§ 1.
And others again say that Cain is from that higher princely nature; and Esau, and Core, and the Sodomites, and all such they own for kinsmen: and therefore they being warred against by the Creator, none of them, they say, is ill received. For whatsoever in them was her own, and of her, Wisdom kept snatching away to herself. And these things they say were accurately known to Judas the traitor, and that he alone above all the rest being aware of the truth, accomplished the mystery of betrayal: and by him they say that all things both earthly and heavenly are dissolved. And they allege a forgery to this effect, calling it Judas’ Gospel.
§ 2.
Once also I collected passages from their writings, in which they exhort men to dissolve the works of the womb (now The womb is one of their Names for the Maker of Heaven and Earth): for that they are no otherwise saved than by passing through all deeds;1 as Carpocrates too said. And that in every sin and base work an Angel is present; and that he who does it ventures on such daring and brings in his uncleanness (which thing is an ingredient in such doings) in the name of an Angel, and says, “O thou Angel, I make use of thy work: O thou Power,” (naming it) “I fulfil thine operation.” And that this is perfect knowledge, to pass without fear into such doings, as it is impious even to name.
§ 3.
From such their mothers and fathers and ancestors, it was needful evidently to refute those who belong to Valentinus, according to the shewing of their opinions and maxims themselves; and to bring forward their doctrines, if haply any of them doing penance2 and turning to the one only Creator and God, Maker of the Universe, may be saved: and that other persons may not go on to be drawn away by their evil enticement, as resembling the truth, imagining that they are to know from them some greater and higher mystery; but learning of us for good what they teach for evil, may laugh at their doctrine, and pity their persons, who while yet in these most wretched and ever changing fables have acquired so great haughtiness, as to think themselves better than all others on account of such knowledge, or rather ignorance. However, this is their delight, or rather it is the victory over them, simply to make known their opinions.
§ 4.
We therefore have endeavoured to bring before men the whole dainty frame of this ill assorted cub of a fox3, and through thee to make it known. For not many words will now be requisite to overturn their doctrine, made known to all. As when some wild beast is hidden in a wood, and thence makes assaults, and lays many waste; he who separates off the wood, and lays it bare, and hath brought the beast itself into sight, is not used to take any more pains for capturing it, now that men perceive that such an one is the beast in question: for of themselves they may see and avoid its assaults, and aim darts on every side, and wound and kill that wasteful monster: So we too, now that we have brought their secrets into the light, and the mysteries which they keep silent among themselves, shall not need many words to overthrow their doctrine. For thou art able and all that are with thee, to try your strength against the things which have been now set forth, and to overthrow their wicked and uncouth doctrines, and to prove the statements which belong to the Truth.
Such then being the case; as I have promised, we will subjoin that which will subvert them, according to our ability, speaking against them all, in the next book. For our statement runs to a great length, as thou seest. And we will also furnish resources for overthrowing them, meeting all their opinions in the same order in which we have stated them; that we may not only discover the wild beast, but wound him also on every side.