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What they say about Gnosticism: Difference between revisions
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from: https://www.biblewise.com/bible_study/characters/first-century.php | from: https://www.biblewise.com/bible_study/characters/first-century.php | ||
The article is analyzed to demonstrate subtle hostilities. | |||
{{th}} | {{th}} | ||
{{ | {{2c| '''Article''' | '''Comment''' }} | ||
{{2c| Gnosticism comes from the Greek word gnosis, meaning “knowledge.” · |The foundation is being laid for the disassociation of knowledge and faith. <ref>See [[Loyola]]</ref>}} | |||
{{1c| Like Christianity, Gnosticism evolved over time. <ref>[[Hostility - Guilt by association]]</ref>}} | {{1c| Like Christianity, Gnosticism evolved over time. <ref>[[Hostility - Guilt by association]]</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| There were many forms of Gnosticism throughout early Christianity.}} | {{1c| There were many forms of Gnosticism throughout early Christianity.}} | ||
{{1c| Scholars have identified many strands prevalent in the first century that were synthesized within Gnosticism, including Egyptian religion, Judaism, Christianity, astrology, and Greek philosophy. <ref>[[Hostility - Guilt by association]]</ref>}} | {{1c| Scholars have identified many strands prevalent in the first century that were synthesized within Gnosticism, including Egyptian religion, Judaism, Christianity, astrology, and Greek philosophy. <ref>[[Hostility - Guilt by association]]</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| An initial wave of Gnosticism arose after the destruction of the temple in 70CE, but it wasn’t until the second century that it gained in prominence and achieved its classical form.<ref>Gnosticism - Simon Magus]]}} | {{1c| An initial wave of Gnosticism arose after the destruction of the temple in 70CE, but it wasn’t until the second century that it gained in prominence and achieved its classical form.<ref>Gnosticism - Simon Magus]]</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| Early Gnosticism probably arose out of apocalyptic Judaism, and hostility towards the God of the Old Testament. <ref>[[Gnosticism - Simon Magus]] miracles were [[Gnosticism - magic power|magic power]].</ref>}} | {{1c| Early Gnosticism probably arose out of apocalyptic Judaism, and hostility towards the God of the Old Testament. <ref>[[Gnosticism - Simon Magus]] miracles were [[Gnosticism - magic power|magic power]].</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| It arose after people abandoned the idea that God would take action on their behalf.}} <ref>[[Gnosticism - magic power|magic power]]</ref> | {{1c| It arose after people abandoned the idea that God would take action on their behalf.}} <ref>[[Gnosticism - magic power|magic power]]</ref> | ||
{{1c| Gnostics believed that matter was evil and spirit was good. <ref> {{bgw| | {{1c| Gnostics believed that matter was evil and spirit was good. <ref> {{bgw| Genesis 1:31 }} And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. [{And the evening … : Heb. And the evening was, and the morning was etc. }]</ref>}} {{bgw| Ro 8:7 }} Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [{the carnal … : Gr. the minding of the flesh }]</ref> | ||
{{1c| This world and this body are not the ultimate reality. {{bgw| 1Ch 29:15 }} For we [are] strangers before thee, and sojourners, as [were] all our fathers: our days on the earth [are] as a shadow, and [there is] none abiding. [{abiding: Heb. expectation }]</ref>}} | {{1c| This world and this body are not the ultimate reality. {{bgw| 1Ch 29:15 }} For we [are] strangers before thee, and sojourners, as [were] all our fathers: our days on the earth [are] as a shadow, and [there is] none abiding. [{abiding: Heb. expectation }]</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| Matter was eternal and the world had been created out of this evil stuff. <ref>{{bgw| | {{1c| Matter was eternal and the world had been created out of this evil stuff. <ref>{{bgw| Genesis 1:1 }} In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| In other words, Gnostics believed that creation came out of evil matter. <ref>{{bgw|Ge 1:31 | {{1c| In other words, Gnostics believed that creation came out of evil matter. <ref>{{bgw|Ge 1:31 }} And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. [{And the evening … : Heb. And the evening was, and the morning was etc. }]</ref> }} | ||
{{1c| Since God was spirit and good, he could not have created matter. <ref>{{bgw| Ro 1:21 }} Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.</ref>}} | {{1c| Since God was spirit and good, he could not have created matter. <ref>{{bgw| Ro 1:21 }} Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| God created “spiritual elements” that handled matter and created the world. <ref>Cabbalists assign this to the letters.</ref>}} | {{1c| God created “spiritual elements” that handled matter and created the world. <ref>Cabbalists assign this to the letters.</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| As these “spiritual elements” drifted farther and farther from God, they became more and more ignorant of Him and, in the end, hostile to him. <ref>This is the foundation for them why man is and must be, hostile to God.</ref>}} | {{1c| As these “spiritual elements” drifted farther and farther from God, they became more and more ignorant of Him and, in the end, hostile to him. <ref>This is the foundation for them why man is and must be, hostile to God.</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| Nonetheless, these spiritual elements had to be pacified (worshiped) because ultimately they were in control of the world, including all the people in it. <ref>or | {{1c| Nonetheless, these spiritual elements had to be pacified (worshiped) because ultimately they were in control of the world, including all the people in it. <ref>or conquered... </ref>}} | ||
{{1c| It led to a false humility of not being worthy and hence, not being able to approach God. <ref>Gnosticism drives the flesh.</ref>}} | {{1c| It led to a false humility of not being worthy and hence, not being able to approach God. <ref>Gnosticism drives the flesh.</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| Therefore, one needed to submit to the angels and “spiritual elements.” <ref>Source of praying to Mary and the dead</ref>}} | {{1c| Therefore, one needed to submit to the angels and “spiritual elements.” <ref>Source of praying to Mary and the dead</ref>}} | ||
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{{1c| In order for people to be saved, they had to find their way back to God. <ref>Denial that God had chosen us</ref>}} | {{1c| In order for people to be saved, they had to find their way back to God. <ref>Denial that God had chosen us</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| This “way” was barred by all those “spiritual elements. <ref>The false teachers barred the way: {{bgw| Mt 23:13 }} But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.</ref>”}} | {{1c| This “way” was barred by all those “spiritual elements. <ref>The false teachers barred the way: {{bgw| Mt 23:13 }} But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.</ref>”}} | ||
{{1c| In order for the soul to get to God, it had to bypass these elements, one by one. <ref>Source for casting out demons from Christians}} | {{1c| In order for the soul to get to God, it had to bypass these elements, one by one. <ref>Source for casting out demons from Christians</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| The only way to pass by them was to have secret passwords or special knowledge. <ref>Source for casting out demons from Christians using exorcism rituals}} | {{1c| The only way to pass by them was to have secret passwords or special knowledge. <ref>Source for casting out demons from Christians using exorcism rituals</ref>}} | ||
{{1c| Gnosticism was able to provide this secret knowledge.}} | {{1c| Gnosticism was able to provide this secret knowledge.}} | ||
{{1c| Such knowledge came through doctrinal instruction, ritual, prophecy, sacramental initiations, and self-discovery.}} | {{1c| Such knowledge came through doctrinal instruction, ritual, prophecy, sacramental initiations, and self-discovery.}} | ||
