Carpocrates
{{Gnosticism}}
Carpocrates of Alexandria was the founder of an early
Gnostic sect from the first half of the second century. As with many Gnostic sects, we know of the Carpocratians only through the writings of the
Church Fathers, principally
Irenaeus of Lyons and
Clement of Alexandria. As these writers strongly opposed Gnostic doctrine, there is a question of negative bias when using these sources. While the various references to the Carpocratians differ in some details, they agree as to the
libertinism of the sect.
Carpocrates according to Irenaeus
The earliest and most vivid account of Carpocrates and his followers comes from
Irenaeus (died 202) in his
Against Heresiesweblink including an account of the theology and practice of the sect.They believe, he writes, that
Jesus was not divine; but because his soul was "steadfast and pure", he "remembered those things which he had witnessed within the sphere of the unbegotten God" (similar to
Plato's concept of
Anamnesis). Because of this, Jesus was able to free himself from the material powers (what other Gnostics call
Archons, the
Demiurge, etc.). Carpocratians believed they themselves could transcend the material realm, and therefore were no longer bound by
Mosaic law, which was based on the material powers, or by any other morality, which, they held, was mere human opinion. Irenaeus offers this belief as an explanation of their licentious behaviour.Irenaeus then goes on to provide his further, slightly different, explanation. The followers of Carpocrates, he says, believed that in order to leave this world, one's imprisoned eternal soul must pass through every possible condition of earthly life. Moreover, it is possible to do this within one lifetime. As a result, the Carpocratians did "all those things which we dare not either speak or hear of" so that when they died, they would not be compelled to incarnate again but would return to God.Irenaeus says that they practised various magical arts as well as leading a licentious life. He also says that they possessed a portrait of Christ, a painting they claimed had been made by
Pilate during his lifetime, which they honoured along with images of
Plato,
Pythagoras and
Aristotle "in the manner of the Gentiles".
Carpocrates according to Clement
Carpocrates is also mentioned by
Clement of Alexandria in his
Stromateis weblink. Clement quotes extensively from
On Righteousness which he says was written by
Epiphanes, Carpocrates' son. No copy outside of Clement's citation exists, but the writing is of a strongly
antinomian bent. It claims that differences in class and the ownership of property are unnatural, and argues for property and women to be held in common. Clement confirms the licentiousness of the Carpocratians, claiming that at their
Agape (meaning an early Christian gathering) they "have intercourse where they will and with whom they will".According to Clement, Carpocrates was from
Alexandria although his sect was primarily located in
Cephallenia.
The Secret Gospel of Mark
Carpocrates is again mentioned in the controversial
Mar Saba letter, purportedly also by Clement of Alexandria, discovered in 1958 by
Morton Smith. The letter mentions and quotes from a previously unsuspected
Secret Gospel of Mark, which Carpocrates had wheedled an opportunity to copy at Alexandria. A corrupted copy was circulating among Carpocrates' followers.
Other References
Other references to Carpocrates exist but are likely to be based on the two already cited.
Epiphanius of Salamis writes that
"Carpocratians derived from a native of Asia, Carpocrates, who taught his followers to perform every obscenity and every sinful act. And unless one proceeds through all of them, he said, and fulfils the will of all demons and angels, he cannot mount to the highest heaven or get by the principalities and authorities."
Carpocrates is also mentioned by
Tertullian and
Hippolytus, both of whom seem to rely on Irenaeus; and also perhaps by
Origen and
Hegesippus.
External links
See also
KarpokratesCarpócratesCarpocrateCarpocrateKarpokratesКарпократKarpokratiaanit
(...as imported from WP)
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