Tolomeo e Lucio martiri gnostici. Una confessio fidei valentiniana nella Roma della metà del II secolo

The article aims at affirming the identification of the two Roman martyrs Ptolemy and Lucius – as portrayed by Justin in his Second Apology – respectively with the great Valentinian master, author of the Epistle to Flora and polemical target of Irenaeus’ Grand Notice, and with a loyal disciple of his. Lucius' confession of faith is thus retraced and interpreted as entirely consistent with Ptolemy’s theological perspectives, which are attested by the heresiological sources available to us. The fluidity and the diversity of Roman Christianity during the second century, as well as the turning point determined by Irenaeus' Adversus Haereses, clearly emerges from such a reconstruction. In particular, the Bishop of Lyon seems to attest the existence of one or two Valentinian martyrs, and, at the same time, to impose the recognition and the clear condemnation of the Gnostic doctrinal attitude.