Library › St Hippolytus of Rome › Refutation of All Heresies

Refutation of All Heresies

St Hippolytus of Rome, ANF 5

Book 6, 43. 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 (counsel)¹ 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,² 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 all operation as what was spontaneously undertaken by Himself; and these minister,³ inasmuch as they are imitations of things inimitable, unto the intelligence of the Mother. And the first heaven sounds Alpha,⁴ and the one after that E [psilon], and the third Eta, and the fourth, even that in the midst of the seven (vowels, enunciates) the power of Iota, and the fifth of O [micron], and the sixth of U [psilon], and the seventh and fourth from the central⁵ one, O [mega]. And all the powers, when they are connected together in one, emit a sound, and glorify that (Being) from whom they have been projected. And the glory of that sound is transmitted upwards to the Progenitor. And furthermore, he says that the sound of this ascription of glory being conveyed to the earth, became a creator and producer of terrestrial objects. And (he maintains) that the proof of this (may be drawn) from the case of infants recently born, whose soul, simultaneously with exit from the womb utters similarly this sound of each one of the elements. As, then, he says, the seven powers glorify the Logos, so also does the sorrowing soul in babes (magnify Him).⁶ And on account of this, he says, David likewise has declared, “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise.”⁷ And again, “The heavens declare the glory of God.”⁸ When,⁹ however, the soul is involved in hardships, it utters no other exclamation than the O [mega], inasmuch as it is afflicted in order that the soul above, becoming aware of what is akin to herself (below), may send down one to help this (earthly soul).

Notes

Ps. viii. 2.
Ps. xix. 1.
Hippolytus here omits some passages which are to be found in Irenaeus.
Literally, “being twice two:” πνμε for ουσαι read ουσιαι. Irenaeus has επι δυο ουσαι, i.e., “which being (added) into two.”
Hippolytus has only the word “twenty-four,” to which Schneidewin supplies “letters,” and Irenaeus” forms,” as given above. Hippolytus likewise omits the word “produced,” which Irenaeus supplies. The text of the latter is τας εικοσετεσσαρας απεκυησαν μορφας.
Irenaeus adds, “which being added together, I mean the twice five and twice seven, complete the number of the twenty-four (forms).”
The parenthetical words had fallen into a wrong part of the sentence, and are placed here by Schneidewin.
This is a correction for “expressed” from Irenaeus. Marcus observes the distinction afterwards.
κατα εν γραμματων. The ms.. has εγγραματων. Irenaeus omits these words.