the first part of the Second Century.
Valentinus was classed as a gnostic, and from the
quotes of Ireneus,Tertullian et al he apeared to be a million miles
from anything Christians today could relate to.
But then quotes from your enemies dont really show you at your best do they?
Valentinus and the Trinity
Valentinus was the first to formulate a
doctrine of the Trinity that looked anything like the profound
understanding of the Cappadocian fathers. Valentinus clearly had an
understanding of both coinherence and the hypostases of Father, Son and
Holy Spirit.
Now with the heresy of the Ariomaniacs, which has
corrupted the
Church of God...These then teach three hypostases, just as Valentinus
the heresiarch first invented in the book entitled by him 'On the Three
Natures'. For he was the first to invent three hypostases and three
persons of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and he is discovered to
have filched this from Hermes and Plato.
(A H B Logan - Marcellus of Ancyra (Pseudo-Anthimus), 'On the Holy
Church': Text,
Translation and Commentary. Verses 8-9. Journal of Theological Studies,
NS, Volume 51, Pt. 1, April 2000, p.95 ).
(interestingly Marcellus was an anti Arian Bishop at the council of Nicea!)
Also according to surviving early church texts Valentinus was a close
contender at one stage for Bishop of Rome. To me, that
possibility just doesnt sit with the early Church fathers view of the
man.
Thankfully last century saw the rediscovery of what is believed to be
Valentinus 'Gospel of Truth' that gives us another perspective, and in
it I see a man who prizes intimacy with God through Jesus Christ.
The Father reveals his bosom. - Now his bosom is the Holy Spirit. - He
reveals what is hidden of him - what is hidden of him is his Son - so
that through the mercies of the Father, the aeons may know him and cease
laboring in search of the Father, resting there in him, knowing that
this is the (final) rest.
Valentinus Gospel of Truth
So now the big issue is to address Valentinus' 'gnosticism'.
For an introduction to the big issues see Valentinian Redemption
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