The principles of Gnosticism are well described in the following verbatim statement by him, supposed to have been preserved by Hippolytus: "To you, therefore, I say what I say, and write what I write. That Simon was a philosopher there is no doubt, for wherever his exact words are preserved his synthetic and transcending thoughts are beautifully expressed. As more and more evidence is being amassed to the effect that St, Peter was never in Rome, its last possible vestige of authenticity is rapidly being dissipated. This story is undoubtedly manufactured out of whole cloth, as it is only one out of many accounts concerning his death, few of which agree. Simon fell a great distance and was killed, which decisively proved the superiority of the Christian powers. The evil spirits, when so ordered by the great saint, were forced to obey. Peter saw this, he cried out in a loud voice, ordering the demons (spirits of the air) to release their hold upon the magician. He was actually picked up and carried many feet into the air by invisible powers. According to the story that the Church Fathers have preserved, Simon was to prove his spiritual superiority by ascending to heaven in a chariot of fire. Undoubtedly the most interesting legend concerning Simon is that which tells of his theosophic contests with the Apostle Peter while the two were promulgating their differing doctrines in Rome. That Simon Magus had mysterious and supernatural powers is conceded even by his enemies, but they maintained that these powers were lent to him by the infernal spirits and furies which they asserted were his ever present companions. Everything with which the enthusiasts of the early Christian Church might not agree they declared to be inspired by the Devil. If this be true, the sect was formed during the century after Christ and is probably the first of the many branches which have sprung from the main trunk of Christianity. Simon Magus, the magician of New Testament fame, is often supposed to have been the founder of Gnosticism. Their secret information and philosophic tenets they concealed from the profane and taught to a small group only of especially initiated persons. They interpreted the Christian Mysteries according to pagan symbolism. The members of the order claimed to be familiar with the secret doctrines of early Christianity.
The name Gnostic means wisdom, or knowledge, and is derived from the Greek Gnosis. They brought down upon themselves the animosity of the early Christian Church, and when this institution reached its position of world power it destroyed all available records of the Gnostic cultus. THE entire history of Christian and pagan Gnosticism is shrouded in the deepest mystery and obscurity for, while the Gnostics were undoubtedly prolific writers, little of their literature has survived. 25 The Ancient Mysteries and Secret Societies Part Two Sacred Texts Esoteric Index Previous Next Secret Teachings of All Ages: The Ancient Mysteries and Secret Societies, Part Two