On Christ and Antichrist

by Hippolytus of Rome, J.H. MacMahon, Charles River Editors

Hippolytus of Rome (170 – 235) was the most important 3rd-century theologian in the Christian Church in Rome, where he was probably born. Photios I of Constantinople describes him in his Bibliotheca (cod. 121) as a disciple of Irenaeus, who was said to be a disciple of Polycarp, and from the context of this passage it is supposed that he suggested that Hippolytus himself so styled himself. However, this assertion is doubtful.He came into conflict with the popes of his time and seems to have headed a schismatic group as a rival bishop of Rome- for that reason he is sometimes considered the first Antipope. He opposed the Roman bishops who softened the penitential system to accommodate the large number of new pagan converts.[However, he was very probably reconciled to the Church when he diedas a martyr.

Starting in the 4th century, various legends arose about him, identifying him as a priest of the Novatianist Schism or as a soldier converted by Saint Laurence. He has also been confused with another martyr of the same name.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the feast day of St Hippolytus falls on August 13, which is also the Apodosis of the Feast of the Transfiguration. Because on the Apodosis the hymns of the Transfiguration are to be repeated, the feast of St. Hippolytus may be transferred to the day before or to some other convenient day. The Roman Catholic Church celebrates St Hippolytus jointly with St Pontian on August 13.

Of the dogmatic works, On Christ and the Antichrist survives in a complete state. Among other things it includes a vivid account of the events preceding the end of the world, and it was probably written at the time of the persecution under Septimius Severus, about 202.

Genres: Theology, Church History, Christian

Nook

First published June 1, 1979

About the author

Hippolytus of Rome (170 – 235 AD) was the most important 3rd-century theologian in the Christian Church in Rome, where he was probably born. He came into conflict with the popes of his time and seems to have headed a schismatic group as a rival Bishop of Rome. He opposed the Roman bishops who softened the penitential system to accommodate the large number of new pagan converts. However, he was very probably reconciled to the Church when he died as a martyr.

Starting in the 4th century AD, various legends arose about him, identifying him as a priest of the Novatianist schism or as a soldier converted by Saint Lawrence. He has also been confused with another martyr of the same name. Pius IV identifies him as "Saint Hippolytus, Bishop of Pontus" who was martyred in the reign of Alexander Severus through his inscription on a statue found at the Church of St. Lawrence in Rome and kept at the Vatican as photographed and published in Brunsen.

Reviews

[Lindsay John Kennedy]

Stimulating! I’m always fascinated by early Christological interpretation of scripture and this did not disappoint. As I’m especially drawn to the psalms, I particularly noted Ps 3 as the resurrection (unsurprised by that interpretation by this point) and Ps 19 as the second coming (THAT surprised me, though once you see Christ as the sun/bridegroom, it makes sense…)

[Etienne OMNES · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hippolyte de Rome est remarquable dans tous ses commentaires bibliques et sa connaissance profonde de la Bible. Dans ce livre vous verrez à l'oeuvre une compréhension très précoce de l'apocalypse avec une quantité impressionnante de citations bibliques, qui au delà du sujet précis de Christ/Antichrist dans l'apocalypse, est un témoignage indirect de l'importance et du poids qu'avaient les Ecritures chez les Pères de l'Eglise. Je suis très satisfait par cette lecture.

[Joshua Pearsall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a beautiful text going over prophecies, and though you may not be convinced of Hippolytus about the tribe of Dan he speaks a constant reminder we need about the Antichrist. He always appears as a mockery of God to deceive us, appearing as what is good to lure us in. The adulteress of Proverbs 7, the "unholy trinity" in Revelation. As Hippolytus used the Lion analogy. Christ is the lion: courageous, strong, powerful, and mighty for God. Where the devil appears as a lion: dominating rather than justly ruling in dominion, brutal and savage.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short treatise is an important early witness to the text of Revelation. Hippolytus (d. 235) quotes extensively from chapters 12, 13, 17, and 18. It is also an important early witness to what is called the gap theory: the idea that Daniel's 70th week in the prophecy of the 70 weeks is separated from the previous 69 weeks by an indeterminate gap of time. Hippolytus believes that the 70th week will be a literal 7 years at the end of history. During the last half of the week Enoch and Elijah will prophecy clothed in sackcloth and will be killed by the Antichrist. I noticed a couple of ways in which Hippolytus deviates from most modern expositors of Revelation. He considers the second beast, the one from the land, not the first beast, to be the Antichrist. And he believes the child birthed by the woman clothed with the sun is not limited to Christ, but represents the Word in whatever form it is brought by the church.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very in-depth look at the Antichrist. Have always been fascinated by the ever 'morphing' form of the Antichrist; it seems as if (as the times change) he changes to fit into the newest narrative of ultimate confrontation. Saint Hippolytus traces his origin and evolution through scripture. Although there was much I did not understand in that tracing I found this book to be a fascinating read.