This gospel was originally still more Docetic than it now is, according to Lipsius.
This view harmonized with the docetic view which lurked in East and West, that the manhood of Jesus was but a likeness or semblance under which the God was concealed.
They rejected the pneumatic Christianity of the orthodox churches and did not accept the docetic teaching of some of the other sects.
Hilary especially illustrates the prevalence of naive Docetic views as regards the details of the Incarnation.
Pet. was seen to be tainted with the Docetic heresy, and the Shepherd was not apostolic.