Noetus

, an heresiarch, who appeared in the third century, was a native of Smyrna, originally an obscure man, and of mean abilities. He affirmed, that the Supreme God, whom he called the Father, and considered as absolutely indivisible, united himself to the man Christ, whom he called the Son, and was born, and crucified with him. From this opinion, Noetus and his followers were tlistinguished by the title of Patripassians, i. e. persons who believed that the Supreme Father of the universe, and not any other divine person, had expiated the guilt of the human race. For these opinions he and his followers were expelled the church. ²