Gnosticism
Gnosticism: The Heresy that Will Not Die
Dennis A. Wright, DMin
Gnosticism, based on the idea of gnosis, is a heresy which is made up of a diverse set of beliefs. It is the knowledge of transcendence arrived at by way of internal, intuitive means.
These resources were carefully consulted concerning this topic.
The Heresy that Wouldn’t Die
Philip Jenkins, PhD
Though Gnostic sects faded in the early church, Gnostic ideas have had a long shelf life.
Michael S. Horton, PhD
The Alternative Gospel of the American Church.
Evangelical Gnosticism
Abigail Rine Favale, PhD
I teach at an Evangelical university. Almost all students are Christians and have been educated through Christian schools or homeschooling curricula. Yet an overwhelming majority of these students do not believe in a bodily resurrection.
Five Myths About the Ancient Heresy of Gnosticism
Michael J. Kruger, PhD
Gnosticism has been the darling for sometime now. Especially since the discovery of the so-called “Gnostic Gospels” at Nag Hammadi in 1945.
Gnostic Tendencies
Modern Reformation
Answering the question: What do Madonna, Pat Robertson, Lewis Sperry Chafer, Mary Baker Eddy, and The Beatles have in common?
Gnostic Worship
Michael S. Horton, PhD
Americans are often accused by foreigners of expressing a “greasy familiarity,” even with people they have met for the first time. Similarly, there is a greasy familiarity inherent to Gnosticism, based on the belief that we have direct and immediate access to God whenever and however we want.
Gnosticism
Dan Graves
The “Gnostics” have promoted various texts as reasonable alternative forms of Christianity, as branches that were unjustly suppressed, as teachings that should be allowed to modify the dogma that came down to us or as books that should have been incorporated into the Bible.
Gnosticism
Alan Maben
Like the ancient Gnostics faced by the early church, society today has adopted an escapist, anti-materialistic, anti-intellectual, anti-institutional, anti-sacramental spirituality. This is as true for non-Christians, with business executives attending New Age seminars taught by Stanford instructors.
Gnosticism
John Rutherfurd
Gnosticism—except perhaps in 1 Timothy 6:20, where Paul warns Timothy against “the gnō̇sis, which is falsely so called”—is not directly alluded to in the NT. Nevertheless its leaven was actually working, as will immediately be seen, and constituted a most serious peril in the apostolic church.
Gnosticism
Theopedia
Gnosticism is based on the idea of gnosis, or knowledge of transcendence arrived at by way of internal, intuitive means. While Gnosticism thus relies on personal religious experience as its primary authority, early “Christian” Gnostics did adopt their own versions of authoritative Scriptures.
Gnosticism and the Gnostic Jesus – 1
Douglas Groothuis, PhD
Many conceptions about Jesus now current in New Age circles are rooted in a movement of spiritual protest which, until recently, was the concern only of the specialized scholar or the occultist. Gnosticism— provides much of the form and color for the New Age portrait of Jesus as the illumined Illuminator.
Gnosticism and the Gnostic Jesus – 2
Douglas Groothuis, PhD
Do we have a clue as to what Jesus actually did and said as a player in space-time history? Should such gnostic documents as the Gospel of Thomas capture our attention as a reliable report of the mind of Jesus, or does the Son of Man of the biblical Gospels speak with the authentic voice?
Gnosticism Unmasked
D. Jeffrey Bingham, PhD
The label “Gnosticism” is a fuzzy one, describing diverse sects and ideas in the ancient world. This chart summarizes those elements within various Gnostic groups that the majority of Christians found especially troublesome.
Heresies Never Die: Gnosticism
Kenneth R. Samples
Christendom has faced many challenges to historic Christian truth claims and doctrine through the centuries. The deepest challenges consist of heresies that are such serious departures from Christian doctrine that—if accepted—they would change the very nature of Christianity.
Irenaeus’s Assault of Gnosticism
Roger E. Olson, PhD
Irenaeus’s assault on Gnosticism was anything but the kind of cool, rational approach modern people might expect of a bishop or theologian. He clearly considered it foolish and sinister and wished to expose it once and for all as a complete corruption of the gospel in the guise of “higher wisdom.”
Irenaeus’s Theory of Redemption
Roger E. Olson, PhD
While Irenaeus’s critique of Gnosticism played a significant role in the story of Christian theology by exposing that belief system as heretical by biblical and apostolic standards, his real contribution to theology’s story lies in his own alternative vision to Gnosticism.
Simon Magus
A.C. Headlam
SIMON MAGUS—The name usually given for the sake of distinction to that Simon who is mentioned in only one place in the New Testament, but to whom, both in Patristic literature and in modern criticism, the part assigned is very considerable.
Simon Magus
John Rutherfurd
Simon was a sorcerer who “bewitched the people of Samaria.” In Acts 8:11, it is said that “of long time he had amazed” them “with his sorceries” (magíais). The claim, given out by himself, was that he “was some great one”; and this claim was acknowledged by the Samaritans.
Simon the Magician
Various Authors
Simon Magus (Σίμων ὁ μάγος) was a religious figure whose confrontation with Peter is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24. The act of simony, or paying for position, is named after Simon, who tried to buy his way into the power of the Apostles.
The Gnosticism of Modern Evangelicalism
Colonel V. Doner, PhD
Gnosticism was birthed as a pseudo-Christian heresy in the mid-first century by Simon Magus, a Samaritan sorcerer (“magus” means magician) of astonishing ability (Acts 8:4-24).
The Gospel Confronts “Christian Deviations”
F.F. Bruce, DD, FBA
A look at four first-century movements which could be classed as Christian deviations—but deviations so radical that they robbed the gospel of its essential character and therefore required to be exposed in their true nature.
The New Gnosticism
Michael S. Horton, PhD
Entertainment Weekly is not exactly an evangelical house-organ, and yet, like many secular periodicals these days, it seems to observe more truth than a number of evangelical magazines and journals.
Your Own Personal Jesus
Michael S. Horton, PhD
Seekers today are apt to peel away the tough theological stuff and pluck out the most dulcet elements of faith, coming up with a soothing sampler of Judeo-Christian imagery, Eastern meditation, self-help lingo, a vaguely conservative craving for “virtue,” and a loopy New Age pursuit of “peace.”
WARNING! These resources are sometimes questionable! Therefore: Be a Berean!
Archon (Gnosticism)
Wikipedia
Archons (Greek: ἄρχων, plural: ἄρχοντες), in Gnosticism
and religions closely related to it, are the builders of the physical universe.
Gnosticism
Wikipedia
Gnosticism (γνωστικός [gnōstikós] ‘having knowledge’) is a collection of different religious and philosophical ideas and systems that fully developed by the mid-Second Century among sects of early Christianity and other faiths.
Gnosticism in Modern Times
Wikipedia
Gnosticism in modern times, commonly known as neo-Gnosticism, includes a variety of contemporary religious movements, stemming from Gnostic ideas and systems from ancient Roman society.
Gnosticism Explained: The History, Mythology, and Worldview of Gnostic Christianity
Daniel McCoy
WARNING: Author is not a Christian!
Jesus Christ in Gnosticism
Daniel McCoy
The Gnostics were in agreement with the “proto-orthodox” Christians of their time about many things concerning Jesus Christ, but vehemently disagreed on several other points. WARNING: Author is not a Christian!
Simon Magus
Wikipedia
Simon Magus was a religious figure whose confrontation with Peter is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The act of simony, or paying for position, is named after Simon, who tried to buy his way into the power of the Apostles.
