Gnosticism Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Etymology== {{Main|Gnosis}} ''Gnosis'' is a feminine Greek noun which means "knowledge" or "awareness."<ref name=scotttufts>[[Liddell Scott]] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=gnwsis&la=greek#lexicon entry] γνῶσις, εως, ἡ, A. seeking to know, inquiry, investigation, esp. judicial, "τὰς τῶν δικαστηρίων γ." D.18.224; "τὴν κατὰ τοῦ διαιτητοῦ γdeetr." Id.21.92, cf. 7.9, Lycurg.141; "γ. περὶ τῆς δίκης" PHib.1.92.13 (iii B. C.). 2. result of investigation, decision, PPetr.3p.118 (iii B. C.). II. knowing, knowledge, Heraclit.56; opp. ἀγνωσίη, Hp. Vict.1.23 (dub.); opp. ἄγνοια, Pl.R.478c; "ἡ αἴσθησις γ. τις" Arist.GA731a33: pl., "Θεὸς γνώσεων κύριος" LXX 1 Ki.2.3. b. higher, esoteric knowledge, 1 Ep.Cor.8.7,10, Ep.Eph.3.19, etc.; "χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν νοῦν, λόγον, γνῶσιν" PMag.Par.2.290. 2. acquaintance with a person, "πρός τινα" Test. ap.Aeschin.1.50; "τῶν Σεβαστῶν" IPE1.47.6 (Olbia). 3. recognizing, Th.7.44. 4. means of knowing, "αἱ αἰσθήσεις κυριώταται τῶν καθ᾽ ἕκαστα γ." Arist.Metaph.981b11. III. being known, "γνῶσιν ἔχει τι", = "γνωστόν ἐστι", Pl.Tht.206b. 2. fame, credit, Hdn.7.5.5, Luc.Herod.3. IV. means of knowing: hence, statement in writing, PLond.5.1708, etc. (vi A. D.). V. = γνῶμα, [[Hsch.]] s. h. v.</ref> It is often used for personal knowledge compared with intellectual knowledge (εἴδειν ''eídein''). A related term is the adjective ''gnostikos'', "cognitive",<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=gnwstikos&la=greek#lexicon LSJ entry] '''γνωστ-ικός, ή, όν,''' A. of or for knowing, cognitive: ἡ -κή (sc. ἐπιστήμη), theoretical science (opp. πρακτική), Pl.Plt.258b.c., etc.; τὸ γ. ib.261b; "ἕξεις γ." Arist.AP0.100a11 (Comp.); "γ. εἰκόνες" Hierocl.in CA25p.475M.: c. gen., able to discern, Ocell. 2.7. Adv. "-κῶς" Procl.Inst.39, Dam.Pr.79, Phlp.in Ph.241.22.</ref> a reasonably common adjective in Classical Greek.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/wordfreq?lang=greek&lookup=gnwstiko%2Fs In Perseus databank] 10x [[Plato]], Cratylus, Theaetetus, Sophist, Statesman 2x [[Plutarch]], Compendium libri de animae procreatione + De animae procreatione in Timaeo, 2x [[Pseudo-Plutarch]], De musica</ref> By the [[Hellenistic period]], it began also to be associated with [[Greco-Roman mysteries]], becoming synonymous with the Greek term ''musterion''. Consequentially, ''Gnosis'' often refers to knowledge based on personal experience or perception.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} In a religious context, ''gnosis'' is [[Mysticism|mystical]] or esoteric [[knowledge]] based on direct participation with the divine. In most Gnostic systems, the sufficient cause of salvation is this "knowledge of" ("acquaintance with") the divine. It is an inward "knowing", comparable to that encouraged by [[Plotinus]] ([[neoplatonism]]), and differs from [[proto-orthodox Christianity|proto-orthodox Christian]] views.{{sfn|Ehrman|2003|p=185}} Gnostics are "those who are oriented toward knowledge and understanding – or perception and learning – as a particular modality for living".{{sfn|Valantasis|2006|p={{page needed|date=January 2024}}}} The usual meaning of ''gnostikos'' in Classical Greek texts is "learned" or "intellectual", such as used by [[Plato]] in the comparison of "practical" (''praktikos'') and "intellectual" (''gnostikos'').{{refn|group=note|In Plato's dialogue between Young Socrates and the Foreigner in his ''[[Statesman (dialogue)|The Statesman]]'' (258e).}}{{refn|group=subnote|perseus.tufts.edu, LSJ entry: '''γνωστ-ικός, ή, όν''', A. of or for knowing, cognitive: ἡ -κή (sc. ἐπιστήμη), theoretical science (opp. πρακτική), Pl.Plt.258e, etc.; τὸ γ. ib.261b; "ἕξεις γ." Arist.AP0.100a11 (Comp.); "γ. εἰκόνες" Hierocl.in CA25p.475M.: c. gen., able to discern, Ocell. 2.7. Adv. "-κῶς" Procl.Inst.39, Dam.Pr.79, Phlp.in Ph.241.22.{{r|perseus_LSJ|group=web}}}} Plato's use of "learned" is fairly typical of Classical texts.{{refn|group=note|10x [[Plato]], Cratylus, Theaetetus, Sophist, Statesman 2x [[Plutarch]], Compendium libri de animae procreatione + De animae procreatione in Timaeo, 2x [[Pseudo-Plutarch]], De musica{{r|perseus_gnostikos|group=web}}}} Sometimes employed in the [[Septuagint]] translation of the [[Hebrew Bible]], the adjective is not used in the New Testament, but [[Clement of Alexandria]]{{refn|group=note|In Book 7 of his ''[[Stromateis]]''}} who speaks of the "learned" (''gnostikos'') Christian quite often, uses it in complimentary terms.{{sfn|Smith|1981}} The use of ''gnostikos'' in relation to heresy originates with interpreters of [[Irenaeus]]. Some scholars{{refn|group=note|For example A. Rousseau and L. Doutreleau, translators of the French edition (1974){{sfn|Rousseau|Doutreleau|1974}}}} consider that Irenaeus sometimes uses ''gnostikos'' to simply mean "intellectual",{{refn|group=note|As in 1.25.6, 1.11.3, 1.11.5.}} whereas his mention of "the intellectual sect"{{refn|group=note|Adv. haer. 1.11.1}} is a specific designation.{{sfn|Williams|1996|p=36}}{{refn|group=note|Irenaeus' [[comparative adjective]] ''gnostikeron'' "more learned", evidently cannot mean "more Gnostic" as a name.{{sfn|Williams|1996|p=36}}}}{{refn|group=note|Williams, p. 36: "But several of Irenaeus's uses of the designation ''gnostikos'' are more ambiguous, and it is not so clear whether he is indicating the specific sect again or using 'gnostics' now merely as a shorthand reference for virtually ''all'' of the groups he is criticizing"; p. 37: "They argue that Irenaeus uses ''gnostikos'' in two senses: (1) with the term's 'basic and customary meaning' of 'learned' (savant), and (2) with reference to adherents of the specific sect called 'the gnostic heresy' in Adv. haer. 1.11.1."; p. 271: "1.25.6 where they think that ''gnostikos'' means 'learned' are in 1.11.3 ('A certain other famous teacher of theirs, reaching for a doctrine more lofty and learned [''gnostikoteron''] ...') and 1.11.5 ('... in order that they [i.e.,])."{{sfn|Williams|1996|p=36}}}}{{refn|group=note|Of those groups that Irenaeus identifies as "intellectual" (''gnostikos''), only one, the followers of [[Marcellina (gnostic)|Marcellina]] use the term ''gnostikos'' of themselves.{{sfn|Williams|1996|pp=42–43}}{{refn|group=subnote|Williams: "On the other hand, the one group whom Irenaeus does explicitly mention as users of this self-designation, the followers of the Second Century teacher Marcellina, are not included in Layton's anthology at all, on the grounds that their doctrines are not similar to those of the "classic" gnostics. As we have seen, Epiphanius is one of the witnesses for the existence of a special sect called 'the gnostics', and yet Epiphanius himself seems to distinguish between these people and 'the Sethians' (Pan 40.7.5), whereas Layton treats them as both under the 'classic gnostic' category."{{sfn|Williams|1996|pp=42–43}}}} Later [[Hippolytus of Rome|Hippolytus]] uses "learned" (''gnostikos'') of [[Cerinthus]] and the [[Ebionites]], and [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]] applied "learned" (''gnostikos'') to specific groups.}} The term "Gnosticism" does not appear in ancient sources,{{sfn|Dunderberg|2008|p=16}}{{refn|group=note|Dunderberg: "The problems with the term 'Gnosticism' itself are now well known. It does not appear in ancient sources at all"{{sfn|Dunderberg|2008|p=16}}}} and was first coined in the 17th century by [[Henry More]] in a commentary on the seven letters of the [[Book of Revelation]], where More used the term "Gnosticisme" to describe the heresy in [[Thyatira]].{{sfn|Pearson|2004|p=210}}{{refn|group=note|Pearson: "As Bentley Layton points out, the term Gnosticism was first coined by [[Henry More]] (1614–1687) in an expository work on the seven letters of the Book of Revelation.29 More used the term Gnosticisme to describe the heresy in Thyatira."{{sfn|Pearson|2004|p=210}}}} The term ''Gnosticism'' was derived from the use of the Greek adjective ''gnostikos'' (Greek γνωστικός, "learned", "intellectual") by St. Irenaeus (c. 185 AD) to describe the school of [[Valentinus (Gnostic)|Valentinus]] as ''he legomene gnostike haeresis'' "the heresy called Learned (gnostic)".{{sfn|Haar|2012|p=231}}{{refn|group=note|This occurs in the context of Irenaeus' work ''On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis'', (Greek: ''elenchos kai anatrope tes pseudonymou gnoseos'', ἔλεγχος καὶ ἀνατροπὴ τῆς ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως) where the term "knowledge falsely so-called" (''pseudonymos gnosis'') is a quotation of the [[apostle Paul]]'s warning against "knowledge falsely so-called" in {{bibleverse|1 Timothy|6:20}}, and covers various groups, not just Valentinus.<ref>{{harvnb|Unger|Dillon|1992|p=3}}: "the final phrase of the title 'knowledge falsely so-called' is found in 1 Timothy 6:20".</ref>}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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