Miscellanies 2.8.36

Here the followers of Basilides, interpreting this saying, say that the Ruler himself, having heard the declaration of the ministering Spirit, was astonished at what he heard and saw, having received good news beyond his hopes; and that his astonishment was called fear, which became the beginning of a wisdom that separates the races, distinguishes, perfects, and restores. For the God over all sends forth, having distinguished not only the world but also the elect. Valentinus too seems to have had something of the kind in mind when he writes in a letter in these very words: “And just as fear came upon the angels in the presence of that formed man, because he uttered things greater than his formation, owing to the one who had invisibly placed in him a seed of the substance from above and who spoke boldly; so also in the generations of worldly men, the works of men become objects of fear to those who made them, such as statues and images and everything that hands fashion in the name of a god. For Adam, formed in the name of Man, inspired fear of the preexisting Man, since that very one stood in him; and they were terrified and quickly destroyed the work.”