On further reflection, this is a fair point.The Epistle of the Apostles written about 160 AD would establish the personage as historical
I'm also less certain now that Cerinthus should be associated with the Gospel of the Ebionites (a harmony text, with some expansions, known from quotation by the much later Epiphanius), which undermines the OP's argument. Irenaeus writes (Adv. Haer. 1.26.1):
Cerinthus, again, a man who was educated in the wisdom of the Egyptians, taught that the world was not made by the primary God, but by a certain Power far separated from him, and at a distance from that Principality who is supreme over the universe, and ignorant of him who is above all. He represented Jesus as having not been born of a virgin, but as being the son of Joseph and Mary according to the ordinary course of human generation, while he nevertheless was more righteous, prudent, and wise than other men. Moreover, after his baptism, Christ descended upon him in the form of a dove from the Supreme Ruler, and that then he proclaimed the unknown Father, and performed miracles. But at last Christ departed from Jesus, and that then Jesus suffered and rose again, while Christ remained impassible, inasmuch as he was a spiritual being.
It doesn't say which gospel Cerinthus used.
Based on the description of what Cerinthus believed, given by Irenaeus, the gospel he used was likely some kind of gospel of Mark, given the description: "having not been born of a virgin"; "after his baptism, Christ descended upon him in the form of a dove from the Supreme Ruler"; "at last Christ departed from Jesus"; "Christ remained impassible, inasmuch as he was a spiritual being." These are interpretations closely connected to the story of Mark, especially with regard to the beginning of Mark with the story of the baptism and with regard to the placement of references to Christ.
Ebionites are mentioned next, but Cerinthus is not one of them according to Irenaeus (Adv. Haer. 1.26.2).
Those who are called Ebionites agree that the world was made by God; but their opinions with respect to the Lord are similar to those of Cerinthus and Carpocrates.
Statistics: Posted by Peter Kirby — Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:11 pm