On Illustrious Men

33. Bardesanes the heresiarch

notes 1. Eus., h.e. 4.21. See also A. Le Boulluec, “La Bible chez les marginaux de l’orthodoxie,” in Le monde grec et la Bible, ed. C. Mondésert, 153–70. 2. h.e. 4.25.1. 3. suntavgmata: Liddell, Scott, Jones, s.v., “a collection of writings”; yeudepivgrafa: PGL, s.v., “with false superscription or title”; neut. plur, as substantive; see also EEC 22 , 961–64, art., “Pseudepigraphy,” J. H. Charlesworth. references Q 1, 284 — CPL: cf. 2246 — EECh 2, 564, G. Ladocsi — LThK 7, 516, J. Kraus — LThK 73 , 370, G. Schöllgen XXXIII. BARDESANES THE HERESIARCH ardesanes was regarded as famous in Mesopotamia.1 At first he was a follower of Valentinus,2 but then became his adversary, and finally started a new heresy.3 He was held in repute by the Syrians for his passionate character and vehemence in debate.4 2. He wrote countless works against almost all heresies which had originated in his time. The most famous and most powerful of his works was On Fate,5 which he presented to Marcus Antoninus ,6 and many other volumes on persecution which his followers translated from Syriac into Greek.7 3. If his efficacy is so splendid and great in translation, what do we think it was like in the original!8 notes 1. Bardesanes/Bar Daisan (154–222), a contemporary of Clement of Alexandria; see Eus., h.e. 4.30.1; also Epiphanius, Panarion 56, in The Panarion of St. Epiphanius, trans. P. R. Amidon, 198. 2. h.e. 4.30.3; Epiphanius, Pan. 56.2.1. 3. Pan. 56.1: “the founder of the sect of the Bardesanites.” 4. h.e. 4.30.5: “very able .l.l. very eloquent in Syriac,” “very strong at arguing .” ON ILLUSTRIOUS MEN 55 ...