(10) The Gnostic viewpoint concerning the Christ is well worthy of consideration. This order claimed to be the only sect to have actual pictures of the Divine Syrian. While these were, in all probability, idealistic conceptions of the Savior based upon existing sculpturings and paintings of the pagan sun gods, they were all Christianity had. To the Gnostics, the Christ was the personification of Nous, the Divine Mind, and emanated from the higher spiritual Æons. He descended into the body of Jesus at the baptism and left it again before the crucifixion. The Gnostics declared that the Christ was not crucified, as this Divine Nous could not suffer death, but that Simon, the Cyrenian, offered his life instead and that the Nous, by means of its power, caused Simon to resemble Jesus. Irenæus makes the following statement concerning the cosmic sacrifice of the Christ:

(15) The Gnostics divided the nature of the Christian Redeemer into two parts--the one Jesus, a mortal man; the other, Christos, a personification of Nous, the principle of Cosmic Mind. Nous, the greater, was for the period of three years (from baptism to crucifixion) using the fleshly garment of the mortal man (Jesus). In order to illustrate this point and still conceal it from the ignorant, many strange, and often repulsive, creatures were used whose rough exteriors concealed magnificent organisms. Kenealy, in his notes on the Book of Enoch, observes: "Why the caterpillar was a symbol of the Messiah is evident; because, under a lowly, creeping, and wholly terrestrial aspect, he conceals the beautiful butterfly-form, with its radiant wings, emulating in its varied colors the Rainbow, the Serpent, the Salmon, the Scarab, the Peacock, and the dying Dolphin * * *.

(6) Then saith to me Man-Shepherd: Didst understand this Vision what it means? Nay; that shall I know, said I. That Light, He said, am I, thy God, Mind, prior to Moist Nature which appeared from Darkness; the Light-Word (Logos) [that appeared] from Mind is Son of God. What then? - say I. Know that what sees in thee and hears is the Lord's Word (Logos); but Mind is Father-God. Not separate are they the one from other; just in their union [rather] is it Life consists. Thanks be to Thee, I said. So, understand the Light [He answered], and make friends with it.

(52) And there is in the Depth of the Deity no such wonderful Person more, as this Christ is, which the Prophet Isaiah calls (in the Spirit highly known by him) Wonderful Power, [or Virtue, Champion, or] Saviour, eternal Father, and Prince of Peace; whose Dominion is great, and upon his Shoulders; understand [upon] the Creatures of the Element.

(15) But a this Christ sits upon the Throne of David, upon the Throne of the Promise; like as David was an outward King, and in his Spirit a Prophet before God, and so sat outwardly as a Champion in the World, and inwardly as a Priest before God; who prophesied of this Christ that he should come, and commanded all Doors to be set open, and all Gates to be lift up on high, that this King of Glory might enter in. Thus he speaks not only of his Deity, from which he prophesied (for that was however with him, and in Power and Knowledge of the same he spoke) but he prophesied of his eternal Humanity. For that was not a King, who only sat there in the Spirit, we could neither see him, nor converse with him; but that is a King who sits in the Humanity.