Demiurge

What was a Demiurge

The term demiurge entered the English language in the 1600's through that Latin demiurgus. It was originally from two Greek words dêmos (δῆμος) meaning "people" and -εργ- ergon (ἔργον) meaning to "work" from werg- "to do". In Classical Attic Greek (5th century BCE), the word δημιουργός (pronounced: DAY-mee-oor-GOS or in the Vocative - Vocative δημῐουργέ

Homer used the word as a skilled public worker, including people from soothsayers to physician or even a carpenter but By the 5th century BC we find Classical Athens using it to refer to a magistrate or any civic official of the bureaucracy. In Plato's monologue by Timaeus of Locri, who was a Pythagorean philosopher, who explains the creation of the universe by way of a divine Demiurge this divine craftsman who fashions the Kosmos by imposing mathematics upon pre-existing matter. Eventually, the writers who are said to have formulated Gnosticism saw a demiurge as a subordinate to the true Creator and was considered often as a more malevolent creator deity or one of the gods many of Paul and distinct from the supreme God and often contrary to the Will of God.

Clementine writes that the "statement is made in reference to the ignorance of the Creator (Demiurge)" Therefore a demiurge is not The God of Heaven as in the Kingdom of Heaven. This conforms to "Gnostic doctrine taught that the world was created and ruled by a lesser divinity, the demiurge" but did they mean created or refashioned and became a ruler with his own dominion of his Kosmos or world.

As adversary

The adversary we often call Satan, who is classified as a Demiurge in other writings, tempted Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13 after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

If a Demiurge, this divine craftsman who fashions, is he working on behalf of the Divine Designer of Heaven and earth or is he redesigning in his own image and for his own purpose.

Will his changes give life or take it away. Will it protect the dominion granted by God or will it undermine His Divine Will?

Power by consent

While an entity may come in the name or character of God those who report his divine intent may alter his original purpose for their own, deceiving many which has been the nature of the adversary from the beginning.

A Demiurge will see some form of agreement or consent in som form. It will offer a gift, protection, religious talismans or secret knowledge or special ritual, affirmation or confirmation.

These indulgences open doors but also limit access to the true Comforter.

Participation may draw energy, grant access permission, and control.

Other source

The tree of knowledge is a source but the tree of life is a source also.

The tree of life is a source of light or life, The Comforter, or Holy Spirit.

In the Gnostic writings

"A modern definition of Gnosticism is "a prominent heretical movement of the 2nd-century Christian Church, partly of pre-Christian origin. Gnostic doctrine taught that the world was created and ruled by a lesser divinity, the demiurge, and that Christ was an emissary of the remote supreme divine being, esoteric knowledge (gnosis) of whom enabled the redemption of the human spirit.""

In THE CLEMENTINE HOMILIES

"3 A distinction has to be made between the Creator, or maker out of nothing, and the framer, or fashioner, or Demiurge, Who puts the matter into shape. Lit, " the word against Gol for the trial of men."

---

"...and they to whom the Son may wish to reveal Him.' First, then, I am astonished that, while this statement admits of countless interpretations, you should have chosen the very dangerous position of maintaining that the statement is made in reference to the ignorance of the Creator (Demiurge), and all who are under him. For, first, the statement can apply to all the Jews who think that David is the father of Christ, and that Christ himself is his son, and do not know that He is the Son of God."

---

"Chap. xv. — Matthew xi. 25 discussed."

"And Simon, being vexed at this, said: *^ Blame your own teacher, who said, ' I thank Thee, Lord of heaven and earth, that what was concealed from the wise. Thou hast revealed to suckling babes.' "^ And Peter said : ^' This is not the way in which the statement was made ; but I shall speak of it as if it had been made in the way that has seemed good to you. Our Lord, even if He had made this statement, ' What was concealed from the wise, the Father revealed to babes,' could not even thus be thought to point out another God and Father in addition to Him who created the world. For it is possible that the concealed things of which He spoke may be those of the Creator (Demiurge) himself; because Isaiah^ says, ' I will open my mouth in parables, and I will belch forth things concealed from the foundation of the world.' Do you allow, then, that the prophet was not ignorant of the things con- cealed, which Jesus says were concealed from the wise, but revealed to babes ? And how was the Creator (Demiurge) ignorant of them, if his prophet Isaiah was not ignorant of them ? But our Jesus did not in reality say ' what was concealed,' but He said what seems a harsher statement; for He said, [' Thou hast concealed these things from the wise, and hast revealed them to sucking babes.' Now the word hast concealed' implies that they had once been known to them ; for the key of the kingdom of heaven, that is, the knowledge of the secrets, lay with them."

Chap. xix. — Misconception of God in the Old Testament,

" And some sinned thus, on account of ima^inincr that there would be no judgment^ because of Plis goodness. But others took an opposite course. For, supposing the expres- sions of the Scriptures which are against God, and are unjust and false, to be true, they did not know His real divinity and power. Therefore, in the belief that He was ignorant and rejoiced in murder, and let off the wicked in consequence of the gifts of sacrifices ; yea, moreover, that He deceived and spake falsely, and did everything that is unjust, they

1 Luke xviii. 18 ; Matt. xix. 17. ^ ig^. i, 3.

---

288 THE CLEMENTINE HOMILIES

tures, nor priests, nor teachers, nor any one else, even though one should work signs and miracles, even though he should lighten brilliantly in the air, or should make a revela- tion through visions or through dreams.' Who, then, can succeed in changing your mind, whether well or ill, so as that you should hold opinions different from what you have determined on, seeing that you abide so persistently and im- moveably in your own decision ? "

Chap. xxii. — Peter worships one God

,

When Simon said this, and was going to depart, Peter said : " Listen to this one other remark, and then go where you like." Whereupon Simon turned back and remained, and Peter said : " I know how you were then astonished when you heard me say, ^Whosoever says anything whatever against God who created the world, I do not believe him.' But listen now to something additional, and greater than this. If God who created the world has in reality such a character as the Scriptures assign Him, and if somehow or other He is incomparably wicked, more wicked^ than either the Scrip- tures were able to represent Him, or any other can even conceive Him to be, nevertheless^ I shall not give up worshipping Him alone, and doing His will. For I wish you to know and to be convinced, that he wdio has not affection for his own Creator, can never have it towards another. And if he has it towards another, he has it contrary to nature, and he is ignorant that he has this passion for the unjust from the evil one. Nor will he be able to retain even it steadfastly. And, indeed, if there is another above the Creator (Demiurge), he will welcome me, since he is good, all the more that I love my own Father ; and he will not welcome you, as he knows that you have abandoned your own natural Creator : for I do not call Him Father, influenced by a greater hope, and not caring for what is

^ " Incomparably wicked, more wicked than;" literally, "incomparably wicked as."

^ The Greek has o'^o/w;, " in like manner." We have translated 'if/Mi.

2 Cotelerius' MS. inserts " the Creator" (Demiurge).