Gospel of Basilides

The Gospel of Basilides is the title given to a reputed text within the New Testament apocrypha, which is reported in the middle of the 3rd century as then circulating amongst the followers of Basilides (Βασιλείδης), a leading theologian of Gnostic tendencies, who had taught in Alexandria in the second quarter of the 2nd century. Basilides's teachings were condemned as heretical by Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130 – c. 200),[1] and by Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170 – c. 236),[2] although they had been evaluated more positively by Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 – c. 215).[3] There is, however, no agreement amongst Irenaeus, Hippolytus or Clement as to Basilides's specific theological opinions;[4] while none of the three report a gospel in the name of Basilides.[5]

  1. ^ Haer. 1.24.4
  2. ^ Ref. VII 20.1
  3. ^ Strom. Iv 12.81; Strom. III 1.1
  4. ^ Frank Leslie Cross, Elizabeth A. Livingstone (1997). "Basilides". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford University Press. p. 168. ISBN 019211655X.
  5. ^ Kelhoffer, James A. (2014). Conceptions of "Gospel" and Legitimacy in Early Christianity. Mohr Siebeck. p. 87. ISBN 9783161526367.

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