Changes

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 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.  

From the details of his work, ''Philosophoumena'', Hippolytus apparently was a presbyter (elder) in the church of Rome during the time St. Victor was the bishop of Rome (189-199), and at the beginning of the third century an influential leader of the Roman church while his friends Zephyrinus (Zephrinus) 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 during the pontificate of St. Zephyrinus (c. 199–217), resulting in a falling out between them.  

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 catholic Christology amid the confusion and controversies over bad doctrine among some dissidents 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 danger of falling to  disuse or innovation.

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 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, in contrast, was a champion of the [[Logos]] doctrine that distinguished the persons of the [[Trinity]]. He conceived of God as a unit who, while indivisible, was plural. He understood Jesus as a fully divine but distinct Person from the Father and subordinate to the Father in being, to such an extent that he apparently taught a moderate form of "Bi-Theism or Ditheism".<ref>"Di-theism" is the major doctrine of [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], who believe that the Father is a greater God than His Son, the one supreme God who created a lesser god as his image, whom they identify as St. Michael, two separate beings, two Gods. Compare the similar Mormon doctrine of multiple Gods according to the reported First Vision of the prophet [[Joseph Smith]].</ref>

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 himself advocated an excessive rigorism. Hippolytus had combated the heresy of Theodotion and the ''[[Alogi]];'' in like fashion he opposed the false doctrines of Noetus, of Epigonus, of Cleomenes, and of Sabellius, who emphasized the unity of God too one-sidedly ([[Monarchianism|Monarchians]]) and saw in the concepts of the Father and the Son merely manifestations (modi) of the Divine Nature (Modalism, Sabellianism). Hippolytus, on the contrary, stood uncompromisingly for a real difference between the Son (Logos) and the Father, but so as to represent the Former as a Divine Person almost completely separate from God ([[Ditheism]]) and at the same time altogether subordinate to the Father (Subordinationism). In the reign of Pope Zephyrinus (198-217) he came into conflict with that pontiff and with the majority of the Church of Rome, primarily on account of the christological opinions which for some time had been causing controversies in Rome.  

Hippolytus, rather, in contrast, was a champion of the [[Logos]] doctrine that distinguished the persons of the Trinity. He conceived of God as a unit who, while indivisible, was plural. He understood Jesus as a fully divine but distinct Person from the Father and subordinate to the Father in being, to such an extent that he apparently taught a moderate 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, the one supreme God who created a lesser god as his image, whom they identify as St. Michael, two separate beings, two Gods. Compare the similar Mormon doctrine of multiple Gods according to the reported First Vision of the prophet [[Joseph Smith]].</ref>

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 (Tri-Theism). 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.  

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.  

As the heresy in the doctrine of the Modalists was not at first clearly apparent, Pope Zephyrinus declined to give a decision. For this Hippolytus gravely censured him, representing him as an incompetent man, unworthy to rule the Church of Rome and as a tool in the hands of the ambitious and intriguing deacon Callistus, whose early life is maliciously depicted.<ref>''Philosophumena'', IX, xi-xii</ref> He accuses Callistus of having fallen first into the heresy of Theodotus, then into that of Sabellius; also of having through avarice degraded ecclesiastical, and especially the penitential, discipline to a disgraceful laxity. From what we know from their actual writings these reproaches were altogether unjustified.

Hippolytus himself advocated an excessive rigorism. He continued in opposition as antipope throughout the reigns of the two immediate successors of Callistus, Urban (222 or 223 to 230) and Pontius (230-35), and during this period, probably during the pontificate of Pontianus, he wrote the "Philosophumena". In the reign of Pope Zephyrinus (198-217) he came into conflict with that pontiff and with the majority of the Church of Rome, primarily on account of the christological opinions which for some time had been causing controversies in Rome. Hippolytus had combated the heresy of Theodotion and the Alogi; in like fashion he opposed the false doctrines of Noetus, of Epigonus, of Cleomenes, and of Sabellius, who emphasized the unity of God too one-sidedly (Monarchians) and saw in the concepts of the Father and the Son merely manifestations (modi) of the Divine Nature (Modalism, Sabellianism). Hippolytus, on the contrary, stood uncompromisingly for a real difference between the Son (Logos) and the Father, but so as to represent the Former as a Divine Person almost completely separate from God (Ditheism) and at the same time altogether subordinate to the Father (Subordinationism). As the heresy in the doctrine of the Modalists was not at first clearly apparent, Pope Zephyrinus declined to give a decision. For this Hippolytus gravely censured him, representing him as an incompetent man, unworthy to rule the Church of Rome and as a tool in the hands of the ambitious and intriguing deacon Callistus, whose early life is maliciously depicted.<ref>''Philosophumena'', IX, xi-xii</ref> He accuses Callistus of having fallen first into the heresy of Theodotus, then into that of Sabellius; also of having through avarice degraded ecclesiastical, and especially the penitential, discipline to a disgraceful laxity. These reproaches were altogether unjustified.

He denounced his former friend Pope Zephrinus for his leniency to the Christological heresies abroad in Rome, especially [[Modalism]] and [[Sabellianism]], and 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).  

He dissented to such an extant from the compassionate views of Zephyrinus and ‎Callistus, that consequently, on the death of Zephyrinus in 217 when Pope St. Callistus I was elected pope (217-218), concerning the reception of backsliders and heretics who had repented, Hippolytus allowed himself to immediately leave the communion of the Roman Church with the support of his enthusiastic small band of followers in [[schism]], and had himself elected by them for a while as a rival bishop of the Roman church, the first [[antipope]] in history. These he calls the true Catholic Church and himself successor to the Apostles, terming the great majority of Roman Christians the School of Callistus. He afterward also opposed Callistus' successors, Popes Urban and Pontian as well. Ultimately, both Hippolytus and Pontianus were exiled to Sardinia under Emperor Maximus Thorax, and a new Roman bishop was installed, ending the schismatic controversy.

 

He dissented to such an extant from the merciful views of Zephyrinus and ‎Callistus, that consequently, on the death of Zephyrinus in 217 when St. Callistus was elected pope Callistus I (217-218), concerning the reception of backsliders and heretics who had repented, Hippolytus allowed himself to immediately leave the communion of the Roman Church in [[schism]] with the support of his enthusiastic small band of followers, and had himself elected by them for a while as a rival bishop of the Roman church, the first [[antipope]] in history. These he calls the true Catholic Church and himself successor to the Apostles, terming the great majority of Roman Christians the School of Callistus.  

 

He continued in opposition as antipope throughout the reigns of the two immediate successors of Callistus, St. Urban I (222/223 to 230) and St. Pontius, Pontianus (230-35), both of whom he opposed as well, and during this period, probably during the pontificate of Pontianus, he wrote the "Philosophumena". Ultimately, both Hippolytus and Pontianus were exiled to Sardinia under Emperor Maximus Thorax, and a new Roman bishop was installed after their deaths, St. Anterus (21 November 235-3 January 236), ending the schismatic controversy.

===Death===

===Death===