Theognostus of Alexandria
Encyclopedia
Theognostus was a late 3rd century Alexandria
n theologian. He is known from quotes by Athanasius and Photios I of Constantinople. Philip of Side
says that he presided over the school of Alexandria after Pierius
(AD 265). Although a disciple of Origen of Alexandria no reference of him can be found by Eusebius or Jerome
. The main textual point of reference is derived from Athanasius.
;
the Son
is spoken of as a creature, which is to say a created being.
In book three his references to the Spirit
are unorthodox and reminiscent of Origen
. In book five he spoke of angel
s and devils
as embodied
.
In books six and seven he treated the Incarnation
in a more orthodox manner than book two, and Athanasius regarded him as a useful witness against Arianism
. Under the influence of Origen of Alexandria Theognostus expounded on the trinity, divine redemption and the afterlife. His work was very much in line with the Chrisitian Hellenistic philosophy prevalent within the school of Alexandria at the time.
Much of his theology would later be adopted by Gregory of Nyssa
. The fragments of Theognostus are collected in Martin Joseph Routh
's Reliquiae Sacrae 3:407–422. Translations into English can be found in the Ante-Nicene Fathers
(available at WikiSource
). Most of the 2nd book was later published in 1902 by Franz Diekamp.
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
n theologian. He is known from quotes by Athanasius and Photios I of Constantinople. Philip of Side
Philip of Side
Philip of Side or Philip Sidetes , a historian of the early Christian church, was born at Side, the ancient Greek Iconium, Pamphylia . He wrote a Christian history of which fragments survive...
says that he presided over the school of Alexandria after Pierius
Pierius
Pierius was a Christian priest and probably head of the catechetical school of Alexandria, conjointly with Achillas. He flourished while Theonas was bishop of Alexandria, and died at Rome after 309. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him on 4 November....
(AD 265). Although a disciple of Origen of Alexandria no reference of him can be found by Eusebius or Jerome
Jerome
Saint Jerome was a Roman Christian priest, confessor, theologian and historian, and who became a Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, which was on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia...
. The main textual point of reference is derived from Athanasius.
Works
He wrote a seven-volume work called Hypotyposes, extant at the time of Photius' quotation. Some of the more notable quotations of book two appear ArianArianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
;
the Son
God the Son
God the Son is the second person of the Trinity in Christian theology. The doctrine of the Trinity identifies Jesus of Nazareth as God the Son, united in essence but distinct in person with regard to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit...
is spoken of as a creature, which is to say a created being.
In book three his references to the Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
are unorthodox and reminiscent of Origen
Origen
Origen , or Origen Adamantius, 184/5–253/4, was an early Christian Alexandrian scholar and theologian, and one of the most distinguished writers of the early Church. As early as the fourth century, his orthodoxy was suspect, in part because he believed in the pre-existence of souls...
. In book five he spoke of angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s and devils
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
as embodied
Body
With regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
.
In books six and seven he treated the Incarnation
Incarnation
Incarnation literally means embodied in flesh or taking on flesh. It refers to the conception and birth of a sentient creature who is the material manifestation of an entity, god or force whose original nature is immaterial....
in a more orthodox manner than book two, and Athanasius regarded him as a useful witness against Arianism
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
. Under the influence of Origen of Alexandria Theognostus expounded on the trinity, divine redemption and the afterlife. His work was very much in line with the Chrisitian Hellenistic philosophy prevalent within the school of Alexandria at the time.
Much of his theology would later be adopted by Gregory of Nyssa
Gregory of Nyssa
St. Gregory of Nyssa was a Christian bishop and saint. He was a younger brother of Basil the Great and a good friend of Gregory of Nazianzus. His significance has long been recognized in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Catholic and Roman Catholic branches of Christianity...
. The fragments of Theognostus are collected in Martin Joseph Routh
Martin Joseph Routh
Martin Joseph Routh was an English classical scholar and President of Magdalen College, Oxford .-Life:...
's Reliquiae Sacrae 3:407–422. Translations into English can be found in the Ante-Nicene Fathers
Ante-Nicene Fathers
The Ante-Nicene Fathers, subtitled "The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325", is a collection of books in 10 volumes containing English translations of the majority of Early Christian writings. The period covers the beginning of Christianity until before the promulgation of the Nicene Creed...
(available at WikiSource
Wikisource
Wikisource is an online digital library of free content textual sources on a wiki, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aims are to host all forms of free text, in many languages, and translations. Originally conceived as an archive to store useful or important historical texts, it has...
). Most of the 2nd book was later published in 1902 by Franz Diekamp.
Exegetical writings
Hypotypōseis: The seven books known in Greek as the "Outlines" a title given by Photios I of Constantinople is considered to be Theognostus' principal work. Themes include:- Book I Creation
- Book II The Divinity of Christ
- Book III The Holy Spirit
- Book IV Angels and Devils
- Books VI & V The Divinity of God
- Book VII A return to creation.
External links
- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06001a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia
- Mbs Manuscripits http://mb-soft.com/believe/txua/theognos.htm
- Heartlight's http://www.searchgodsword.org/his/ad/ecf/ant/theognostusofalexandria/
Literature
- Ceillier, RemyRémy CeillierDom Rémy Ceillier was a Benedictine monk of the Lorraine Congregation of St. Vanne. He was the compiler of an immense Histoire générale des auteurs sacrés et ecclésiastiques , being a history and analysis of the writings of all the ecclesiastical writers of the first thirteen centuries...
. Histoire Générale des Auteurs Sacrés et Ecclesiastiques (General History of Sacred and Ecclesiastical Authors) 2:450. - Migne, Jacques PaulJacques Paul MigneJacques Paul Migne was a French priest who published inexpensive and widely-distributed editions of theological works, encyclopedias and the texts of the Church Fathers, with the goal of providing a universal library for the Catholic priesthood.He was born at Saint-Flour, Cantal and studied...
. Patrologia GraecaPatrologia GraecaThe Patrologia Graeca is an edited collection of writings by the Christian Church Fathers and various secular writers, in the ancient Koine or medieval variants of the Greek language. It consists of 161 volumes produced in 1857–1866 by J. P. Migne's Imprimerie Catholique...
(Works of the Greek Fathers) 10:235–242. - Martin Joseph RouthMartin Joseph RouthMartin Joseph Routh was an English classical scholar and President of Magdalen College, Oxford .-Life:...
Reliquiae Sacrae 2nd ed - Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 4. Edited by Philip Schaff.
- The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Alexander Roberts Vol 6 (1885)