Gnosticism

Esoteric salvation doctrine

Gnosticism denotes a family of religious movements prominent in the early centuries of the Common Era, characterized by the belief that salvation comes through secret spiritual knowledge rather than faith or works.

Gnostics typically viewed the material world as created by a lesser or malevolent deity, with the true God existing beyond physical reality.

Early Christian writers condemned Gnosticism as heresy, though its ideas influenced mystical traditions across religions.

The Gospel of Thomas reflects Gnostic themes. (Lowercase gnosticism is the general concept of privileging esoteric knowledge.)

texts

apocrypha

Works of doubtful authenticity

scriptureSacred religious writings
codexAncient bound manuscript
patristicOf church fathers

Gospel of Thomas

dualism

demiurge

Divine cosmic craftsman

archonsChief officials of Athens
aeonsImmense time periods
pneumaGreek vital spirit

sophia · emanation · matter · spirit · cosmology · psychic · pneumatic · monad · dyad · light

theology

salvation

Deliverance from harm

eschatologyStudy of ultimate destiny
heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
doctrineEstablished body of teachings

faith · redemption · mysteries · inner light · visionary · mystical experience

salvation

redemption

Recovery or moral restoration

liberationRelease from constraint
divine sparkSacred essence within beings
ascentUpward movement

awakening · deliverance · escape · return · pneuma · spiritual rebirth · resurrection · soul journey · transcendence · reunion

historical

Ptolemy

Greco-Egyptian astronomer, geographer

AlexandriaEgyptian Mediterranean port
orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
church fathersEarly Christian theological authorities

condemnation · heterodoxy · apostasy · excommunication · creed · refutation · polemics · early Christianity

sects

Mandaeism

Iraqi Gnostic baptismal religion

Gnosticism

apocrypha

demiurge

salvation

redemption

Ptolemy

Mandaeism

Gnosticism

Opposites

Categories

Family