[1] R. Payne Smith explains the origins of their belief system and Athanasius' affiliation to it:"This Philoponus, called also John Grammaticus, a very learned Aristotelian of Alexandria, is generally looked upon as their founder, but really he only defended their heresy, by an argument deduced from an exposition of what 'substance' is, according to the doctrines of his great master, Aristotle.
Their real founder was a certain obscure John Ascunages, whose creed is preserved by Bar-Hebraeus: 'I acknowledge one nature of Christ the Incarnate Word, but in the Trinity I reckon the natures and substances and Godheads according to the number of the persons.'
But for the learning of Philoponus the sect would probably have expired with its founder; but an adventitious importance was further given to it by its being joined by "Athanasius, the son of Theodora's daughter, whose great wealth was freely expended in obtaining converts.
He explains what this Patriarch supported: "These bodies of men do not attain to the resurrection, but others are created anew, which arise in their stead.
"[4] Athanasius is recorded spending gold to spread this belief:[1] "The great difficulty which they found in propagating their audacious and polluted heresy was the want of bishops.
When, however, their views became known there, they were greatly blamed by many of their compeers, and admonished: and upon their refusal to withdraw them, the sentence of deposition was passed upon them: upon which, they and Athanasius, the son of queen Theodora's daughter, "who increased and multiplied the heresy by a liberal expenditure of gold", took measures in concert for obtaining a third bishop according to the canon.