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Refutation of All Heresies
St Hippolytus of Rome, ANF 5
Book 4, Mention of the Heretic Colarbasus; Alliance Between Heresy and the Pythagorean…
Certain, adhering partly to these, as if having propounded great conclusions, and supposed things worthy of reason, have framed enormous and endless heresies; and one of these is Colarbasus,1 who attempts to explain religion by measures and numbers. And others there are (who act) in like manner, whose tenets we shall explain when we commence to speak of what concerns those who give heed to Pythagorean calculation as possible; and uttering vain prophecies, hastily assume2 as secure the philosophy by numbers and elements. Now certain (speculators), appropriating3 similar reasonings from these, deceive unsophisticated individuals, alleging themselves endued with foresight;4 sometimes, after uttering many predictions, happening on a single fulfilment, and not abashed by many failures, but making their boast in this one. Neither shall I pass over the witless philosophy of these men; but, after explaining it, I shall prove that those who attempt to form a system of religion out of these (aforesaid elements), are disciples of a school5 weak and full of knavery.
Notes
- Colarbasus is afterwards mentioned in company with Marcus the heretic, at the beginning and end of book vi of The Refutation.
- This word (σλεοιαζουσι), more than once used by Hippolytus, is applied to anything done offhand, e.g., an extempore speech. It therefore might be made to designate immaturity of opinion. Σχεδιαmeans something hastily put together, viz., a raft; σχεοιος, sudden.
- Schneidewin suggests ομως instead of οιμοιως. The word (εηανισαμενοι) translated “appropriating” is derived from ερανος, which signifies a meal to which those who partake of it have each contributed some dish (pic-nic). The term, therefore, is an expressive one for Hippolytus’ purpose.
- προψνωστικους. Some would read προς ψνωστκους.
- Some propose δοξης. “opinion.” Hippolytus, however, used the word οιζης (translated “school”) in a similar way at the end of chap. i. of book iv. “Novelty” is read instead of “knavery;” and for αναπλεου, “full,” is proposed (1) αναπλεοντας, (a) αναπτερουντας.