Hippolytus of Rome

Hippolytus was a leading Greek-speaking teacher in the church at Rome in the early third century and a sharp critic of the Roman bishops Zephyrinus and Callistus. The writings handed down under his name include the Refutation of All Heresies, commentaries on Daniel and the Song of Songs, and a treatise on the Antichrist, though scholars dispute whether all come from one author. According to tradition he was exiled to Sardinia in 235 and died there.

Dates

fl. ca. 200–235 (approximate)

See or city

Rome

Region

Italy

Also known as

Hippolytus; Saint Hippolytus; Pseudo-Hippolytus

Notes

Eusebius (Church History 6.20, 22) and Jerome knew Hippolytus as a bishop and prolific writer but could not name his see. A Roman list of 354 records that a presbyter Hippolytus was deported to Sardinia with Bishop Pontian in 235. Which works belong to him is much debated: some scholars divide them between two authors, a Roman writer of the Refutation and an eastern writer of the biblical commentaries.

Works

• Refutation of All HeresiesRefutatio omnium haeresium · ca. 222–235 · CPG 1899 (unverified)