Gnostic - Distinguished by Knowledge

We can see in the scriptures that the Apostles were giving us clear warning as to the false teachers that were rising up and deceiving many, with opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge".

 

I Timothy 6:20-21
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— 21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.

 

Then we see once again Irenaeus brings forth what the Gnostics of his day were teaching.

 

Irenaeus [A.D. 120–202.]

 

Against Heresies: Book I
Chapter VI.--The threefold kind of man feigned by these heretics: good works needless for them, though necessary to others: their abandoned morals.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ix.ii.vii.html

 

"They further hold that the consummation of all things will take place when all that is spiritual has been formed and perfected by Gnosis (knowledge); and by this they mean spiritual men who have attained to the perfect knowledge of God, and been initiated into these mysteries by Achamoth. And they represent themselves to be these persons."

 

Now lets see how similar the teachings of Calvin are to the Gnostcs.

 

John Calvin [a.d. 1509-1564]
BOOK FIRST - CHAPTER 1 – SECTION 1

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.iii.vii.html

 

“The course which God followed towards his Church from the very first, was to supplement these common proofs by the addition of his Word, as a surer and more direct means of discovering himself. And there can be no doubt that it was by this help, Adam, Noah, Abraham, and the other patriarchs, attained to that familiar knowledge which, in a manner, distinguished them from unbelievers. I am not now speaking of the peculiar doctrines of faith by which they were elevated to the hope of eternal blessedness. It was necessary, in passing from death unto life, that they should know God, not only as a Creator, but as a Redeemer also; and both kinds of knowledge they certainly did obtain from the Word. In point of order, however, the knowledge first given was that which made them acquainted with the God by whom the world was made and is governed. To this first knowledge was afterwards added the more intimate knowledge which alone quickens dead souls, and by which God is known not only as the Creator of the worlds and the sole author and disposer of all events, but also as a Redeemer, in the person of the Mediator.”

 

So just like the Gnostics "attained to that familiar knowledge which, in a manner, distinguished them from unbelievers"

 

Note carefully that Calvin makes it very clear that “In point of order, however, the KNOWLEDGE first given”. This is the Gnostic way of salvation and totally contradictory to that of the scriptures. For though the scriptures teach us about true knowledge of God, the scriptures never teach that knowledge must first be be given to a man.