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The '''Ophites''' or '''Ophians''' (from ] ὄφιανοι > ὄφις = ]): any of numerous ] sects in ] and ] about A.D. ]. The common trait was that these sects would give great importance to the ] of the biblical tale of ], connecting the Tree of Knowledge (of Good and Evil) to ]. In contrast to Christian interpretations of the Serpent as ], Ophites viewed the serpent as the hero, and regarded the figure that the Bible identifies as God instead as being the evil ]. The '''Ophites''' or '''Ophians''' (from ] ὄφιανοι > ὄφις = ]): any of numerous ] sects in ] and ] about A.D. ]. The common trait was that these sects would give great importance to the ] of the biblical tale of ], connecting the Tree of Knowledge (of Good and Evil) to ]. In contrast to Christian interpretations of the Serpent as ], Ophites viewed the serpent as the hero, and regarded the figure that the Bible identifies as God instead as being the evil ].


As the Bible doesn't actually identify the serpent more than being a serpent, the Ophites felt perfectly justified in their position, pointing to the serpent's trying to cause Adam and Eve to gain knowledge, and the forbidding of this knowledge by the figure which Christianity and Judaism identify as God. Christians who supported the church orthodoxy viewed Gnosticism as their archenemy, and took particular offense at the Ophites turning their view of the serpent on its head, eventually persecuting them out of existence. As the Bible doesn't actually identify the serpent more than being a serpent, the Ophites felt perfectly justified in their position, pointing to the serpent's trying to cause Adam and Eve to gain knowledge, and the forbidding of this knowledge by the figure which Christianity and Judaism identify as God. Christians who supported the church orthodoxy viewed Gnosticism as their archenemy, and took particular offense at the Ophites turning their view of the serpent on its head.


Due to the church orthodoxy destroying (in the 4th century) the Ophites' own manuscripts and texts{{Fact|date=February 2007}}, most information about the ophitic sects must be gleaned from what their enemies said of them: ] (''Philosoph.'' v.), ] ('']'', i), ] ('']'' vi. 25 seq.) and ] (''Panarion''. xxvi.). A few Ophite texts have been recovered from discoveries such as the ] find. Most information about the ophitic sects must be gleaned from what their enemies said of them: ] (''Philosoph.'' v.), ] ('']'', i), ] ('']'' vi. 25 seq.) and ] (''Panarion''. xxvi.). A few Ophite texts have been recovered from discoveries such as the ] find.


==Ophite sects== ==Ophite sects==

Revision as of 15:11, 4 July 2007

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The Ophites or Ophians (from Greek ὄφιανοι > ὄφις = snake): any of numerous Gnostic sects in Syria and Egypt about A.D. 100. The common trait was that these sects would give great importance to the serpent of the biblical tale of Adam and Eve, connecting the Tree of Knowledge (of Good and Evil) to gnosis. In contrast to Christian interpretations of the Serpent as Satan, Ophites viewed the serpent as the hero, and regarded the figure that the Bible identifies as God instead as being the evil demiurge.

As the Bible doesn't actually identify the serpent more than being a serpent, the Ophites felt perfectly justified in their position, pointing to the serpent's trying to cause Adam and Eve to gain knowledge, and the forbidding of this knowledge by the figure which Christianity and Judaism identify as God. Christians who supported the church orthodoxy viewed Gnosticism as their archenemy, and took particular offense at the Ophites turning their view of the serpent on its head.

Most information about the ophitic sects must be gleaned from what their enemies said of them: Hippolytus (Philosoph. v.), Irenaeus (Against Heresies, i), Origen (Contra Celsum vi. 25 seq.) and Epiphanius of Salamis (Panarion. xxvi.). A few Ophite texts have been recovered from discoveries such as the Nag Hammadi find.

Ophite sects

References

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