Gnostic - Three Types of Man

Here we will see in the writings of Ireneaus that he describes the Gnostic Teachings of three types of men.

 

Irenaeus [A.D. 120–202.]

Against Heresies: Book I
Chapter VII.—The mother Achamoth, when all her seed are perfected, shall pass into the Pleroma, accompanied by those men who are spiritual; the Demiurge, with animal men, shall pass into the intermediate habitation; but all material men shall go into corruption. Their blasphemous opinions against the true incarnation of Christ by the Virgin Mary. Their views as to the prophecies. Stupid ignorance of the Demiurge.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ix.ii.viii.html

 

5. They conceive, then, of three kinds of men, spiritual, material, and animal, represented by Cain, Abel, and Seth. These three natures are no longer found in one person,2749 but constitute various kinds [of men]. The material goes, as a matter of course, into corruption. The animal, if it make choice of the better part, finds repose in the intermediate place; but if the worse, it too shall pass into destruction. But they assert that the spiritual principles which have been sown by Achamoth, being disciplined and nourished here from that time until now in righteous souls (because when given forth by her they were yet but weak), at last attaining to perfection, shall be given as brides to the angels of the Saviour, while their animal souls of necessity rest for ever with the Demiurge in the intermediate place. And again subdividing the animal souls themselves, they say that some are by nature good, and others by nature evil. The good are those who become capable of receiving the [spiritual] seed; the evil by nature are those who are never able to receive that seed.

 

Note: The following Three Types is compared to Calvin's 3 Three Types Click Here

 

• Spiritual – The Perfect, and the Elect seed, (They themselves have grace as their own special possession)

 

• Animal – Established by their works, and by mere faith (They don’t have perfect Knowledge)

 

• Material – Must of necessity perish (incapable of receiving any afflatus of incorruption)

 

 

Note: We can now compare Calvin's 3 Three Types Click Here