Jean Magne's interpretation of Hippolytus, Elenchos V
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2022 5:55 am
Jean Magne thinks that the following passage:
(pseudo-Hippolytus, Elenchos, V)
...is not a mere description by pseudo-Hippolytus of what the Serpentists thought.
It has to be interpreted, rather, assuming a climax-effect at the end:
Herod.
NOT Pilate.
This Serpent — they say — is Cain whose sacrifice the God of this world did not accept, while he accepted the bloody one of Abel because — according to them — the despot of this world enjoys blood. Furthermore, this Serpent last appeared in the form of a man in the time of Herod ...
(pseudo-Hippolytus, Elenchos, V)
...is not a mere description by pseudo-Hippolytus of what the Serpentists thought.
It has to be interpreted, rather, assuming a climax-effect at the end:
- before the Serpentists believed that the Serpent is Cain etc etc etc
- ...after, i.e. in recent times, the Serpentists invented a story where the Serpent appeared on the earth in human form.
Herod.
NOT Pilate.