Editing Alogi (section)

== Beliefs ==
“St. Epiphanius (''Haer''. LI) gives a long account of the party of heretics who arose after the [[Cataphrygians]], [[Quartodecimanism|Quartodecimans]], and others, and who received neither the [[Gospel of John|Gospel of St. John]] nor his [[Book of Revelation|Apocalypse]].”[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01331b.htm];<ref>In particular Epiphanius traces their origin to [[Theodotus of Byzantium]] ([[Panarion]] 54.100.1).</ref> they instead attributed the two [[New Testament]] books to the [[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] [[Cerinthus]], who was actually an enemy of [[John the Apostle]].

Regarding their beliefs, Epiphanius asserts that the Alogians denied the continuation of [[spiritual gifts]] in the church in opposition to the [[Montanists]].<ref>[[Philip Schaff]], “Alogi” in ''A Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century A.D., with an Account of the Principal Sects and Heresies'', by Henry Wace (Grand Rapids: CCEL, 2000), 34.</ref> They explicitly deny the Logos doctrine in John chapter 1 and they deny [[Authorship of the Johannine works|Johannine authorship]] by comparing his Gospel with the [[synoptic Gospels]]. Their methodology can be seen in the surviving fragments of [[Hippolytus of Rome|Hippolytus of Rome's]] refutation, ''Capita Adversus Caium'', preserved in Bar-Salibi's ''Commentary on the Apocalypse''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gwynn|first=John|date=July 1888|title=Commentary on Revelation|url=http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/dionysius_syrus_revelation_01.htm|journal=Hermantha|volume=6|pages=397–418}}</ref> Their comparative method was considered very foolish in Epiphanius’ opinion who derided them as "without reason".<ref name="Alogi_Cat_Enc">[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01331b.htm Alogi] @ Catholic Encyclopedia; see also Philip Schaff, “Alogi” in ''Biographical Dictionary'', 34.</ref>  Syriacist [[John Gwynn (professor)|John Gwynn]], who published these fragments in English, likewise indicates that, "The objections of Caius are . . . those of a somewhat captious critic, and indicates little breadth of scriptural learning or of eschatological conceptions".<ref>Gwynn (July 1888), p. 405</ref>

Epiphanius argues that Cerinthus could not have written the Gospel of John because whereas Cerinthus denied the [[deity of Christ]], the Gospel taught Christ's [[Godhead (Christianity)|Godhead]]. Epiphanius contemplates that they may not reject Christ's deity outright, but instead just the “Logos form under which the doctrine was presented in the Gospel”.<ref name="Alogi_Cat_Enc" /> Epiphanius also asserts in regard to the Alogi, “they themselves seem to believe as we do.”<ref name="Alogi_Cat_Enc" /> He therefore is not so much concerned with their [[Christology]] as much as he is concerned with their [[biblical criticism]]. Nevertheless, Epiphanius is harsh in his condemnation of them and asserts that the bottom line for the Alogi is that they deny the Gospel of John and consequently the Word-Flesh Logos doctrine. Epiphanius clearly distinguishes them from the [[Ebionites]] and from the [[Docetism|Docetists]].