Heresy, Gnosticism, and Early Church Responses

Heresy

Belief contradicting fundamental church teachings.

Hairesis

Greek term meaning 'choice' or sect.

False Prophets

Individuals promoting destructive untrue doctrines.

Gnosticism

Dual belief system involving lesser creator and Supreme God.

Demiurge

Lesser creator God in Gnostic belief.

Gnosis

Greek term for knowledge, key to salvation.

Church Fathers

Early theologians defending orthodox Christianity.

Tertullian

Church Father who wrote against heretics.

Justin of Rome

Second-century apologist opposing Gnosticism.

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 heresy in 2nd century AD.

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

Gnostic teacher from Alexandria, 2nd century.

Valentinus

Famous Gnostic teacher from mid-2nd century Rome.

Cosmological Dualism

Opposition between good spiritual and evil material worlds.

Flawed Creation

Gnostics believe world is imperfectly created.

True God

Supreme, transcendent God beyond created universes.

Inferior Creator God

Demiurge, responsible for flawed material world.

Aeons

Lesser divine beings in Gnostic cosmology.

Pleroma

Divine fullness in Gnostic belief system.

Human Nature

Duality of divine spark and material creation.

Divine Spark

Fragment of divine essence within humanity.

Sarkic

Individuals dominated by flesh and ignorance.

Psychic

Individuals governed by mind, capable of evolution.

Pneumatic

Individuals led by spirit, responsive to divine.

Salvation

Liberation from ignorance and physical existence.

Messengers of Light

Figures like Jesus sent to enlighten humanity.

Ethics in Gnosticism

Morality evolves with spiritual development, not fixed.

Ascetic Lifestyle

Emphasis on self-denial to avoid material indulgence.

Non-Attachment

Living in the world without conforming to it.

Personal Eschatology

Belief in soul's immortality, not body resurrection.

Cosmic Eschatology

Destruction of cosmos and return to Pleroma.

Inferno of Matter

Journey through physical existence before spiritual return.

Purgatory of Morals

Moral trials faced before achieving spiritual paradise.

Three Components of Man

Body, mind, and spirit define human personality.

Ignorance of Divine Spark

Human unawareness of their true spiritual nature.

Re-embodiment

Cycle of divine spark returning to physical world.

False Creator

Demiurge's influence keeping humanity ignorant.

Seth

Third son of Adam, a messenger of light.

Liberating Gnosis

Knowledge leading to spiritual freedom from existence.

Pneumatic Gnostic

A spiritually enlightened individual in Gnosticism.

Bridechamber

Symbolic space for spiritual reunion with divine.

Apostolic Succession

Unbroken transmission of spiritual authority from apostles.

Creeds

Formal statements of Christian beliefs to combat heresy.

Canon

Official collection of biblical texts recognized by the church.

Marcionism

Dualist belief system founded by Marcion of Sinope.

Clergy

Church leaders responsible for spiritual guidance and authority.

Rule of Faith

Standardized beliefs distinguishing orthodox Christianity from heresy.

Christian Salvation

Open to all believers, not limited by birth.

Gnostic View of Christ

Believed Christ was neither fully God nor man.

Resurrection Denial

Gnostics rejected the physical resurrection of Jesus.

Evil World View

Gnostics believed the world was inherently evil.

Irenaeus

Church father who defended apostolic tradition against heretics.

Spurious Writings

False texts claimed to be apostolic in origin.

Gnostic Blasphemies

Teachings contradicting core Christian doctrines.

Knowledge as Redemption

Gnostics believed salvation came through secret knowledge.

Marcion's Canon

Early collection of texts influencing New Testament formation.

Jusatin Martyr

Claimed Marcionism spread to every nation.

Marconite Churches

Established in Rome, Egypt, Palestine, and more.

Marcion's Canon

First New Testament Canon emphasizing non-Jewish roots.

Gospel of Marcion

Based on Luke, limited Jewish content.

Edited Pauline Letters

Ten letters of Paul, heavily modified by Marcion.

Literalist View

Marcion discarded scripture parts he disagreed with.

Two Gods

Old Testament God seen as lesser and harsh.

Supreme God

New Testament God, referred to as 'unknown'.

Docetic View

Christ only appeared human, denied physical existence.

Asceticism

Strict lifestyle rejecting material creation of Demiurge.

Marriage Rejection

Marcion viewed marriage as a Demiurge's invention.

Celibacy Commitment

Marconites vowed abstinence, impacting community sustainability.

Fasting Regulations

Marcion imposed strict fasting rules on followers.

Eucharist Restrictions

Wine disallowed, meat prohibited, fish permitted.

No Resurrection

Marcion expected no future return or resurrection.

God of Love

Jesus revealed a loving God, unlike the OT God.

Spiritual Fellowship

Belief in spiritual connection with God only.

Historical Context

Marcion lacked overview of history or Christ's past.

Marcion's Impact

Influenced early Christian thought and heretical movements.

Hinson's Quote

Jesus revealed love, no resurrection or judgment.

Robin Lane Fox

Described Marcion's view on Old Testament God.

Eucharist

Christian sacrament commemorating Jesus' Last Supper.

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

Gnostics' belief in knowledge as the path to salvation.

Cosmological Myth

Narrative explaining the universe's creation and structure.

Physic

Material aspect of existence in Gnostic thought.

Literal Interpretation

Marcion's approach to understanding the Bible text.

Allegorical Interpretation

Gnostics' method of interpreting scripture symbolically.

Schismatic Church

Marcion's church, separating from mainstream Christianity.

Church's Reaction

Response to Marcionism reaffirming unity of God.

Old Testament Canon

Collection of books affirmed by the early church.

Three C's

Clergy, Creeds, and Canon as church's response to heresy.

Unity of God

Tertullian's argument against Marcion's view of God.

Montanism

Movement emphasizing prophetic revelations and ecstatic experiences.

Montanus' Prophecy

Ecstatic prophecies reflecting Montanus' pre-Christian practices.

Montanus

Founder of Montanism, claimed prophetic authority.

Paraclete

Term for the Holy Spirit in Christian theology.

Ecstatic Worship

Spiritual practice involving intense emotional expression.

Prisca

Female prophet and colleague of Montanus.