Gnosticism, Part 1 – History and Theology
Gnostic texts of Gospel of Thomas and The Secret Book of John a/k/a Apocryphon of John, Codex II The Nag Hammadi manuscripts, Source https://manuscritoseneltiempo.blogspot.com/, (PD)
Gnosticism is a distorted form of Christianity again gaining popularity [1A][2A][3][4A][12A]. This post is not equipped to explore all the nuances of Gnosticism (which is not a single, standardized belief system), but rather highlights the principal areas where Gnosticism deviates from Christianity.
Gnosticism (which asserts that the natural realm was created by an evil lesser god or demiurge, and emphasizes an elite spiritual knowledge over faith as necessary for Salvation) has been considered a heresy by mainstream Christianity from the outset, as historic creeds reflect [5A][6A].
The Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Baptist churches still see Gnosticism as heretical [6B][13]. The Methodist and Episcopal churches for centuries did recognize Gnosticism as a heresy but are currently equivocating, in response to cultural pressures [7A][8].
Scripture, itself, warns against Gnostic influence at 1 Tim. 6: 20, 1 Cor. 8: 1-3, 1 John 4: 1-3 and elsewhere.
Background
A blend of Christian and pagan beliefs, Gnosticism arose in the 2nd Century, incorporating elements of Judaism and Greek philosophy with religions from Syria, Asia Minor, Persia, and India. The name Gnostic comes from the Greek gnosis, meaning “knowledge”.
Like most heresies, Gnosticism was founded on a twisted version of the truth, a partial truth taken as the whole [4B].
“The Gnostics believed there was a…secret knowledge reserved for those with true understanding, leading to the salvation of the soul. Spiritual salvation was of preeminence to the Gnostics because they thought the human spirit was naturally good and was entrapped or imprisoned in the body, which was naturally evil or merely an illusion. Their goal, therefore, was to free the spirit from its embodied prison…” [1B].
Gnostics, for example, considered sex and marriage evil, since procreation merely produces more “evil” bodies [5B]. As a result, by warped logic, some sects considered contraception, adultery, fornication, and homosexuality good [5C].
Because of this spirit-matter dualism, Gnostics generally rejected the Old Testament, viewing it as false [4C]. Cain and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were the real heroes, from the Gnostic perspective. This was all the more ironic, since Gnostics have always prided themselves on seeking knowledge, and the Bible – Old and New Testaments – is the revealed word of God, Himself.
Early church fathers like Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35 – 108 AD), Justin Martyr (c. 100 AD – 166 AD), Irenaeus (c. 130 AD – c. 200 AD), and Tertullian (c. 160 AD – 225 AD) condemned Gnostic beliefs as inconsistent with Christian doctrine [9A][12B].
Doctrine, in the sense used here, is not meant to suggest a rigid set of rules, but rather the best and most accurate reading of Scripture, as guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14: 26, 15: 25, 16: 8, and 16: 13). Many Gnostic texts, for instance, do not deal with sin and repentance. Rather, they focus on illusion and enlightenment, offering the allure of secret knowledge.
The Manichees, a Gnostic sect founded by the Persian teacher Mani, continued into the 13th Century [6C]. The Albigenses and Cathars (12th and 13th Centuries), also, followed Gnostic thought [6D].
A renewed interest in Gnosticism developed after the discovery in 1945 of Egypt’s Nag Hammadi library, a collection of 50 rare Gnostic texts, including the so called Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Philip, Secret Book of John a/k/a Apocryphon of John, Apocryphal Epistle of James, Apocalypse of Paul, Letter of Peter to Philip, Gospel of Truth, Gospel of the Egyptians, On the Resurrection, Dialogue of the Redeemer, and Apocalypse of Adam [10][11].
The so called Gospel of Judas was found separately. This portrays Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ, instead as the most enlightened disciple, who received secret instructions from Christ [9B].
Most scholars today agree that the Gnostic texts are later than the canonical sources.
A Toxic Theology
“By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God…” (1 John 4: 2-3).
Christ, in Gnostic terms, is a divine being (an angel rather than the Son of God) who only seemed to take on human form to lead humanity back to recognition of its own divinity [6E][4D].
For Christians, the denial of the Incarnation is a fatal flaw in Gnosticism. However, the potential to be divine and create our own reality without reference to God is at the heart of the New Age Movement [6F]. The Satanic temptation to pride in this misguided belief is obvious.
Salvation becomes an act of will, not an act of God [7B].
On the political left, this has led to the “woke” agenda committed to the idea that by reading the correct authors, attending the correct seminars, and filling the correct racial quotas those of us whose skin color is white may be saved from the sin of intergenerational racism [7C].
While racism is certainly a sin, this approach dehumanizes our brothers and sisters in Christ whose skin color is red, black, yellow, or brown by reducing their inclusion to numbers and minimizing their own agency [7D]. It ignores the essential tenet of Christianity that only Christ can save us from sin, and suggests that sin can be associated with a particular race or ethnicity (a concept that supported slavery, led to the Holocaust, and is repugnant to Christians because Scripture teaches that all are equal in God’s eyes).
On the political right, Gnosticism might include those who believe prayer is “holier” than mowing a widowed grandmother’s lawn or taking a meal to a new mother just home from the hospital; that preaching is more highly valued by God than secular work [1C][14].
“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty” (1 Cor. 15: 14).
Gnostics, also, deny the bodily Resurrection of Christ, an event central to the Christian faith (1 Cor. 15: 12-14, 16-17, 42-44). Since the body is considered evil by Gnostics, they cannot comprehend a God willing to take on a human nature.
Gnostics hold that the spirit of Christ left Him before He died on the cross [6G]. Variations on this are taught, some saying Judas took Christ’s place on the cross, some saying it was Simon of Cyrene. The Gnostic Basilides specifically taught that those who confessed Christ as their crucified Savior were still enslaved to the evil creator [6H]. One can clearly identify this teaching as Satanic in origin.
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[1A through 1C] Insight for Living, “Mind Over Matter: The Heresy of Gnosticism both Then and Now” by Derrick Jeter, 6/15/09, https://insight.org/resources/article-library/individual/mind-over-matter-the-heresy-of-gnosticism-both-then-and-now.
[2A and 2B] Christian Post, “Baptist Theologian Warns of Gnosticism in Churches that Feature Video Preaching Only” by Stoyan Zaimov, 1/12/18, https://www.christianpost.com/news/baptist-theologian-warns-of-gnosticism-in-churches-that-feature-video-preaching-only.html#:~:text=A%20prominent%20Baptist%20theologian%20has%20warned%20that,preaching%2C%20could%20be%20a%20sign%20of%20Gnosticism.&text=Gnosticism%20is%20a%20heresy%20that%20makes%20false,the%20Chuck%20Colson%20Center%20for%20Christian%20Worldview.
[3] Wikipedia, “Gnosticism”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism.
[4A through 4H] Banner of Truth, “Gnosticism” by Gervase Charmley, 3/22/16, https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2016/gnosticism/#:~:text=Gnosticism%20may%20be%20said%20to%20have%20been,matter%20of%20acquiring%20and%20using%20secret%20knowledge.
[5A, 5B, and 5C] Catholic News Agency (CNA), “Gnosticism”, https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55979/gnosticism.
[6A through 6H] LCMS Document Library, “LCMS Evaluation: Gnosticism”, file:///C:/Users/Anna%20Waldherr/Downloads/LCMS-CTCR-Evaluation-Gnosticism.pdf.
[7] United Methodist Insight, “Dueling Gnosticisms” by Chase Crickenberger, 7/20/22, https://um-insight.net/perspectives/dueling-gnosticisms/ .
[8] Time, “Episcopalians: An End to Heresy?”, https://time.com/archive/6635136/episcopalians-an-end-to-heresy/.
[9A and 9B] Christianity, “Gnosticism”, 6/10/24, https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/gnosticism-11629621.html#:~:text=Orthodox%20Christians%20of%20the%20early,created%20new%20gospels%20at%20whim.
[10] Wikipedia, “Nag Hammadi library”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nag_Hammadi_library.
[11] Wikipedia, “List of Gnostic texts”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Gnostic_texts.
[12A and 12B] Christian Institute, “Gnosticism”, https://www.christian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/gnosticism.pdf.
[13] Cordata Presbyterian Church, “The Gnostics and Other Heresies”, https://cordatachurch.org/adult-ministries/the-gnostics-and-other-heresies.
[14] YMI (Why Am I) Today, “Is Christian Work Better than Secular Work?” by James Bunyan, 5/28/18, https://ymi.today/2018/05/is-christian-work-better-than-secular-work/.
Gnosticism, Part 2 – Modern Appeal will be posted next week
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A Lawyer's Prayers 
Gnosticism, like every other heresy, is yet another religious “smorgasbord” created by the devil that ultimately dooms its adherents to Hell.
In departing from the word of God which teaches that “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8), mankind opens themselves up to all manner of spiritual perversion.
Excellent post Anna, and I look forward to the rest of this important series.
I did not realize before I began researching this subject that Gnosticism bears so much relation to the dysfunction in our world.
Well researched, plenty of nuggets and fodder to chew on.
Thank you.
I recall Dr. Derek Morphew (University of Cape Town) giving a weekend’s lectures at a Vineyard congregation in our city on the subject of Gnosticism. I seem to recall him saying that some 2/3’s of the NT addresses this heresy. It’s so important to look at this issue afresh. Thanks Anna, you are ever relevant.
You are so kind, Erroll.
Thank you for this fascinating article, Anna! ❤
Great analysis of a complex topic… which still plagues the world after its degenerate invention millennia ago. When I was working on my Master of Theology degree, my Faculty Advisor was a nun who wrote her PhD on Gnosticism. I took a course on the subject from her, and she was likely one of Christianity’s experts on the field at that time.
Thank you for your clarity in distinguishing between God’s truth and the damning errors espoused by Gnosticism.
Thank you, Rob. Gnosticism is a dangerous heresy many mistake for the truth.
The women’s Bible study group at our church will be studying Galatians in the fall. When Gnosticism is addressed, I’ll be referring to your thorough yet concise treatment here. Grateful you’ve pointed out that tenets of the heresy are still with us today, and we need to be aware.
Thank you, Nancy. Glad to be of service.
That Satan’s arsenal includes the gross perversion of truth in the name of higher knowledge is apparent from the moment God spoke to Eve. Satan’s twisted lies pursue us like snakes, which is why it’s so important to stay in God’s Spirit-breathed word. Otherwise we are prey to every false wind of doctrine that blows our way, as James warned in his epistle. I’m saddened to hear, Anna, that the Methodist church which I grew up in has opened its doors, however gingerly, to gnosticism.
Satan’s lies have been the same since time immemorial. Yet, without God’s protection, we can still fall prey to them. No denomination is safe.
What an insightful and eye-opening study, Anna. Thank you for sharing truth with such depth and clarity. 🙏📖
You are very kind, Willie. I am glad you found the piece useful.