Menander, who succeeded Simon Magus, showed himself by his manner of life to be a second weapon of the diabolical activity, no worse than the former. He too was a Samaritan; and having advanced to the height of sorcery no less than his teacher, he abounded in even greater marvel-mongering, saying of himself that he was the Saviour, sent down for the salvation of men from somewhere above, out of the invisible aeons.
And he taught that no one, not even of the world-making angels, could survive unless he were first conducted through the magical experience delivered by him, and through the baptism he imparted; and that those counted worthy of it would partake of an everlasting immortality in this very life, no longer dying but remaining here, destined to be ageless and immortal forever. These things may easily be ascertained also from the writings of Irenaeus.
And Justin too, in the same connexion, after mentioning Simon, adds his account of this man, saying: 'And we know that one Menander, also a Samaritan, from the village of Capparataea, who became a disciple of Simon, was likewise driven on by the demons, and coming to Antioch deceived many by his magical art; he even persuaded those who followed him that they would not die, and there are still now some derived from him who confess this.'
It was indeed by diabolical activity that, through such sorcerers as assumed the name of Christians, the great mystery of true godliness was zealously slandered as magic, and through them the ecclesiastical doctrines concerning the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the dead were torn to pieces. But these men, who inscribed themselves as saviours, have fallen away from the true hope.