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==''Synopsis== :'' Gnosticism was a an ill-defined religious movement that occurred both outside of and within the early church. It was one of the biggest threats to the early church. Its name is derived from the Greek word "gnosis" Gnosis ([[Γνωσις]]) which means "knowledge". In essence, Gnostics generally believed that the material world was intrinsically evil, and that the spiritual world was intrinsically good, and that special knowledge was required for the soul to be released from this evil world of matter. Hence, many Gnostic "Christians" would deny that [[God ]] created the world, and believed that [[Jesus ]] brought special knowledge which was given only to an privileged few, so that their souls could be released from the evil material world. ==Contents==

Gnosticism was an ill-defined religious movement that occurred both outside of and within the early church. It was one of the biggest threats to the early church. ==Main article=Etymology=== Its name is derived from the Greek word Gnosis ([[Γνωσις]]) which means "knowledge". ===Beliefs===

Gnosticism was a ill-defined religious movement that occurred both outside of and within the early church. It was one of the biggest threats to the early church. . Its name is derived from the Greek word "gnosis" which means knowledge. In essence, Gnostics generally believed that the material world was intrinsically evil, and that the spiritual world was intrinsically good, and that special knowledge was required for the soul to be released from this evil world of matter. Hence, many Gnostic "Christians" would deny that [[God ]] created the world, and believed that [[Jesus ]] brought special knowledge which was given only to an privileged few, so that their souls could be released from the evil material world.

Ultimately, Gnosticism therefore denied the [[incarnation ]] and [[salvation ]] by the [[Death of Jesus|suffering of Christ]]. ===History of Gnosticism=== Many Gnostic sects were around in the second century. One of the most influential and powerful "Christian" Gnostics was [[Marcion]], who taught that the God of the [[Old Testament]] was different than the God of the [[New Testament]].

Many Gnostic sects were around in the second century. One of the most influential and powerful "Various theologians (known as [[Apologists]]) defended orthodox Christian" Gnostics was Marcion, who taught that the God of the Old Testament was different than the God of the New Testamentfaith against Gnosticism.