Gnosticism
the doctrine of God
At its simplest they taught in terms of a distinction between a supreme knowable deity, far removed and beyond all thought itself. From this supreme God there issued a series of emanations which together constitute the pleroma.
In the lowest ranks of the pleroma there comes into being what is known as the demi-urge or the creator of the material world.
believed in the supreme God, pure spirit, unknowable deity and absolute.
The dualistic principle is seen in the distinction between the true supreme God and a much lesser being, the demi-urge
The doctrine of creation
The outstanding feature of the Gnostic view of the world is the sharp dualism of spirit and matter.
In other words for Gnostics the material type of existence is vastly inferior to the realm of the spirit
The doctrine of Man
Spirituals- these are the highest class of humanity and these people are those who are capable of entering into full knowledge of spiritual realities. These possess the divine sparks in its fullness and only for them was full salvation possible
Phychics- those who possessed a type of life which was inferior to the pneumatics but above the materials. They were capable of a degree of salvation
In some bodies there is trapped a particale of light, a divine spark or spiritual element which yearns for the pure world of light, a divine spark or spiritual element which yearns for the pure world of light beyond this world.
Materials- those with no element of light or understanding and for whom no salvation was possible
Again dualism is very evident in their doctrine of man and their ideas of redemption. The human physical body is part of the material world brought into being by the demi-urge. The physical body is therefore part of the corruption and inferior world of matter.
The Gnostic Idea of Redemption
Was to prepare the divine spark for its journey home. Its release was obtained by means of Gnostic's rites which include magic passwords, secret signs and charms, designed to awaken the divine spark and makes it aware of its spiritual home.
Claim to have a secret knowledge which would enable the spiritual element to return home. The knowledge of the mystery of the universe of God and of the essential nature of man.
They claimed to have the true understanding of the human condition and claimed to be able to show the true way of release from the condition.
The Gnostic's concept of the Redeemer
Made use of Christ taught the he had imparted secrets which were unknown to the church; secrets known only to the select few. For this reason Irenaeus and Tertullian emphasised that what Christ taught openly.
Christ came from the true God. He was pure spirit and therefore he could not enter into a bond with matter.
Their christ was a Docetic christ they could not accept incarnation i.e. pure spirit and flesh together so Christ was human in appearance only.
Gnostic Morality
Other gnostic groups seem to have drawn the opposite conclusion- since the body is material and matter is evil it is of no consequence what one did in the body.
They indulged in gross immorality, and some groups had rites involving certain disgusting sexual practices.
Some Gnostic's practise a very strict Asceticism the reason being that the divine spark must be free from bondage to the body's desires so that it may seek out its true destiny.
Threat to Christianity
God- they identified the God of Israel, the God of the O.T. and the God of creation with the demi-urge.
the Fall- they interpreted the Fall of the divine element into the material world.
secret teachings- some groups taught that Jesus continued to teach his disciples for 12 years after his resurrection. While they accepted the original Apostles they maintained that this secret teaching had been handed down in esoteric fashion.
Some leaders e.g. Basilides claimed Apostolic authority
Redemption- in Gnosticism redemption is equivalent to knowledge which liberates.
concerning Christ- theirs was a docetic Christ. Some groups identified Jesus as the Redeemer who would lead the divine element in humans home,
lifestyle- the emphasis on lifestyle could alternate between strict Ascericism and moral indifference.
The attempt to restate Christianity in Gnostic terms i.e. orthodox Christianity was fine for the rank and file but for the intellectual elite there was a higher and truer account available.
Influences on Christianity
positive influences- it stimulated intellectual activity and it forced orthodox leaders to present reasoned statements of their beliefs
negative influences- it could lead to excessive intellectualising of the Christian faith as opposed to personal commitment to Christ, for example, the emphasis on gnosis as the means of salvation. It obscured and lost the central truth of Christianity.