It originated among the Gnostic heretics.

It was not admitted by the Alexandrian theological school.

It was never prominently advanced by the Fathers.

It was not brought into its present commanding position until the time of Anselm Philo Judaeus speaks of the story of the fall as symbolical; Origen regarded it as an allegory.

Perhaps some of the Protestant churches may, with reason, be accused of inconsistency, since in part they consider it as mythical, in part real.