Christian Gnosticism (100 – 400 AD)
As dualism became a default assumption in and outside Judaism and the early church, it evolved into a strange religion called “Gnosticism” that Christians quickly adopted. Gnosticism painted the world in “good vs. evil” more starkly than perhaps any religion before it. We can simplify the primary theology behind such an intricate religion like this:
There are two primary gods, a male and a female, who reside in the spiritual realm. The male is who we think of as God the Father. These two gods procreated and birthed new gods, who did the same until five generations of deities existed. One god, Sophia, decided to create a child without her male counterpart and gave birth to the evil Demiurge. This creature then created the physical universe, named itself Yahweh (yes, making it different from God the Father), and thought it was the only god in the physical or spiritual universe.
When creating humans out of evil physical material, the Demiurge accidentally trapped a piece of the spiritual universe inside each person, often called a “spark of the divine.” Though these sparks long for goodness and purity, our physical bodies draw our sparks toward sin. Each person’s spark must be awakened so they can realize their divinity and find a path back to the spiritual realm. Seeing how humanity languished in ignorance, God the Father sent Jesus to provide us with the truth needed to actualize our true natures. As we gain knowledge of ourselves, we’ll be set free from the ignorance that the Old Testament “God” uses to bind us to this evil world.[1]
This dualistic religion created several beliefs that still manifest themselves today:
Enlightened followers of the true God vs deceived followers of the evil Old Testament God
Gnostics constantly battled against other Christians because they viewed orthodox Christianity as steeped in ignorant worship of the Old Testament God who created the evil physical universe. This god tried suppressing our enlightenment as far back as Eden until Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened. Gnostics even accused this god (and his followers) of rejecting the Gnostic gospels from the Bible so people would remain ignorant of their divinity.
The world came into being through a mistake. The creator wanted to make it incorruptible and immortal, but he failed and did not get what he hoped for. For the world is not incorruptible and the creator of the world is not incorruptible. (Gospel of Philip)[2]
Pure spirit vs corrupted material
Because people possess a divine spark, they are innately good. However, because that spark is trapped in physical material (our bodies), we are tempted toward all sorts of wicked desires. Gnostics took the biblical metaphor of “flesh vs spirit” literally, teaching that we aren’t both physical and spiritual beings. Instead, we are pure spirits trapped in a physical container. Thus, Gnosticism aimed to set people free from fleshly desires so we can rejoin Jesus and the true God in the spiritual realm.
In this very way, when the spiritual soul was cast into the body, it became a brother to lust and hatred and envy, and a material soul. So therefore the body came from lust, and lust came from material substance. For this reason the soul became a brother to them. (The Authoritative Teaching)[3]
Tradition vs personal experience
In the surviving writings of Gnostic teachers and their opponents, they regularly confront the evils of religious tradition. Gnostic teachers would often denounce those who believed there was a single way to interpret and follow the teachings of Christ. Instead, they embraced the value of personal experience as each individual pursues self-actualization.
In some Gnostic writings, Peter often represented tradition. This brash apostle would stand rigidly against the personal experience and enlightenment of others, insisting that his understanding was the only proper way to understand the world. The value of Gnosticism would then be taught against Peter’s traditional views, revealing the ignorance of those questioning someone’s personal experience.
[For context, this excerpt takes place after Mary Magdeline tells the disciples new information that Jesus revealed to her after His resurrection] [Peter] questioned them about the Savior: Did He really speak privately with a woman and not openly to us? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us? Then Mary wept and said to Peter, My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I have thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior? Levi answered and said to Peter, Peter you have always been hot tempered. Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well. (Gospel of Mary 9:4-8)[4]
Ignorance vs knowledge
Gnosticism draws its name from the Greek word gnosis, which means “knowledge.” But the knowledge they sought wasn’t an intellectual pursuit, nor was the “ignorance” they despised merely about people not memorizing enough facts. Instead, the core of Gnosticism was about gaining knowledge of the self.
Only through realizing our own divinity do we find salvation. Therefore, Jesus came to set us free from the many ignorant beliefs that keep us enslaved to the material universe. The Savior of Gnosticism isn’t the way to Heaven but rather died to empower us to find our own way there.
Jesus says “If you bring it into being within you, (then) that which you have will save you. If you do not have it within you, (then) that which you do not have within you [will] kill you.” (Gospel of Thomas)[5]
Abandon the search for God and the creation and other matters of a similar sort. Look for him by taking yourself at the starting point. Learn who it is within you who makes everything his own and says “My God, my mind, my thought, my soul, my body.” Learn the sources of sorrow, joy, love, hate … If you carefully investigate these matters you will find him in yourself.” (A quote from Monoimus, a gnostic teacher)[6]
The legacy of Gnosticism
Gnosticism’s specific teachings likely seem odd to us. Few of us are at risk for believing that the Old Testament God is some false deity that is responsible for creating evil. Likewise, we don’t feel the influence of their belief that the gods are male/female pairs that have birthed other gods.
However, the more significant concepts of Gnosticism have left a fascinating and devastating legacy on the world. Aren’t we attracted to new, exciting, and even secret knowledge over more traditional understandings? How often do we use personal experience or feelings to define what is true for us (and villainize those who question those experiences)? Aren’t we tempted to blame our wickedness on something outside ourselves because we believe we’re inherently good people who aren’t capable of certain thoughts or actions on our own?
While Zoroastrianism popularized dualism among ancient peoples, Gnosticism established it for thousands of years. In the next chapter, we will take a brief moment to rejoice at how those closest to the apostles felt little influence from dualism. Then, we’ll fast-forward through nearly 2,000 years of history to see how an ancient heresy repeatedly left its mark on Christian thought.
[1] Primarily based on The Apocalypse of John, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Authoritative Teaching: Gnosis. “Nag Hammadi Library.” Accessed March 1, 2024. http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhlcodex.html.
[2] Meyer, Marvin, ed. “The Gospel of Philip.” The Gnostic Society Library. Accessed March 1, 2024. http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/GPhilip-Meyer.html.
[3] Gnosis. “Authoritative Teaching.” Accessed March 12, 2024. http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/autho.html.
[4] Gnosis. “The Gospel of Mary.” Accessed March 1, 2024. http://gnosis.org/library/marygosp.htm.
[5] Gnosis. “The Gospel of Thomas.” Accessed March 1, 2024. http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gth_pat_rob.htm.
[6] Elaine Pagels, The Gnostic Gospels (Vintage Books, 1989), XIX.
