Basilidians

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Basilidians

A Gnostic sect founded by Basilides of Alexandria, who claimed to have received his esoteric doctrines from Glaucias, a disciple of the apostle Peter. Basilides recognized one supreme being named Abraxas. The sect posited three grades of existence—material, intellectual, and spiritual—and possessed two allegorical statues, male and female. The doctrine had many points of resemblance to that of the Ophites and the Jewish Kabala.

Sources:

Legge, Francis. Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity from 333 B.C. to 330 A.D. 2 vols. 1915. Reprint, New Hyde Park, N.Y.: University Books, 1964.

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