The Gnostic Christ

Gnosticism vs. Christianity

by Rev. Paul A. Hughes

By the end of the second century, a religio-philosophical phenomenon on the fringes of Christianity had already been sharply defined by orthodox theologians and severely distanced from orthodox circles.  This separation was performed expeditiously and effectively by such great orthodox leaders as Hippolytus, Tertullian, and most notably by Irenaeus in his Against Heresies.

This phenomenon is known today as Gnosticism.  It was studied with interest in the twentieth century, especially since the discovery of a ruined Coptic library of Gnostic texts at Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1947.

But why did the orthodox Church object so to this religious strain?  And why the renewed excitement among modern religion scholars?  The answer is the same on both counts:  the thought of the Gnostics represents a variety of interpretation and application of the Christian message that differs from the orthodox view.

The most important point of departure from orthodox teaching is in the Gnostic redefinition of the meaning, purpose, and nature of Christ.

Is the Gnostic interpretation valid?  Is it indeed Christian?  Some liberal scholars consider it equally valid with the Christian message.  The Gnostics, however, appear to be affected by considerable religious and philosophical thought that lies outside the Judeo-Christian orthodox continuum.  Perhaps the answer — or part of it — can be discovered by examining the sources of the Gnostic view of Christ, and the construct of Christ's nature and purpose they derive from those sources.

The remainder of this article is now included in:

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Outline of this Article

1. Definition of Terms

2. Delineation of Gnostic Religion

3. Origins of the Gnostic Redeemer Figure

4. The Nature of Gnostic Redemption

5. The Gnostic Christ

6. Summary

Sources for this Article

1. Casey (JTS XXXVI [1938], 60), cited by R. McLaglan Wilson, “Gnostic Origins,” Vigiliae Christianae 9 (1955)

2. Edwin M. Yamauchi, Pre-Christian Gnosticism, 2d ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983)

3. Edwin M. Yamauchi, “Jewish Gnosticism?” in Studies in Gnosticism and Hellenistic Religions, ed. R. van den Broek and M. J. Vermaseren (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1981)

4. Gilles Quispel, “Gnosticism from Its Origins to the Middle Ages,” in The Encyclopedia of Religion, vol. 5, ed. Mircea Eliade (NY: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1987)

5. Gilles Quispel, “Gnosticism and the New Testament,,” Vigiliae Christianae 19 (1965)

6. T. P. van Baaren, “Toward a Definition of Gnosticism,” in U. Bianchi, ed., Le Origini dello Gnosticismo (1967)

7. E. F. Scott, “Gnosticism,” in Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, vol. 6, ed. James Hastings (NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1955)

8. Henry A. Green, “Gnosis and Gnosticism:  A Study in Methodology,” Numen 24 (August 1977)

9. C. H. Dodd, The Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel

10. The Apocryphon of John, Quispel, “From Its Origins”

11. Gedaliahu A. G. Stroumsa, Another Seed:  Studies in Gnostic Mythology, Nag Hammadi Studies, vol. 24, ed. Martin Krause, James M. Robinson, and Frederik Wisse (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1984)

12. G. van Groningen, First Century Gnosticism:  Its Origin and Motifs (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1967)

13. R. McLaglan Wilson, The Gnostic Problem (London: A. R. Mowbray and Co., 1958)

14. F. C. Burkitt, Church and Gnosis (Cambridge, Eng.: Cambridge University Press, 1932)

15. John Dart, The Laughing Savior (NY: Harper and Row, 1976)

16. EIaine H. Pagels, “Gnostic and Orthodox views of Christ's Passion:  Paradigms for the Christian's Response to Persecution?” in The Rediscovery of Gnosticism, vol. 1, ed. Bentley Layton, Studies in the History of Religions, vol. 41, ed. M. H. van Voss, E. J. Sharpe, and R. J. Z. Werblowsky (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1980)

17. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.16.6

18. The Apocalypse of Peter

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