§ 1.
And besides these, from among those whom we have before mentioned as followers of Simon, a multitude of Gnostics hath arisen, and they have shewn themselves like mushrooms from the ground: whose opinions, the chief among them, we proceed to state. Some of them suppose a certain Æon, undecaying, with a virgin Spirit, whom they name Barbelo. And they say that he hath a1 certain Father who may not be named; and that He was fain to manifest Himself to the said Barbelo. And that Thought came forth and stood before Him, and asked Foreknowledge. And Foreknowledge also having come forth, again upon their petition came forth Incorruption; then afterwards Life Eternal: in all whom Barbelo rejoicing, and growing2 in greatness and delighted with her conception3 produced besides it a Light like unto it. Her they affirm to be the beginning of enlightening and of production to all things. And that the Father seeing this Light, anointed it with His mercy to make it perfect. And this, they say, is Christ: who again requests, as they say, that Mind may be given to help Him; and there came forth Mind. And after these the Father sends forth the Word. And conjunctions are to be made of Thought and the Word, and of Incorruption and Christ; and immortal Life too is conjoined unto Will, and Mind unto Foreknowledge. And these were magnifying the Great Light, and Barbelo.
§ 2.
Then afterwards, of Mind and the Word they say was sent forth the Self-Begotten, to represent the Great Light; and that he was highly honoured, and all things made subject unto him. And that Truth was sent out with him, and that there is a conjugation of the Self-Begotten and of Truth. And from the Light which is Christ, and Incorruption, four luminaries were sent forth to wait upon the Self-Begotten: and that from Will, again, and Life Everlasting four such processes took place, to minister under the four Luminaries: the fruit of which they name, Grace, Free-will, Understanding, Prudence. And that Grace for its part was conjoined with the great and first Luminary; and this they will have to be the Saviour, and call him Harmogenes; but Free-will with the second, whom also they name Raguel: and Understanding with the third Luminary, whom they name David; and Prudence with the fourth which they name Eleleth.
§ 3.
All things then being thus established, in addition to these the Self-Begotten produces a Perfect and True Man, whom they also call Adamant, because he is neither overcome himself, nor those from whom he was: who is also removed, with the First Light, from Harmogenes. And that with Man was produced from the Self-Begotten Perfect Knowledge, and was joined to him (whence also he acknowledged Him That is above all): that unconquered might also was given him of the Virginal Spirit: and that all these refresh themselves with hymning the great Æon. And hence they say was manifested the Mother, the Father, the Son: and that from Man and Knowledge was born the Tree, which itself also they call Knowledge.
§ 4.
Afterwards from the first Angel, who stands by the Only Begotten, was produced, they say, the Holy Spirit: whom they call also wisdom, and Prunicos. He then seeing all besides having some partnership, but himself without partner, sought one to whom he might be united; and finding none, persisted, and spread himself out, and looked out towards the lower regions, thinking there to find a consort: and not finding any, sprang out, annoyed also, because it had made an effort without the Father’s good-will. Then afterwards, led by simplicity and affection, it produced a work in which was ignorance and boldness. And this work they say was the First Beginner, the framer of this Creation: and they relate that he took from his mother great power, and departed from her into the lower parts, and made the firmament of Heaven, wherein also they say he dwells. And being Ignorance, he made the Powers which are under him, and the Angels, and firmaments, and all earthly things. Then they say that he being conjoined with Self-will, produced Vice, Jealousy, and Envy, and Fury, and Concupiscence. And these being born, the Mother Wisdom fled away in sadness, and retired into the higher places, and becomes to those who number it from below a Cycle of Eight. She therefore departing, that he thought himself alone, and said accordingly, I am a Jealous God, and there is none beside Me. And they indeed utter such lies.