241 Or, the substance of 'Arxh/.
244 Prosicias induisse. Irenaeus says, "Assumed the first-fruits," ta\j a0parxa/j.
250 That which descended like a dove.
260 Choicum: "the clayey." Having the doubtful issues, which arise from freedom of the will (Oehler).
261 Recondunt: or, "discover."
262 Recondunt: or, "discover."
266 The "quos" here relates to "spiritalem statum," but expressing the sense rather than the grammatical propriety, refers to the plural idea of "good souls" (Oehler).
269 We have tried to retain the emphatic repetition, "inreformabilem naturae naturam."
271 Above, in ch. xxv. p. 515.
273 Operationes: the doing of (good) works."
274 As, forsooth, we should in the spiritual state.
276 Being animal, not spiritual.
277 See above. ch. ix. x. p. 508.
278 See Scorpiace, ch. x. infra.
280 "Diligentia" may mean "proclivity" (Rigalt.).
282 Nec legitimum: "not a lawful son."
285 See above, ch. xxiii. p. 514.
288 Query, the Holy Scriptures, or the writings of the Valentintians?
289 Very severe against adultery, and even against celibacy.
290 In ch. xx. this "scenam de Hebdomade caelesti" is called "caelorum septemplicem scenam" = "the sevenfold stage of heaven."
291 Coenaculum. See above, ch. vii. p. 506.
294 See above, in ch. xxiv. p. 515.
299 Si ita est: or, "since such is the fact."
302 This parenthetic clause, "tacendo jam dixi," perhaps means, "I say this with shame," "I would rather not have to say it."
303 The common reading is, "Onesimum Aeonem," an Aeon called Onesimus, in supposed allusion to Philemon's Onesimus. But this is too far-fetched. Oehler discovers in "Onesimum" the corruption of some higher number ending in "esimum."
304 This is Oehler's idea of "et nulla jam fabula." Rigaltius, however, gives a good sense to this clause: "All will come true at last; there will be no fable."