Early Heresy – Part 4
February 23, 2003
Dear Friends,
This week we begin by examining the influence on the church of a man known as Plotinus (205-270 AD). What makes Plotinus very different from those who we have examined so far is that Plotinus had no claims to being a Christian at all. Plotinus is considered by many to be the last “great” philosopher of the pagan world. This mantle would be assumed from this point forward by Christian thinkers. The reason Plotinus is so important is that one of his star pupils was Origen and his home base was in Alexandria. Origen and the school at Alexandria would significantly influence Christian thinking up until this day.
Plotinus was the student of the philosopher Ammonius Saccas, a former Christian who had converted to paganism. Ammonius Saccas was attempting to reconcile Christianity and Platonism – a feat later accomplished by Origen.
Plotinus concluded that everything has a soul. He taught the Hindu notion of the transmigration of the soul which can go from lower to higher or higher to lower according to the moral success of the past life. Plotinus said “The soul will see divinity as far as it is lawful…and she will see herself illuminated, full of intellectual light; or rather, she will perceive herself to be a pure light, unburdened, agile, and becoming god.” (1)
Plotinus said that God was a “triad” of unity (Gr. hen), reason (Gr. nous) and soul (Gr. psyche). Yet, all of these three were one. According to the noted historian Will Durant, “Christianity accepted almost every line of him, many a page of Augustine echoes the ecstasy of the supreme mystic. Through Philo, John, Plotinus, and Augustine, Plato conquered Aristotle, and entered into the profoundest theology of the Church. The gap between philosophy and religion was closing, and reason for a thousand years consented to be the handmaiden of theology.” (2)
Another of Origen’s teachers was Clement of Alexandria (115-215 AD). He started the famous school of theology in Alexandria, Egypt. Clement emphasized the divine nature of Christ. This same school produced “Saint” Cyril and “Saint” Athanasius of the Council of Nicaea fame.
Before we jump into Origen and further developments on the theological front, however, let’s take a moment to reflect on what has been happening on the political front of the developing church. The humble, servant leaders of the first century has slowly given way to the professional, political bishops. Coincidentally, the bishop of Rome had become more powerful with each passing decade. One of the first bishops in Rome who tried to assert authority over all of Christendom was “Saint” Callistus (160-222 AD). Callistus had begun life as a slave, become a banker and eventually sentenced to prison for embezzlement. On his release, he started a riot in a synagogue and was again sentenced to prison. Escaping from prison via an administrative mistake, he comes into the employ of the current bishop of Rome, Zephyrinus. Upon Zephyrinus death, Callistus is named pope. Other Christian leaders proclaimed him unfit to hold the office upon which Callistus had them excommunicated. Callistus “vigorously asserted the supreme authority of the Roman see over all Christendom.” (3) The church was basing its political system on the political model of the Roman Empire. “By the middle of the third century the position and resources of the papacy were so strong that Decius vowed he would rather have a rival emperor at Rome than a pope.” (4)
Next week, Lord willing, we will take a look at Origen and Constantine and start drawing our conclusions to the question.
Have a great week!
(1) Will Durant, Caesar and Christ, (1944), Simon & Schuster, p. 609
(2) Ibid. p. 611
(3) Ibid., p. 618
(4) Ibid., p.618
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