Epiphanes, or Epiphanius

Epiphanes, or Epiphanius son of Carpocrates, heretic and gnostic, like his father. He supposed an infinite eternal principle, and united with this fundamental principle the system of Valentinus. According to him, as according to some modern reformers, it is ignorance and passion which, in disturbing the equality and the community of goods, have introduced evil into the world; and the idea of property forms no part of the divine plan, but is of human invention. He concluded, therefore, that all laws should be suppressed, and equality re- established. He concluded, also, that the community of wives, as well as of the fruits of the earth, is necessary to the re-establishment of order. He died at the early age of seventeen years. A temple was consecrated to him in Cephalonia. Neander, Ch. Hist. 1:449; Mosheim, Ch. Hist. book 1, chapter 2, part 2, chapter 5, § 14, n. 17; Hoefer, Nozuv. Biog. Gener. 16:159.