Simon Magus, The Father Of Heretics

Source: vaticancatholic.com

Simon Magus is mentioned in Acts 8:9-24.  The term simony comes from him because he tried to purchase spiritual power with money. 

Acts 8:20-21: “But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.’”

According to the testimony of the ancient Church, Simon persisted in his false views and was damned.  He is considered to be the “father of heretics”.

A widespread tradition holds that Simon Magus persuaded many at Rome by his magical arts.  He was even able to fly by the power of demons.  Yet, under Nero his evil ministry was defeated by St. Peter during an encounter between the two.  The historical reality of this encounter, including Simon’s ability to fly by the power of demons, was accepted by many saints and early Christian writers.  See, for example, St. Robert Bellarmine’s comments in De Romano Pontifice, Book 1, Chap. 23.  The event is also related by 4th century Christian apologist Arnobius.

Arnobius, Contra Gentes, Book 2, 4th century: “For they had seen the chariot of Simon Magus**, and his fiery car, blown into pieces by the mouth of Peter, and vanish when Christ was named.**  They had seen him, I say, trusting in false gods, and abandoned by them in their terror, borne down headlong by his own weight, lie prostrate with his legs broken; and then, when he had been carried to Brunda, worn out with anguish and shame, again cast himself down from the roof of a very lofty house.”

St. Bede the Venerable (d. 735) held the view that Simon Magus was damned.  St. Robert Bellarmine endorses the same position in De Justificatione, Book 3, Chap. 14.

St. Bede the Venerable, Expositio Supra Acta Apostolorum, 8:20-40: “Thus this Simon, who received the curse from Peter, died in eternal damnation.” (J.P. Migne, Patrologia Latina, 92:961)