Simon Magus?

This book offers a fresh perspective on the story of Simon Magus by focusing on The Great Declaration, a Gnostic text from the early second century, to illuminate the origins and development of Simonian thought. Rather than accepting traditional stories and slander, it carefully examines historical reports and differentiates between various regional expressions of Simonian Christianity. As the sole reliable source, The Great Declaration provides a key reference point to understand the beliefs of Simon and his followers, contrasting them with later heresiological accounts.