Dan Attrell

Against the Valentinians - Tertullian

Added 2023-07-16 20:29:40 +0000 UTC

From “The Ante-Nicene Fathers” (1903)
Translated by Alexander Roberts

In "Against the Valentinians," the early Latin Christian writer and theologian Tertullian sardonically addresses and refutes the teachings of the Gnostic sect who followed in the footsteps of Valentinus (c. AD 100 – c. 180), a prominent teacher of gnosis who founded his school in Rome.

Tertullian's work serves as a critical response to the Valentinians' complex cosmology, their understanding of the divine, and their interpretation of scripture. He argues against their claims of possessing secret knowledge (gnosis) and their unique interpretation of Christian doctrines, such as the nature of Christ, the Creator (Demiurge), and the origins of evil. Throughout the treatise, Tertullian challenges the Valentinians' teachings and exposes what he perceives as inconsistencies, contradictions, and deviations from orthodox Christian beliefs.

PDF available here: https://archive.org/details/antenicenefathe03menzgoog/page/n6/mode/2up