Against Noetus
c. 200–210
Contra Noetum
Hippolytus against the heresy of Noetus on the distinction of Father and Son. English in the Ante-Nicene Fathers.
Translated by J.H. MacMahon
English translation in Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V (eds. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson; Buffalo: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886). Public domain. Digital text via New Advent Church Fathers.
Contents
- 1. Some others are secretly introducing another doctrine
- 2. Now they seek to exhibit the foundation for their dogma by citing the word in the law
- 3. In this way, then, they choose to set forth these things, and they make use only of one class of
- 4. Let us, as I said, see how he is confuted, and then let us set forth the truth.
- 5. But what is meant, says he, in the other passage: This is God, and there shall none other be
- 6. Let us look next at the apostle's word: Whose are the fathers
- 7. If, again, he allege His own word when He said, I and the Father are one, let him attend to the
- 8. Many other passages, or rather all of them, attest the truth.
- 9. There is, brethren, one God, the knowledge of whom we gain from the Holy Scriptures, and from no other source.
- 10. God, subsisting alone, and having nothing contemporaneous with Himself, determined to create the world.
- 11. And thus there appeared another beside Himself. But when I say another
- 12. Acting then in these (prophets)
- 13. Now Jeremiah says, Who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and has perceived His Word?
- 14. These things then, brethren, are declared by the Scriptures.
- 15. But some one will say to me
- 16. And these indeed are testimonies bearing on the incarnation of the Word; and there are also very many others.
- 17. These testimonies are sufficient for the believing who study truth
- 18. Thus then, too, though demonstrated as God, He does not refuse the conditions proper to Him as man