Bishop Irenaeus (140? – 200?)

The Gnostics According to Irenaeus They teach a sacred myth that explains who God is, how the world came to be, how sin came into the world, and how God is acting to save people. God consists of several aspects or divine emanations called aeons. They base their teachings on Genesis and other books of the Jewish Bible. The God of Genesis, the creator of the world, is not the true God. He is named Yaldabaoth and he runs the universe like arrogant, ignorant, and evil tyrant. He is the ruler of an entire set of malevolent beings. Jesus came into the world to save people and will gather the souls of the saved at the end of time.

Adam, Eve, and the Serpent Retold Yaldabaoth didn’t want Adam and Eve to gain spiritual knowledge or Gnosis so he forbade them to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The eagle persuaded Adam and Eve to eat so that they would gain true spiritual knowledge. As human beings continued to seek true spiritual knowledge, Yaldabaoth grew jealous of their devotion to a higher God. This is why he destroyed them in the flood. The true God saved Noah and his family and began life on earth anew.

A Cast of Characters Ennoia: Thought, Barbelo, Mother, the first of the eons Pronoia – Forethought Protonoia – First Thought Epinoia – Afterthought. She appears late to rectify the faults of creation. She awakens hidden knowledge as a means of rectifying ignorance and forgetfulness. Sophia Yaldabaoth

Primary and Secondary Structure The One, Father, Invisible Virgin Spirit Barbelo, Forethought, Providence Foreknowledge Incorruptibility Everlasting Life Truth Four Aeons in male-female pairs

Son, Christ, Divine Autogenes, Self-Originate Tertiary Structure Son, Christ, Divine Autogenes, Self-Originate Harmozel The perfect human Grace Truth Form Oriel Seth Conceptualization - Epinoia Perception Memory In all – 12 aeons in male-female pairs

Tertiary Structure - continued Daveithai The children of Seth Understanding Love Idea Eleleth Those who eventually repented Perfection Peace Wisdom (Sophia)

The Crisis That Became the World Wisdom Yaldabaoth Seven authorities reigning over the seven spheres of Heaven Five Authorities reigning over the five depths of Hell 365 more demons

“Behold, the man has become like one of us knowing good and evil: and now lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life and live forever” -- Genesis 3:22