Exploring Heresy: Gnosticism and Marcionism

Heresy

Belief contradicting church's fundamental teachings.

Gnosticism

Dual belief system with lesser creator and Supreme God.

Demiurge

Lesser creator God in Gnostic belief.

Gnosis

Greek term for knowledge, key to salvation.

Church Fathers

Early Christian writers opposing heretical teachings.

Tertullian

Church Father arguing church predates heretics.

Justin of Rome

Wrote 'First Apology' against Gnostic beliefs.

Neo-Platonic Philosophers

Opposed Gnosticism, viewing it as corrupting philosophy.

Nag Hammadi Library

Collection of Gnostic texts discovered in 1945.

Traditional View

Gnosticism originated as Christian heresy in 2nd century.

Modern View

Gnosticism predates Christianity as independent religion.

Synecretism

Blending of Eastern, Greek, and Christian ideas.

Simon Magus

First heretic teacher mentioned in Acts 8.

Basilides

2nd-century teacher with Gnostic teachings in Alexandria.

Valentinus

Famous Gnostic teacher from mid-2nd century Rome.

Cosmological Dualism

Opposition between good spiritual and evil material worlds.

Flawed Creation

Gnostic belief that the world is imperfect.

Suffering in Earthly Life

Gnostics believe life involves mutual consumption.

True God

Supreme, transcendent God beyond created universes.

Blame for World's Failing

Gnostics attribute flaws to the creator, not humans.

Secret Knowledge

Gnostics believe in hidden truths revealed by Jesus.

Ptolemy's Letter to Flora

Gnostic text discussing secret teachings.

Demiurge

Inferior creator God in Gnostic belief.

Pleroma

Divine fullness containing Aeons in Gnosticism.

Aeons

Lesser divine beings within the Pleroma.

Divine Spark

Fragment of divine essence within humanity.

Gnosis

Knowledge required for spiritual liberation.

Sarkic

Individuals dominated by flesh and ignorance.

Psychic

Individuals dominated by mind, responsible for fate.

Pneumatic

Individuals dominated by spirit, seeking divine connection.

Salvation

Liberation from ignorance and physical existence.

Ethics in Gnosticism

Morality changes with spiritual development.

Human Nature

Duality of divine spark and material creation.

Rebellion of Aeons

Some Aeons chose to defy divine authority.

Ignorance

Lack of awareness of the divine spark.

Three Components of Man

Body, mind, and spirit define human existence.

Messengers of Light

Figures like Jesus sent to enlighten humanity.

Inferno of Matter

Journey through physical existence before spiritual return.

Purgatory of Morals

Moral development necessary for spiritual ascent.

Non-Attachment

Encouragement to detach from worldly concerns.

Material World

Seen as evil, created by the Demiurge.

True God

Higher divine being, distinct from the Demiurge.

Physical Existence

State of being that obscures true nature.

Spiritual Paradise

Ultimate destination after overcoming material existence.

Demiurge

An inferior deity creating the material world.

Gnostic Ethics

Belief in the body as evil and indulgent.

Personal Eschatology

Focus on soul's immortality, not body resurrection.

Cosmic Eschatology

Belief in cosmos' destruction and divine return.

Pleroma

The fullness of divine presence in Gnosticism.

Valentinus

Gnostic teacher advocating for spiritual liberation.

Bridechamber

Final reunion space for the pneumatic Gnostic.

Apostolic Succession

Bishops' authority traced back to apostles.

Creeds

Statements defining core Christian beliefs against heresy.

Rule of Faith

Guidelines for distinguishing true Christian doctrine.

Church Fathers

Early theologians defending apostolic teachings.

Heresy

Beliefs contradicting established church doctrine.

Gnostic Salvation

Only spiritual beings can achieve salvation.

Christian Salvation

Open to all believers, not limited by birth.

Blasphemies of Gnosticism

Claims that contradict Christian teachings on redemption.

Christ's Suffering

Christian belief in Christ's physical pain on the cross.

Gnostic View of Christ

Belief that Christ was neither god nor man.

Evil Body Concept

Gnostics viewed the physical body as inherently evil.

Church's Response to Heresy

Clergy, creeds, and canon as corrective measures.

Clergy's Role

Bishops as custodians of apostolic authority.

Irenaeus

Early church father opposing Gnostic teachings.

Gnostic Knowledge

Salvation through secret knowledge, contrary to Christianity.

Canon

Collection of authoritative New Testament texts.

Marcionism

Dualist belief system from Marcion of Sinope.

Marcion's Canon

First New Testament Canon emphasizing limited texts.

Gnosticisms

Beliefs intensifying adherence to apostolic teachings.

Spurious Writings

Non-authentic texts claimed by Gnostics as apostolic.

Apocryphal Writings

Writings excluded from the canonical Bible.

Dunbar's Evaluation

Need for standards to assess church tradition.

Tertullian

Early Christian writer opposing Marcion's teachings.

Justin Martyr

Claimed Marcionism spread to all nations.

Epiphanius

Reported Marconite churches across various regions.

Old Testament God

Portrayed as harsh and incompetent by Marcion.

New Testament God

Supreme God, distinct from the Old Testament God.

Docetic View

Belief that Christ only appeared human.

Demiurge

Creator God mistaken Jesus for His Messiah.

Marcion's Gospel

Based on Luke, edited to remove Jewish elements.

Paul's Letters

Ten letters edited to minimize Jewish references.

Literalist View

Marcion's strict interpretation led to selective scripture.

Christ's Suffering

Marcion acknowledged Christ's suffering despite denying His humanity.

No Resurrection

Marcion expected no future return of Jesus.

Spiritual Fellowship

Belief in a purely spiritual relationship with God.

Marcion's Influence

Significantly impacted early church's canon development.

Marcionism

A Christian sect founded by Marcion, emphasizing dualism.

Demiurge

An inferior creator god in Marcion's belief system.

Asceticism

Strict lifestyle rejecting material comforts and pleasures.

Gnosticism

Belief system emphasizing knowledge (gnosis) for salvation.

Docetism

Belief that Christ's physical body was an illusion.

Salvation by faith

Marcion's belief in faith as the path to salvation.

Salvation by gnosis

Gnostic belief that knowledge leads to salvation.

Marcion's Canon

An early Christian canon excluding Old Testament texts.

Muratorian Canon

A list of New Testament books possibly influenced by Marcion.

Clergy

Bishops viewed as legitimate successors of apostles.

Creeds

Statements of faith used to combat heretical teachings.

Canon

Official collection of biblical texts recognized by the church.

Excommunication

Formal exclusion from the church community.