HERESY (her'e-sy'). This word is derived from the Greek word capfcris, hah-ee' res-is, which orig inally meant simply choice, for example of a set of opinions, but is generally used to signify some fundamental error adhered to with obstinacy.
In Cor. xi :19, on margin of R. V., thc word is rendered "sects, factions." On margin of Gal. v :2o, R. V., it is rendered "parties." It is also uscd to denote a doctrine or a sect consequent upon departure from sound doctrine (2 Pet. ii :1, margin of R. V. "sects of perdition").
The heresies chiefly alluded to in the apostolic epistles are: (1) Those of the Judaizers, or rigid adherents to the Mosaic rites, especially that of circumcision. (2) Those of converted Hellenists, or Grecian Jews, who held the Greek eloquence and philosophy in too high an estima tion, and corrupied, by the speculations of the latter, the simplicity of the gospel. (3) Those who endeavored to blend Christianity with a mixed philosophy of magic, demonology. and Pla tonism, which was then highly popular in the world.
With respect to the latter, the remarks of Hug will tend to illustrate some passages in the writ ings of St. Paul : Without being acquainted with the notions of those teachers who caused the apostle so much anxiety and so much vexation, a considerable oart of these treatises must neces sarily remain dark and unintelligible. From the criteria by which the apostle points them out, at one time somc decmed that they recognized the Gnostics; others perceived none but the Essenes; and every one found arguments for his assertions from the similarity of the doctrines, opinions and morals. It would, however, be as difficult to prove that the Gnostic school had at that time in deed perfectly developed itself, as it is unjust to charge the Essenes with that extreme of immor ality of which St. Paul accused these seducers, since the contemporaries and acquaintances of this Jewish sect mention them with honor and respect,.and extol its members as the most vir tuous men of their age.
The similarity of the principles and opinions, which will have been observed in both parties, compared with St. Paul's declarations, flows from
a common source, from the philosophy of that age, whence both the one and the other have derived their share. We shall therefore go less astray if we recede a step, and consider the philosophy itself as the general modeler of these derivative theories. It found its followers among Judaism as well as among the heathens ; it both introduced its speculative propositions into Christianity, and endeavored to unite them, or to adjust them to it, as well as they were able, by which means Chris tianity would have become deformed and unlike to itself, and would have been merged in the ocean of philosophical reveries, unless the apos tles had on this occasion defended it against the follies of men. An oriental, or, as it is commonly called, a Babylonian or Chaldean, doctrinal sys tem had already long become known to the Greeks, and even to the Romans, before Augus tus:and still more so in the Augustan age, and was in the full progress of its extension over Asia and Europe. It set up different deities and intermediate spirits in explanation of certain phe nomena of nature, for the office of governing the world, and for the solution of other metaphysical questions, which from time immemorial were reckoned among the difficult propositions of philos ophy. The practical part of this system was occu pied with the precepts by means of which a per son might enter into communication with these spirits or demons. But the result which they promised to themselves from this union with the divine natures, was that of acquiring, by their assistance, superhuman knowledge, that of pre dicting future events, and of performing super natural works. These philosophers were cele brated under the name of magi and Chaldeans; m Ito, for the sake of better accommodating them selves to the western nations, modified their sys tem after the Greek forms, and then, as It ap pears, knew how to unite it with the doctrine of Plato, from whence afterward arose the Neo Platonic and in Christendom the Gnostic school.