Noetus (Greek: Νοητός) was a presbyter of the church of Asia Minor about AD 230. He was a native of Smyrna, where (or perhaps in Ephesus) he became a prominent representative of the particular type of Christology now called modalistic monarchianism or patripassianism.[1]
His views, which led to his excommunication by local presbyters, are known chiefly through the writings of Hippolytus, his contemporary at Rome, where he settled and had a large following. He accepted the fourth Gospel, but regarded its statements about the Logos as allegorical. His disciple Cleomenes held that God is both invisible and visible; as visible He is the Son.
The Catholic Encyclopedia notes: "It is true that it is easy to suppose Tertullian and Hippolytus to have misrepresented the opinions of their opponents".[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ A History of Christianity: Volume I: Beginnings to 1500: Revised Edition pg 144-146 By Kenneth S. Latourette Published by HarperCollins, 1975 ISBN 0-06-064952-6, ISBN 978-0-06-064952-4 [1]
- ^ Monarchians, New Advent, Catholic Encyclopedia
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Noetus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 732.
