Gnosticism is a collection of ancient religious ideas and systems that originated in the first century AD among early Christian and Jewish sects. These groups emphasized personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) over orthodox teachings, traditions, and ecclesiastical authority.
The origins of Gnosticism are not well-documented due to the loss of many original texts and the suppression of Gnostic teachings by orthodox Christian authorities. It's generally believed that Gnosticism has roots in the early Christian communities, with influences from Jewish, Hellenistic, and possibly Eastern traditions.
Gnosticism declined in the early centuries AD, facing persecution from orthodox Christian authorities and competition from other religious movements. However, its ideas have continued to influence various religious and philosophical traditions throughout history, and there has been renewed interest in Gnosticism in modern times due to the discovery and translation of Gnostic texts.
In contemporary academia, there is debate over the definition and scope of Gnosticism, with some scholars questioning the usefulness of the term as a category for studying ancient religious texts and movements. The study of Gnosticism continues to evolve as scholars explore these ancient texts and debate their meanings and implications.
Gnostic theology is a diverse and multifaceted religious and philosophical system. While there is no single "Gnostic theology" due to the variety of Gnostic sects and texts, several core themes and beliefs can be identified:
**Humanity's Divine Spark**: Gnostics believe humans possess a divine spark or spirit originating from the spiritual realm. This spark has become trapped in the material world, encased in a physical body, and is forgetful about its true nature.
**Salvation through Gnosis**: "Gnostic" derives from the Greek word "gnosis," meaning knowledge. For Gnostics, salvation is achieved through a special knowledge of one's divine origin and the nature of the universe. This knowledge allows the individual to transcend the material world and return to the Pleroma.
**Ethics and Morality**: Due to their view of the material world as corrupt, some Gnostic sects practiced asceticism, abstaining from worldly pleasures to focus on spiritual growth. Others embraced libertinism, believing that since the material world is irrelevant to salvation, one can engage in worldly pleasures without consequence.
The Secret Book
The Apocryphon of John, also known as the "Secret Book of John," is a Gnostic Christian text. It is one of the primary sources of Gnostic theology and cosmology. The text presents a narrative in which the apostle John, after the crucifixion of Jesus, experiences a vision and receives secret teachings from the risen Christ.
The Apocryphon of John was known from early Christian sources but was considered lost until the 20th century. It was rediscovered in the 1940s as part of the Nag Hammadi Library, a collection of ancient manuscripts found in an earthenware jar near Nag Hammadi in Egypt. The Nag Hammadi library contains a wealth of Gnostic texts, which provide insights into early Christian diversity and alternative interpretations of Christian teachings.
The Apocryphon of John offers an alternative creation narrative to the one found in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible.
Ineffable, Incomprehensible Monad: The story begins with a singular, eternal, and unknowable source, the Monad or the One, a realm of infinite light and consciousness. This entity is beyond human comprehension and language, representing the ultimate divine.
Emanations and the Divine Pleroma: From the Monad, various divine aspects or "emanations" come into being, contributing to the formation of the divine realm called Pleroma. Each emanation is a pair of male and female divine beings (Aeons), and together, they reflect the characteristics and attributes of the Monad.
Sophia’s Mistake and the Birth of Demiurge: One of the Aeons, Sophia (Wisdom), desired to conceive something without her male counterpart, leading to a deviation from divine harmony. The result is the creation of an imperfect, ignorant entity called the Demiurge (Yaldabaoth). Unaware of the higher reality, Demiurge believes himself to be the supreme god.
Creation of the Material World: The Demiurge creates the material world and the first humans, but his creation is flawed. He and his minions, the Archons, rule over this realm, trapping humanity in ignorance and spiritual blindness.
Divine Intervention and the Spark of Light: Sophia regrets her mistake and seeks redemption. The Monad, acknowledging the plight of the spiritual entities trapped within humans, sends another divine emanation to guide and enlighten humanity. This spark of light or divine wisdom resides within every person, offering a path to spiritual awakening and reunion with the divine.
Salvation and Gnosis: The Apocryphon of John emphasizes the importance of acquiring gnosis, or spiritual knowledge, for salvation. Through enlightenment and understanding, individuals can free themselves from the illusionary and oppressive material world crafted by the Demiurge, ultimately reuniting with the divine light and consciousness in the Pleroma.
The Apocryphon of John’s creation mythology is symbolic and allegorical, often interpreted as a spiritual journey towards self-discovery and divine unity. The text is central to Gnostic Christian beliefs, offering insight into their perception of dualism, divine wisdom, and the path to spiritual liberation.
This Gnostic cosmology contrasts with the Genesis account, where a singular, all-powerful God creates the world and humanity in deliberate acts. The Apocryphon of John emphasizes dualism, the idea of a flawed material world, and the importance of personal spiritual knowledge for salvation.
Orthodox Christianity's response to the Gnostic framework, including texts like the Apocryphon of John, has been largely one of rejection and condemnation. Early Christian theologians and Church Fathers, such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Hippolytus, labeled Gnosticism as a heresy. They wrote extensively against Gnostic beliefs, arguing that they deviated from the apostolic teachings and the true message of Jesus.
Gnostic texts were not included in the canonical New Testament. The formation of the Christian canon was a complex process, but one outcome was the exclusion of Gnostic and other non-Orthodox writings. The canonical texts were chosen based on their apostolic origin, widespread use, and theological consistency.
Orthodox theologians argued against the dualistic worldview of Gnosticism, which posits a stark division between the spiritual and material worlds. They also rejected the Gnostic view of the demiurge (often identified with the Old Testament God) as a lesser, ignorant deity. For Orthodox Christianity, God is both the creator of the material and spiritual worlds and is wholly good.
Gnostics often held docetic views, suggesting that Christ only appeared human but was purely divine. On the other hand, Orthodox Christianity emphasized the full humanity and divinity of Christ, a doctrine solidified in the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD.
Gnosticism's emphasis on salvation through secret knowledge (gnosis) was at odds with the Orthodox view of salvation through faith in Christ and participation in the sacraments of the Church.
Due to its heretical label, many Gnostic texts were destroyed or suppressed. This is one reason why the discovery of the Nag Hammadi library in the 1940s was so significant—it provided direct access to Gnostic writings that had been lost for centuries.
While the historical stance of Orthodox Christianity towards Gnosticism has been largely negative, modern scholars, theologians, and believers often approach Gnostic texts with interest in their historical and theological insights. They are considered part of the diverse tapestry of early Christian thought, even if they are not canonical or orthodox.