155Theognostus of Alexandria.

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Translator’s Biographical Notice.

[a.d. 260. I can add nothing but conjectures to the following:] Of this Theognostus we have no account by either Eusebius or Jerome. Athanasius, however, mentions him more than once with honour. Thus he speaks of him as ἀνὴρ λόγιος, an eloquent or learned man.^12421242    De Decret. Nic. Syn., 25, Works, vol. i. part i. p. 230. And again as Θεόγνωστος ὁ θαυμάσιος καὶ σπουδαῖος, the admirable and zealous Theognostus.^12431243    Epist. 4, to Serapion, sec. 9, vol. i. part ii. p. 702. He seems to have belonged to the Catechetical school of Alexandria, and to have flourished there in the latter half of the third century, probably about a.d. 260. That he was a disciple of Origen, or at least a devoted student of his works, is clear from Photius.^12441244    Bibl., cod. 106. He wrote a work in seven books, the title of which is thus given by Photius:^12451245    τοῦ μακαρίου Θεογνώστου ᾽Αλεξανδρέως καὶ ἐξηγητοῦ ὑποτυπώσες. The Outlines of the blessed Theognostus, the exegete of Alexandria. Dodwell and others are of opinion that by this term exegete,^12461246    ἐξηγητοῦ. is meant the presidency of the Catechetical school and the privilege of public teaching; and that the title, Outlines,^12471247    ὑποτυπώσεις. was taken from Clement, his predecessor in office. According to Photius, the work was on this plan. The first book treated of God the Father, as the maker of the universe; the second, of the necessary existence of the Son; the third, of the Holy Spirit; the fourth, of angels and demons; the fifth and sixth, of the incarnation of God; while the seventh bore the title, On God’s Creation.^12481248    De Dei Creatione. Photius has much to say in condemnation of Thegnostus, who, however, has been vindicated by Bull^12491249    Defens. fid. Nic., sec. ii. chap. 10. [Bull always vindicates where he can do so, on the principle of justice, for which I have contended on p. v. (prefatory) of vol. iv.] and Prudentius Maranus.^12501250    Divinit I. C., iv. 24. Gregory of Nyssa has also charged him with holding the same error as Eunomius on the subject of the Son’s relation to the work of creation.^12511251    Book iii., against Eunomius. He is adduced, however, by Athanasius as a defender of the Homoüsian doctrine.