Toledot HaQahal Ri’shonim — Book 2 — Chapter 13 — Simon the Magician
HaSefarim™ · Passage ID 6a9de1d7b7947b43093c0ab9 · Passage external ID sefer_186_toledot_haqahal_rishonim_bk_02_ch_13_u_001 · Work ID 6a9de1ca56a381d7246cd59e · Canonical Sefer title Toledot HaQahal Ri’shonim · Chapter ID 6a9de1cb0ce8f30941887e7a · Chapter Book 2 — Chapter 13 — Simon the Magician · Passage label Book 2 — Chapter 13 — Simon the Magician · Passage number 1 · Publication status published · Access visibility PUBLIC_FULL
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Returning to Simon of Shomron, Eusebius describes him as the origin point of a line of deceptive movements. After his confrontation with the emissaries in Acts, Simon is said to have traveled widely, using magic and presenting himself in exalted language. Eusebius depends partly on Justin and Irenaeus for traditions that Simon received honors in Rome and traveled with a woman named Helena whom he represented in cosmic mythology. Some details, especially the interpretation of a Roman inscription as dedicated to Simon, are now known to involve ancient misidentification; HaSefarim keeps the claim as part of Eusebius's source tradition. The chapter is important because Eusebius frames later “heresies” genealogically, tracing them through teachers whom he sees as corrupting apostolic proclamation.