The Rise of Gnosticism

As you study the works and doctrines of cults like those of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormon’s, one of the things that is always consistent is the fact that the followers of these cults were deceived into believing that Christianity was apostate early and\or was never doctrinally sound, and that it was not until 1800 years later that men like Joseph Smith and Charles Taze Russell delivered to them the New Gospel, an Unbiblical God, and False Doctrines for which they were propagating,

As you search deeper into the teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons, you will find that though they believed they had received “new” revelations in the 1800’s, they were in truth following false teachings such as Arianism and Gnosticism that had originated much earlier. For the scriptures reveal.

 

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10
9That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? Already it has existed for ages which were before us.

 

I am concerned that modern Christianity is doing much the same thing and following teachers and doctrine that were also once refuted as false.

 

Colossians 2:8
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ

 

In the writings of Irenaeus’ in his book Against Heresies he was contending with and refuting men that claimed to be Christians, but were distorting the truth and bringing in false doctrine. In the following we will see a clear example of some of their teachings.

 

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

 

1. There being thus three kinds of substances, they declare of all that is material (which they also describe as being "on the left hand") that it must of necessity perish, inasmuch as it is incapable of receiving any afflatus of incorruption. As to every animal existence (which they also denominate "on the right hand"), they hold that, inasmuch as it is a mean between the spiritual and the material, it passes to the side to which inclination draws it. Spiritual substance, again, they describe as having been sent forth for this end, that, being here united with that which is animal, it might assume shape, the two elements being simultaneously subjected to the same discipline. And this they declare to be "the salt" and "the light of the world." For the animal substance had need of training by means of the outward senses; and on this account they affirm that the world was created, as well as that the Savior came to the animal substance (which was possessed of free-will), that He might secure for it salvation. For they affirm that He received the first-fruits of those whom He was to save [as follows], from Achamoth that which was spiritual, while He was invested by the Demiurge with the animal Christ, but was begirt by a [special] dispensation with a body endowed with an animal nature, yet constructed with unspeakable skill, so that it might be visible and tangible, and capable of enduring suffering. At the same time, they deny that He assumed anything material [into His nature], since indeed matter is incapable of salvation. 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.

2. Animal men, again, are instructed in animal things; such men, namely, as are established by their works, and by a mere faith, while they have not perfect knowledge. We of the Church, they say, are these persons. Wherefore also they maintain that good works are necessary to us, for that otherwise it is impossible we should be saved. But as to themselves, they hold that they shall be entirely and undoubtedly saved, not by means of conduct, but because they are spiritual by nature. For, just as it is impossible that material substance should partake of salvation (since, indeed, they maintain that it is incapable of receiving it), so again it is impossible that spiritual substance (by which they mean themselves) should ever come under the power of corruption, whatever the sort of actions in which they indulged. For even as gold, when submersed in filth, loses not on that account its beauty, but retains its own native qualities, the filth having no power to injure the gold, so they affirm that they cannot in any measure suffer hurt, or lose their spiritual substance, whatever the material actions in which they may be involved.

 

4. And committing many other abominations and impieties, they run us down (who from the fear of God guard against sinning even in thought or word) as utterly contemptible and ignorant persons, while they highly exalt themselves, and claim to be perfect, and the elect seed. For they declare that we simply receive grace for use, wherefore also it will again be taken away from us; but that they themselves have grace as their own special possession, which has descended from above by means of an unspeakable and indescribable conjunction; and on this account more will be given them. They maintain, therefore, that in every way it is always necessary for them to practice the mystery of conjunction. And that they may persuade the thoughtless to believe this, they are in the habit of using these very words, “Whosoever being in this world does not so love a woman as to obtain possession of her, is not of the truth, nor shall attain to the truth. But whosoever being of this world has intercourse with woman, shall not attain to the truth, because he has so acted under the power of concupiscence.” On this account, they tell us that it is necessary for us whom they call animal men, and describe as being of the world, to practice continence and good works, that by this means we may attain at length to the intermediate habitation, but that to them who are called “the spiritual and perfect” such a course of conduct is not at all necessary. For it is not conduct of any kind which leads into the Pleroma, but the seed sent forth thence in a feeble, immature state, and here brought to perfection.

 

The Gnostics taught that men were Fated (No Free Will) and created in three different substances.

 

• Material – Must of necessity perish (incapable of receiving any afflatus of incorruption)

 

• Animal – Established by their works, and by mere faith (They don’t have perfect Knowledge)

 

• Spiritual – The Perfect, and the Elect seed, (They themselves have grace as their own special possession)

 

In these writings you can see clearly that is was the Gnostic’s that initiated the following teaching:

 

• Total Inability - they taught that the Material Man “must of necessity perish, inasmuch as it is incapable of receiving any afflatus of incorruption”

 

• Unconditional Election - they taught that they were the “Elect” or “Spiritual” substance ”they describe as having been sent forth for this end” and “they highly exalt themselves, and claim to be perfect, and the elect seed”

 

• Irresistible Grace – they taught that “they themselves have grace as their own special possession, which has descended from above by means of an unspeakable and indescribable conjunction”

 

• Perseverance\Once Saved, Always Saved - they affirm that “they cannot in any measure suffer hurt, or lose their spiritual substance, whatever the material actions in which they may be involved”

 

We next see how Irenaeus reveals how the Gnostics change the use and meaning of scriptures to support their own views.

 

Irenaeus [A.D. 120–202.]

 

Chapter VIII.—How the Valentinians pervert the Scriptures to support their own pious opinions.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ix.ii.ix.html

 

1. Such, then, is their system, which neither the prophets announced, nor the Lord taught, nor the apostles delivered, but of which they boast that beyond all others they have a perfect knowledge. They gather their views from other sources than the Scriptures; and, to use a common proverb, they strive to weave ropes of sand, while they endeavor to adapt with an air of probability to their own peculiar assertions the parables of the Lord, the sayings of the prophets, and the words of the apostles, in order that their scheme may not seem altogether without support. In doing so, however, they disregard the order and the connection of the Scriptures, and so far as in them lies, dismember and destroy the truth. By transferring passages, and dressing them up anew, and making one thing out of another, they succeed in deluding many through their wicked art in adapting the oracles of the Lord to their opinions.