Simon Magus | Page 2

II.--A Review of Authorities.

III.--The Theosophy of Simon.


PART I.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
Our sources of information fall under three heads: I. The Simon of the
New Testament; II. The Simon of the Fathers; III. The Simon of the
Legends.
I.--The Simon of the New Testament.
Acts (viii. 9-24); author and date unknown; commonly supposed to be
"by the author of the third gospel, traditionally known as Luke";[1] not
quoted prior to A.D. 177;[2] earliest MS. not older than the sixth
century, though some contend for the third.
II.--The Simon of the Fathers.
i. Justinus Martyr (Apologia, I. 26, 56; Apologia, II. 15; _Dialogus cum
Tryphone_, 120); probable date of First Apology A.D. 141; neither the
date of the birth nor death of Justin is known; MS. fourteenth century.
ii. Irenaeus (Contra Haereses, I. xxiii. 1-4); chief literary activity last
decennium of the second century; MSS. probably sixth, seventh, and
eighth centuries; date of birth and death unknown, for the former any
time from A.D. 97-147 suggested, for latter 202-3.
iii. Clemens Alexandrinus (Stromateis, ii. 11; vii. 17); greatest literary
activity A.D. 190-203; born 150-160, date of death unknown; oldest
MS. eleventh century.
iv. Tertullianus (De Praescriptionibus adversus Haereticos, 46,
generally attributed to a Pseudo-Tertullian); c. A.D. 199; (De Anima,

34, 36); c. A.D. 208-9; born 150-160, died 220-240.
v. [Hippolytus (?)] (Philosophumena, vi. 7-20); date unknown,
probably last decade of second to third of third century; author
unknown and only conjecturally Hippolytus; MS. fourteenth century.
vi. Origenes (Contra Celsum, i. 57; v. 62; vi. 11); born A.D. 185-6,
died 254-5; MS. fourteenth century.
vii. Philastrius (De Haeresibus); date of birth unknown, died probably
A.D. 387.
viii. Epiphanius (Contra Haereses, ii. 1-6); born A.D. 310-20, died 404;
MS. eleventh century.
ix. Hieronymus (Commentarium in Evangelicum Matthaei, IV. xxiv. 5);
written A.D. 387.
x. Theodoretus (Hereticarum Fabularum Compendium, i. 1); born
towards the end of the fourth century, died A.D. 453-58; MS. eleventh
century.
III.--The Simon of the Legends.
A. The so-called Clementine literature.
i. Recognitiones, 2. Homiliae, of which the Greek originals are lost, and
the Latin translation of Rufinus (born c.A.D. 345, died 410) alone
remains to us. The originals are placed by conjecture somewhere about
the beginning of the third century; MS. eleventh century.
B. A mediaeval account; (Constitutiones Sanctorum Apostolorum, VI.
vii, viii, xvi); these were never heard of prior to 1546, when a Venetian,
Carolus Capellus, printed an epitomized translation of them from an
MS. found in Crete. They are hopelessly apocryphal.
* * * * *
I.--The Simon of the New Testament.

Acts (viii. 9-24). Text: The Greek Testament (with the readings adopted
by the revisers of the authorized version); Oxford, 1881.
Now a certain fellow by name Simon had been previously in the city
practising magic and driving the people of Samaria out of their wits,
saying that he was some great one; to whom all from small to great
gave heed, saying: "This man is the Power of God which is called
Great." And they gave heed to him, owing to his having driven them
out of their wits for a long time by his magic arts. But when they
believed on Philip preaching about the Kingdom of God and the Name
of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women. And
Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized remained
constantly with Philip; and was driven out of his wits on seeing the
signs and great wonders[3] that took place.
And the apostles in Jerusalem hearing that Samaria had received the
Word of God, sent Peter and John to them. And they went down and
prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet it
had not fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized unto
the Name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
And when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given by the laying on
of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money, saying: "Give unto
me also this power, in order that on whomsoever I lay my hands he
may receive the Holy Spirit."
But Peter said unto him: "Thy silver perish with thee, in that thou didst
think that the gift of God is possessed with money. There is not for thee
part or lot in this Word, for thy heart is not right before God. Therefore
turn from this evil of thine, and pray the Lord, if by chance the thought
of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. For I see that thou art in the gall of
bitterness and the bond of iniquity."
And Simon answered and said: "Pray ye on my behalf to the Lord, that
none of the things that ye