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The 1851 discovery of the "Philosophumena" has made it possible to clear up the most important period of the life of St. Hippolytus through his own evidence, and at the same time to test and correct the conflicting accounts contained in the old authorities. Historians proceed on the assumption that Hippolytus was really the author of the "Philosophumena", an hypothesis almost universally accepted by investigators today, a significant portion of ''A Refutation of All Heresies'', his most important work. He also wrote commentaries on Daniel and the Song of Songs, and [[Apostolic Tradition|''The Apostolic Traditions'']]. In the "Refutation of All Heresies" Hippolytus set out to refute the doctrines of the Gnostics and condemn heretics by showing that their views were taken from pagan philosophy and oriental theosophy.  

The 1851 discovery of the "Philosophumena" has made it possible to clear up the most important period of the life of St. Hippolytus through his own evidence, and at the same time to test and correct the conflicting accounts contained in the old authorities. Historians proceed on the assumption that Hippolytus was really the author of the "Philosophumena", an hypothesis almost universally accepted by investigators today, a significant portion of ''A Refutation of All Heresies'', his most important work. He also wrote commentaries on Daniel and the Song of Songs, and [[Apostolic Tradition|''The Apostolic Traditions'']]. In the "Refutation of All Heresies" Hippolytus set out to refute the doctrines of the Gnostics and condemn heretics by showing that their views were taken from pagan philosophy and oriental theosophy.  

From the details of his work, ''Philosophoumena'', Hippolytus apparently was a presbyter of the Church of Rome during the time Victor was the bishop of Rome (189-199) and at the beginning of the third century a leader of the Roman church during the pontificate of St. Zephyrinus (c. 199–217). Hippolytus was a presbyter (elder) in the church at Rome while Zephyrinus and Callistus served as the chief bishops. Hippolytus also came into conflict with the opinions of the bishops of Rome on christological issues of the day  

From the details of his work, ''Philosophoumena'', Hippolytus apparently was a presbyter of the Church of Rome during the time Victor was the bishop of Rome (189-199) and at the beginning of the third century a leader of the Roman church during the pontificate of St. Zephyrinus (c. 199–217). Hippolytus was a presbyter (elder) in the church at Rome while his friends Zephyrinus and Callistus served as the chief bishops. Hippolytus came into conflict with the opinions of the bishops of Rome on christological issues of the day.

He is known today for promoting orthodox Christology amid the confusion and bad doctrine in the church at Rome. Hippolytus was a leader of the Roman church during the pontificate of St. Zephyrinus, Zephrinus (c. 199–217). It is possible that Origen heard a homily by Hippolytus when he went to Rome about the year 212.

He is known today for promoting orthodox Christology amid the confusion and bad doctrine in the church at Rome. Hippolytus was a leader of the Roman church during the pontificate of St. Zephyrinus, Zephrinus (c. 199–217). It is possible that Origen heard a homily by Hippolytus when he went to Rome about the year 212.

The ''[[Apostolic Tradition]] of Hippolytus'' was composed in approximately 215 in Rome. It apparently preserved older second century practices which were in …

The ''[[Apostolic Tradition]] of Hippolytus'' was composed in approximately 215 in Rome. It apparently preserved older second century practices which were in danger of falling to  disuse or innovation.

He denounced Pope Zephrinus for his leniency to the Christological heresies abroad in Rome, especially [[Modalism]] and [[Sabellianism]], whom he attacked as being a modalist (one who conceives that the entire Trinity dwells in Christ and who maintains that the names Father and Son are only different designations for the same subject). Hippolytus, rather, was a champion of the [[Logos]] doctrine that …

He denounced his former friend Pope Zephrinus for his leniency to the Christological heresies abroad in Rome, especially [[Modalism]] and [[Sabellianism]], whom he attacked as being a modalist (one who conceives that the entire Trinity dwells in Christ and who maintains that the names Father and Son are only different designations for the same subject). Hippolytus, rather, was a champion of the [[Logos]] doctrine that …

Hippolytus also came into conflict with the opinions of the bishops of Rome on christological issues of the day. Hippolytus was a presbyter (elder) in the church at Rome while Zephyrinus and Callistus served as the bishops of Rome. Both bishops supported some form of [[modalism]], which viewed the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as simply three “modes” or manifestations of the same Person, and saw those with a more Trinitarian understanding as believing in separate gods. Modalism is also known as ''Modalistic Monarchianism, Sabellianism'' (after Sabellius, one of its strongest proponents), and ''Patripassianism'' (“father-suffering”), since it taught that it was God the Father who was born as the Son and died on the cross and raised Himself from the dead. Hippolytus, in contrast, understood Jesus as a fully divine but distinct Person from the Father.

Both bishops Zephyrinus and Callistus supported some form of [[modalism]], which viewed the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as simply three “modes” or manifestations of the same Person, and saw those with a more Trinitarian understanding as believing in separate gods. Modalism is also known as ''Modalistic Monarchianism, Sabellianism'' (after Sabellius, one of its strongest proponents), and ''Patripassianism'' (“father-suffering”), since it taught that it was God the Father who was born as the Son and died on the cross and raised Himself from the dead. Hippolytus, in contrast, understood Jesus as a fully divine but distinct Person from the Father and subordinate to the Father to such an extent that he apparently taught a form of "Bi-theism".<ref>"Bi-theism" is the major doctrine of [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], who believe that the Father is a greater God than His Son a lesser god, whom they identify as St. Michael, two separate beings, two Gods. Compare the similar Mormon doctrine of multiple Gods according to the reported vision of the prophet [[Joseph Smith]].</ref>

For these doctrinal differences, as well as the bishops’ relaxing of moral standards, Hippolytus bitterly opposed both bishops. The ''Philosophoumena'', that is a part of his larger work "Refutation of All Heresies", shows that he dissented from the compassionate views of Zephyrinus, whom he considered to be a weak man "unskilled the church's rule", and from ‎Callistus I of Rome (217-222) concerning the reception of backsliders and heretics who had repented.  

For these doctrinal differences, as well as the bishops’ relaxing of moral standards, Hippolytus bitterly opposed both bishops. The ''Philosophoumena'', that is a part of his larger work "Refutation of All Heresies", shows that he dissented from the compassionate views of Zephyrinus, whom he considered to be a weak man "unskilled the church's rule", and from ‎Callistus I of Rome (217-222) concerning the reception of backsliders and heretics who had repented.