Gnosticism
In one sentence
A family of ancient religious movements associating salvation with special knowledge and often sharply opposing spirit and matter.
In simple terms
Diverse ancient movements taught salvation through secret knowledge and often contrasted a higher spiritual realm with an inferior material world.
Biblical truth
Biblical Christianity affirms the goodness of God’s creation, the real incarnation of the Son, and a publicly proclaimed gospel rather than salvation through elite secret information.
Key Scriptures
Gen. 1:31 · John 1:14 · 1 Cor. 15:3–8 · Col. 2:8–23 · 1 John 4:1–3
Example
The material world is explained as an error or product of a lesser deity, while the elect are saved by discovering the secret of their heavenly origin.
Who holds it
Various second- and third-century schools such as Valentinians and others; “Gnosticism” is a modern umbrella term rather than one ancient church.
Not to be confused with
Not every interest in mysticism, spiritual knowledge, or symbolic interpretation is Gnosticism.
History
Gnostic systems were especially prominent in the second century and formed an important context for early Christian debates over creation, Christ, and apostolic tradition.
Main point of debate
Historians debate how appropriate it is to group very diverse ancient movements under the single label “Gnosticism.”