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Gnosticism

Publication

  • November 2017

Millions of people today unknowingly hold Gnostic beliefs that are central to the transgender debate.

Gnosticism presents a radically self-centred alternative gospel. Instead of pointing to Christ, Gnosticism proclaims that salvation comes from inside, finding your true identity within. It denies the goodness of the Creator and the glory of his creation. It denies the Incarnation, the resurrection and the need for redemption.

Gnosticism sets itself against true Christianity at every point. It has been described as the ultimate heresy. This false teaching was faced by the Church in the second and third centuries AD.

But far from being ancient history, Gnostic beliefs are rife today. Of course, not many people call themselves Gnostics. But their approach to issues such as transsexualism is clearly rooted in Gnostic thought. Understanding Gnosticism and the Christian response to it will encourage and equip believers to stand firm.

References

References

  1. 1 The Gospel of Philip, 75:2b-14, in Bock, D L, The Missing Gospels, Thomas Nelson, 2006, page 69; McGrath, A, Heresy: A History of Defending the Truth, Harper Collins, 2009, page 121
  2. 2 McGrath, A, Op cit, page 121
  3. 3 Brown, H O J, Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church, Hendrickson, 1988, pages 49-50
  4. 4 Ignatius, ‘Epistle to the Magnesians’, in Bock, D L, Op cit, page 124
  5. 5 Justin Martyr, ‘On the Resurrection’, in Roberts, A, and Donaldson, J (Eds.), Ante-Nicene Fathers, volume 1, Hendrickson, 2004, page 297
  6. 6 Irenaeus, ‘Against Heresies’, Book I, in Roberts, A, and Donaldson, J (Eds.), Ante-Nicene Fathers, volume 1, Hendrickson, 2004, page 315
  7. 7 Tertullian, ‘Against Marcion’, Book III, chapter viii, in Roberts, A, and Donaldson, J (Eds.), Ante-Nicene Fathers, volume 3, Hendrickson, 2004, page 328
  8. 8 The Gospel of Philip, 56:20-26, in Bock, D L, Op cit, pages 141-142
  9. 9Loc cit; McGrath, A, Op cit, pages 121-122
  10. 10 McGrath, A, Op cit, pages 121-122
  11. 11 Reeves, M, The Breeze of the Centuries, IVP, 2010, page 46
  12. 12 Jones, P, Spirit Wars, WinePress Publishing, 1997, pages 202-206; Rudolph, K, Gnosis: The Nature and History of Gnosticism, T&T Clark, 1998, page 80
  13. 13 The Gospel of Thomas, Logion 114, in Meyer, M W, The Gospel of Thomas: The Hidden Sayings of Jesus, Harper Collins, 1992, page 63; Rudolph, K, Op cit, page 80; Jones, P, Op cit, pages 162 and 198-199
  14. 14 Bock, D L, Op cit, page 142
  15. 15 Meyer, M W, Op cit, page 33
  16. 16 Bock, D L, Op cit, page 100
  17. 17 Bock, D L, Op cit, pages 98 and 112-113
  18. 18 Rudolph, K, Op cit, pages 166-167; Bock, D L, Op cit, page 107
  19. 19 Stott, J, The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary, IVP, 2001, pages 50-51
  20. 20 Bock, D L, Op cit, pages 145, 166-167 and 170
  21. 21 Ibid, page 137
  22. 22 Ibid, page 145; Reeves, M, Op cit, pages 46-47;
  23. 23 McGrath, A, Heresy: A History of Defending the Truth, SPCK, 2009, page 119; Bock, D L, Op cit, page 166
  24. 24 Needham, N, 2,000 Years of Christ’s Power: The Age of the Early Church Fathers, Christian Focus, 2016, page 102
  25. 25 Ibid, page 104
  26. 26 Reeves, M, Op cit, pages 43-45
  27. 27 Ibid, page 45
  28. 28 Needham, N, Op cit, page 101; Rudolph, K, Op cit, page 51
  29. 29 Reeves, M, Op cit, page 45
  30. 30 Apostles’ Creed, Athanasian Creed, Nicene Creed
  31. 31 ‘“New Age” is old Gnosticism’, Catholic News Agency, see https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/column/new-age-is-old-gnosticism-1503 as at 10 November 2017
  32. 32 Brown, D, The Da Vinci Code, Transworld Publishers, 2003, pages 313-314
  33. 33 McGrath, A, Op cit, page 117
  34. 34 From Lennon’s Sky Writing By Word of Mouth, quoted in Jones, P, Op cit, page ix

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