Traduction Masquer
Against the Valentinians

Chapter XXXVII.--Other Turgid and Ridiculous Theories About the Origin of the Aeons and Creation, Stated and Condemned.

Now listen to some other buffooneries ¹ of a master who is a great swell among them, ² and who has pronounced his dicta with an even priestly authority. They run thus: There comes, says he, before all things Pro-arche, the inconceivable, and indescribable, and nameless, which I for my own part call Monotes (Solitude). With this was associated another power, to which also I give the name of Henotes (Unity). Now, inasmuch as Monotes and Henotes--that is to say, Solitude and Union--were only one being, they produced, and yet not in the way of production, ³ the intellectual, innascible, invisible beginning of all things, which human language ⁴ has called Monad (Solitude). ⁵ This has inherent in itself a consubstantial force, which it calls Unity ⁶ These powers, accordingly, Solitude or Solitariness, and Unity, or Union, propagated all the other emanations of Aeons. ⁷ Wonderful distinction, to be sure! Whatever change Union and Unity may undergo, Solitariness and Solitude is profoundly supreme. Whatever designation you give the power, it is one and the same.

Edition Masquer
Adversus Valentinianos

37

[1] accipe alia ingenia circulatoria insignioris apud eos magistri qui et pontificali sua auctoritate in hunc modum censuit: “est (inquit) ante omnia Proarche inexcogitabile et inenarrabile innominabile quod ego nomino Monoteta. cum hac erit alia virtus quam et ipsam appello Honoteta. [2] Monotes et Henotes, id est Solitas et Unitas, cum unum essent protulerunt non proferentes initium omnium intellectuale innascibile invisibile quod Sermo Monada vocavit. huic adest consubstantiva virtus quam appellat Unionem. hae igitur virtutes, Solitas, Unitas Singularitas, Unio, ceteras prolationes Aeonum propagarunt.” o differentia, mutetur Unio et Unitas et Singularitas et Solitas quaqua designaveris — unum est.