Illusory Polemics: Clement and Irenaeus on the Gnostics

Sami Yli-Karjanmaa

Jump to Content

Illusory Polemics: Clement and Irenaeus on the Gnostics

In: Religious Polemics and Encounters in Late Antiquity

Author:

Sami Yli-Karjanmaa

Sami Yli-Karjanmaa
Search for other papers by Sami Yli-Karjanmaa in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 44–64

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004466845_004

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Abstract

This essay discusses Clement of Alexandria’s and Irenaeus of Lyon’s polemics with their theological opponents and their views concerning the epithet “gnostic,” as well as the reception of these in scholarship. It is argued that the portrayal of these two authors as opponents of gnostics is without foundation. For Clement, the term “gnostic” is exclusively positive, and he is by far our best example in ancient literature of the self-designation “gnostic.” He never criticizes anyone he considers a gnostic but—in addition to some whom he does not classify in this respect—only those who, according to him, “falsely” call themselves gnostics. This is true for Irenaeus as well, but a characteristic feature in his Adversus haereses is terminological variability: while he explicitly denies the right of all of his opponents to call themselves gnostics by calling them “false gnostics,” he also calls the same people “so-called gnostics” or simply “gnostics.” This variation seems not to have been noticed in research where the standard practice is to speak of Irenaeus’s refutation of the gnostics. The author presents a plea for terminological accuracy and transparency that takes into account the fact that in parts of the earliest evidence the term “gnostic” is an honorific much closer to “orthodox” than “heretic.”

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/9789004466845/BP000003.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Religious Polemics and Encounters in Late Antiquity

Boundaries, Conversions, and Persuasion

Series: Studies on the Children of Abraham, Volume: 8

Cover Religious Polemics and Encounters in Late Antiquity

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004466845

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 12 Oct 2021

Subjects
- Biblical Studies

Front Matter

Back Matter

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	413	65	5
Full Text Views	9	1	0
PDF Views & Downloads	24	0	0

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

Illusory Polemics: Clement and Irenaeus on the Gnostics

Abstract

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

Religious Polemics and Encounters in Late Antiquity

Boundaries, Conversions, and Persuasion

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics