Kelsus: Origins and Ideological Esotericism in Late Antiquity

Kelsus, a middle-Platonist philosopher, published the first known anti-Christian polemical work called 'Ho'alethess Logos' (the true account). This stirred controversy between Kelsus and Origen, a Christian esotericist. While Kelsus' true account is lost, Origen's Contra Kelsom refutes his anti-Christian claims. Kelsus is depicted as an eclectic philosopher with influences from Plato, but Origen calls him an Epicurean, potentially as a pejorative term. Kelsus emphasizes the importance of esoteric traditions and the ancient wisdom transmitted by various nations and sages, especially the Greeks, in the true account. He claims that the Christians reject dialectic and lack tradition, positioning them as inferior to the Hellenes and other tradition-upholding cultures. Kelsus also criticizes Jews for their refusal to accept pluralism in worship and their perceived rejection of societal norms. Kelsus' work provides insights into the ideological warfare of the third century and the use of esotericism as a polemical weapon.