Of Porphyry: DATING Gnostic Lineage, Teachers, Schools

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billd89
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Of Porphyry: DATING Gnostic Lineage, Teachers, Schools

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S. McKenna's translation of Porphyry: On the Life of Plotinus and the Arrangement of his Work from Plotinus: The Enneads
Many Christians of this period {262-68 AD} --amongst them sectaries {b.210-220 AD} who had abandoned the old philosophy, men of the schools {c.230-240 AD} of Adelphius {c.170-230 AD?} and Aquilinus {c.180-240 AD} --had possessed themselves of works by Alexander of Libya {c.140-200 AD}, by Philocomus, by Demostratus, and by Lydus, and exhibited also Revelations bearing the names of Zoroaster, Zostrianus, Nicotheus, Allogenes, Mesus, and others of that order. Thus they fooled many, themselves fooled first; Plato, according to them, had failed to penetrate into the depth of Intellectual Being.

Plotinus fequently attacked their position at the Conferences and finally wrote the treatise which I have headed Against the Gnostics: he left to us of the circle the task of examining what he himself passed over. Amelius {c.220-85 AD} proceeded as far as a fortieth treatise in refutation {c.265 AD} of the book of Zostrianus {265 AD - 60yrs = c.205 AD or older}: I myself have shown on many counts that the Zoroastrian volume is spurious and modern, concocted by the sectaries in order to pretend that the doctrines they had embraced were those of the ancient sage.

Hypothetically, where 1 generation = 30 years, a few Gnostics & *Philosophers* or **Churchmen**
c. 20 AD: Proto-Gnostic- Judeo-Hermetic, mystical Judaism, Neo-Pythagoreanism. Late Logos/Philonic & Early Christos?
c. 38-70 AD: Early Gnostic- Judeo-Hermetic, Judaic mystical/Late Philonic; Christos Phase & Early Apostlic Age.

c. 20 AD: 0 Generation ........ *Philo, Age 40?*; last Therapeutae? Age 50/25. Anon. Poimandres c.Age 45?
c. 50 AD: 1st Generation ...... Cerinthus, Age 40? **Apollos, 30** {Christos-Jesus Phase, Middle Apostlic Age.}
c. 80 AD: 2nd Gen "Gnostic" ...**Theudas Age 40??** Saturninus, 30?? {Jesus Christianity, Late Apostlic Age.}
c.110 AD: 3rd Gen "Gnostic" ... Basilides, Age 45 {c.135 AD Age 70}; Cerdo c.35; Anon.ApJohn c.30?;
c.140 AD: 4th Gen "Gnostic" ... Numenius, c.56; Valentinus, 45; Ptolemy, 25; **Melito, 30.**; Peregrinus, 45.
c.170 AD: 5th Gen "Gnostic" ... Apelles c.Age 50; Heracleon c.45; Alexander of Libya, c.40; **Irenaeus c.40**
c.200 AD: 6th Gen "Gnostic" ... *Adelphius & Aquilinus, c. Age 30*; **Hippolytus of Rome, c.30** **Tertullian, 45**
c.230 AD: 7th Gen "Gnostic" ... *Plotinus, Age 25*; Nicotheus c.45; Ammonius Saccas, c.55; **Origen, 46**
c.260 AD: 8th Gen "Gnostic" ... *Porphyry, Age 27*; Marsanes, c.40; Longinus, c.45
c.290 AD: 9th Gen "Gnostic" ... *Iamblichus, Age 45*.
c.320 AD: 10th Gen "Gnostic"... *Theodorus of Asine, Age 45*. **Eusebius, 55.**
c.350 AD: 11th Gen "Gnostic"...
c.380 AD: 12th Gen "Gnostic"... Pseudo-Dionysius, c.Age 48.
c.410 AD: 13th Gen "Gnostic"... Syrianus, c.Age 38.
c.440 AD: 14th Gen "Gnostic"... Proclus, Age 28
c.470 AD: 15th Gen "Gnostic"... Ammonius?

Adelphius and Aquilinus, unknown names; probably philosophers & peers w/ 6th generation Roman Valentinians; see Tardieu (1992, 519–520); Schmidt (1900, 49–50). By context, the "old philosophy"/schools of Adelphius and Aquilinus were founded 2 generations earlier, - 60 yrs = 205-215 AD.

The "Xian sectaries" had studied in the established School(s) of A. & A. decades earlier (c.230-240 AD). They should have been born c.200-210 AD, so = Age 50-60 when Porphyry describes them (c.265 AD).

They -elderly Gnostic sectarians- had abandoned an "old philosophy" (Neo-Platonism?) for smthg different: Gnostic Christianity. Given that works did not circulate quickly, but that this audience was exceptionally focused, the following authors must be considered 1-2 generations prior (c.200-230 AD), material 2 generations after Valentinus.

Alexander of Libya: "He was one of the most renowned Valentinian teachers of the 3rd C. AD. He is mentioned by both the orthodox writer Tertullian and the pagan philosopher Porphyry. Based on what Tertullian says of him, Alexander's Christology is rather similar to that of Ptolemy {c.160 AD}. None of his writings survive."

Alexander is a 2nd or 3rd generation Valentinian. If Alexander Age 30 studied under Ptolemy in 160 AD, he was born 130 AD and died c.200 AD. His works were probably popular w/ Porphyry's Xians +50yrs after Alexander's composition (c.170-190 AD).

Philokomos: Rome? c.200 AD?
Demostratus: Lydia, c.200 AD?
Lydus:

"and exhibited also Revelations bearing the names of ..." suggests OLDER Apocalyptic material, formerly unknown, unpopular or dubious works.

Zoroaster
Zostrianos: wiki "John D. Turner of the University of Nebraska writes concerning its date: "... one may date Allogenes around 200 C.E., with Zostrianos coming a bit later around 225 C.E. (Porphyry certainly recognized it as a spurious and recent work)."
Nicotheus: c.215 AD
Allogenes: c.200 AD?
Mesus
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