Note 1 — INTRODUCTION
Reading edition
The word "heresy" (αἵρεσις) originally carried with it no censure, but rather approval. In classical Greek it means (1) "free choice" (abstract), (2) "that which is chosen," (3) "those who make the choice, a sect or school." In ecclesiastical Greek (LXX) it is used to render נְדָבָה, "a free-will offering" (Lev. xxii. passim); in the N.T. it means "an opinion," whether true, false or neutral, or "those who hold such opinions." The Pharisees (orthodox), the Sadducees (rationalist), the Christians (schismatic) are alike described as "heresy," where perhaps "school" or "party" would be the more modern rendering (Acts v. 17, xv. 5, xxiv. 5, 14, xxvi. 5, xxviii. 22). St. Paul's use wavers between an opinion which is the outcome of legitimate freedom of thought, and positive schism. (Cf. 1 Cor. xi. 19 with Gal. v. 20, where αἵρεσις is classed with διχοστασία.)
[2] Ricchini, editor of Moneta's great work, begins his Dissertation: "Manichaeorum haereseos quae tertio Ecclesiae Seculo ex impuris Ethniorum ac Gnosticorum lacunis Manete Persa antesignato emergens, diu lateque pervagata est, sobolem et propaginem fuisse Catharos seu novos xii et xiii seculi Manichaeos nemo dubitat, qui utriusque Sectae dogmata, mores et disciplinam diligenter contulerit."