The Refutation of All Heresies Volume 1

by Hippolytus of Rome

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 edition. Excerpt: ... light the regeneration that had been introduced into this number by that illustrious one who had appeared. Whence also he says that the double letters1 involve the remarkable number. For the illustrious number, being intermingled with the twenty-four elements, produced the name consisting of the thirty letters. Chapter Xliii. Letters, Symbols of the Heavens. He has, however, employed the instrumentality of the aggregate of the seven numbers, in order that the result of the self-devised counsel2 might be manifested. Understand, he says, for the present, that remarkable number to be Him who was formed by the illustrious one, and who was, as it were, divided, and remained outside. And He, through both His Own power and wisdom, by means of the projection of Himself, imparted, in imitation of the seven powers,3 animation to this world, so as to make it consist of seven powers, and constituted this world the soul of the visible universe. And therefore this one has resorted to such an operation as what was spontaneously undertaken by Himself; and these minister,4 inasmuch as they are imitations of things inimitable, unto the intelligence of the Mother. And the first heaven sounds Alpha,5 and the one after that Epsilon, and some read vpxyftttrei. 2 Supplied from Irenseus. 3 This should be altered into Hebdomad if we follow Irenseus. 4 ratis 1iaxvnii. This is the text of Irenseus, and corrects the common reading, -ra 8/ f!xovan. 6 Q6i-y/irxi (Irenseus). The common reading is t the third Eta, and the fourth, even that in the midst of the seven vowels, enunciates the power of Iota, and the fifth of Omicron, and the sixth of Upsilon, and the seventh and fourth from the central1 one, Omega. And all the powers, when they are connected together in one, .

164 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 220

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.

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[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly the greatest written work of all time.