Theognostus of Alexandria

Infobox_Philosopher
region = Christian Philosophy
era = Ante-Nicene Fathers
color = #B0C4DE


image_caption =
name = Theognostus of Alexandria
birth = ca. 210 (Alexandria, Egypt)
death = ca. 270 (Heliopolis, Egypt)
school_tradition= Platonic, Hellinistic
influences = Bible, Plato, Origen of Alexandria
influenced = School of Alexandria,Gregory of Nyssa

Life

Theognostus Greek: ΘΕΟΓΚΝΟΣΤΟΥΣ; Latin: "Teodorous" ca 210- A.D. 270 was a late third century Alexandrian theologian. George Thomas Stokes, ", in Wace (ed), "A Dictionary of Christian Biography", (Hendrickson), p. 1864.] He is known from quotes by Athanasius [
Athanasius, 'Letter 4 to Serapus', in "De Decretis Synodi Nicæni" (In Defence of the Nicene Synod).] and Photius. Philip of Side says that he presided over the school of Alexandria after Pierius (AD 265). [
Henry Dodwell, dissertation on Irenaeus, page 488.] Although a disciple of Origen of Alexandria no reference of him can be found by Eusebius or Jerome. The main textual point of reference is derived from Athanasius.

Works

He wrote a seven-volume work called "Hypotyposes", extant at the time of Photius' quotation.Some of the more notable quotations of book two appears Arian,the Son is spoken of as a creature,which is to say a created being.In book three his references to the Spirit are unorthodox and reminiscent of Origen.In book five he spoke of angels and devils as embodied.

In books six and seven he treated the Incarnation in a more orthodox manner than book two, and Athanasius regarded him as a useful witness against Arianism.

The fragments of Theognostus are collected in Martin Joseph Routh's "Reliquiae Sacrae" 3:407–422.

Under the influence of Origen of Alexandria Theognostus expounded on the trinity, divine redemption and the afterlife. His work was very much in line with the chrisitian hellenistic philsophy prevalent within the school of alexandria at the time.

Much of his theology would later be adopted by Gregory of Nyssa. [ Ante-Nicene Fathers; Philip Schaff, VIII ]

Translations into English can be found in the "Ante-Nicene Fathers" (available at WikiSource). Most of the 2nd book was later published in 1902 by Franz Diekamp.

Exegetical writings

"Hypotypōseis:" The seven books known in Greek as the "Outlines" a title given by Photius is considered to be Theognostus' principal work. Themes include; 1) Book I "Creation" 2) Book II "The Divinity of Christ" 3) Book III "The Holy Spirit" 4) Book IV "Angels and Devils" 5) Books VI & V "The Divinity of God" 7) Book VII "A return to creation." [ Hist. Eccl., vii. 32.]

ee also

*Theognostus the Grammarian, 9th century
*Theognostus, 20th century
* Theognostus the Greek [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Theognostus_the_Greek]

Notes

External links

*
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06001a.htm] Catholic Encyclopedia
* Brittanica Online Encyclopedia [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/Topic/590813/Theognostus-of-Alexandria]
* Mbs Manuscripits [http://mb-soft.com/believe/txua/theognos.htm]
* Heartlight's [http://www.searchgodsword.org/his/ad/ecf/ant/theognostusofalexandria/]

Literature

*Ceillier, Remy. "Histoire Générale des Auteurs Sacrés et Ecclesiastiques" (General History of Sacred and Ecclesiastical Authors) 2:450. fr icon
*Migne, Jacques Paul. "Patrologia Graeca" (Works of the Greek Fathers) 10:235–242. la icon
* Martin Joseph Routh" Reliquiae Sacrae" 2nd ed
* Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 4. Edited by Philip Schaff.
* The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Alexander Roberts Vol 6 (1885)