From the Britannia website, "consensus on a definition of gnosticism has proved difficult. The groups conventionally classified as gnostic did not constitute a single movement with relatively homogeneous organization, teachings, and rituals. Even the self-designation gnostic is problematic, since it is attested for only some of the traditions conventionally treated as gnostic, and its connotations are ambiguous. Whereas some researchers argue that the term gnostic
should be restricted to the sects or schools that called themselves by
that name, others extend the category to include additional religious
movements that allegedly shared various distinctive features. Still
others treat gnosticism as a world religion that existed from antiquity
to early modern times—surviving, for example, in the mythology and ritual of the Mandaens of Iraq and Iran." [1]
"Gnostic cosmogony generally presents a distinction between a supreme, hidden God and a malevolent lesser divinity (sometimes associated with Yahweh of the Old Testament) who is responsible for creating the material universe. Consequently, Gnostics considered material existence flawed or evil, and held the principal element of salvation to be direct knowledge of the hidden divinity, attained via mystical or esoteric insight. Many Gnostic texts deal not in concepts of sin and repentance, but with illusion and enlightenment." [2]
The Jesus of Gnosticism is a "universal", or "cosmic" Jesus and NOT the Jesus of the Bible.
We are back! Keep an eye open as we will be returning with new Bible studies including on the topic of Gnosticism.
Notes
- "Gnosticism", Britannica.com, 18 June 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/gnosticism/Apocryphon-of-John
- "Gnosticism", Wikipedia.org, 6 July 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism#