Philetus

Philetus was a Christian bishop of the community that became known as the Ebionites, a sect of early Christians in the 1st century AD. Little is known about his life, but his teachings and his faith are well documented in the writings of Christian scholars of the time.

Philetus is mentioned in conjunction with Hhud of the Decapolis as being present when the Teacher revealed himself to his disciples and when he spoke to the woman by the well of Jacob. This suggests that he played a significant role in the religious movements of the area, possibly serving as a leader or an influential teacher.

He is often paired with Herod the tetrarch, who had a conflict with Philetus, as mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew. In that context, Philetus is portrayed as a schemer attempting to ingratiate himself with Herod by marrying his sister, Berniece.

In Paul's Epistle to Timothy, Philetus is criticized for spreading a form of proto-Gnosticism that rejects true disciplip and for spreading false teachings about resurrection and the soul. Philetus' followers are accused of imagining that the resurrection has already occurred, i.e. one's true self has achieved full realization already.

Philetus' place in Church History is that of a controversial figure, engaged in disenfranchise disputes over the divinity of Christ, which eventually contributed to schisms in early Christianity. Many patrfind interpretations hold him responsible for weaknesses in the whole edifice.