Noetus (Greek: Νοητός) was a presbyter of the church of Asia Minor about AD 230. He was a native of Smyrna, where (or perhaps in Ephesus) he became a prominent representative of the particular type of Christology now called modalistic monarchianism or patripassianism.
His views, which led to his excommunication by local presbyters, are known chiefly through the writings of Hippolytus, his contemporary at Rome, where he settled and had a large following. He accepted the fourth Gospel, but regarded its statements about the Logos as allegorical. His disciple Cleomenes held that God is both invisible and visible; as visible He is the Son.
The Catholic Encyclopedia notes: "It is true that it is easy to suppose Tertullian and Hippolytus to have misrepresented the opinions of their opponents".
See also
References
- A History of Christianity: Volume I: Beginnings to 1500: Revised Edition pg 144-146 By Kenneth S. Latourette Published by HarperCollins, 1975 ISBN 0-06-064952-6, ISBN 978-0-06-064952-4
- Monarchians, New Advent, Catholic Encyclopedia
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Noetus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 732.