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Writer's pictureEdward D. Andrews
Sep 267 min read

What Can Be Learned From Gnostic Gospels and Their False Teachings?

Gnosticism: A Perverse Knowledge


The pursuit of truth is a fundamental aspect of Christian faith, as believers are instructed to "worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). However, throughout Christian history, truth has often been distorted or concealed by erroneous teachings. In the early centuries of the Common Era, a heretical movement known as Gnosticism emerged, claiming superior, secret knowledge about spiritual matters. This "knowledge" conflicted with the foundational truths of the Scriptures. The apostle Paul, foreseeing the rise of such misleading doctrines, warned his disciple Timothy: "O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called 'knowledge,' for by professing it some have swerved from the faith" (1 Timothy 6:20-21).


Gnosticism, derived from the Greek word gnōsis, meaning "knowledge," attempted to blend Christian teachings with pagan mysticism and philosophy, promoting ideas incompatible with the gospel. Early Christian writers, such as Irenaeus, were deeply disturbed by these perversions of the faith and labored intensely to refute them. Irenaeus, a Christian theologian and bishop of Lyons in the second century C.E., composed a five-book work titled The Refutation and Overthrow of Knowledge Falsely So Called, more commonly known as Against Heresies. In it, he condemned Gnosticism and its dangerous theological errors. Irenaeus wrote: "Certain men, rejecting the truth, are introducing among us false stories and vain genealogies, which serve rather to controversies, as the apostle said [1 Timothy 1:3-4], than to God's work of building up in the faith."


The battle between truth and error continues to this day, and believers are called to exercise discernment. Just as Irenaeus fought to preserve the purity of the gospel in his time, Christians today must stand firm against deceptive philosophies that would lead them astray from biblical truth.



The False Teachings of Gnosticism


Gnosticism was rooted in a dualistic worldview that regarded the material world as evil and the spiritual realm as good. This led Gnostics to reject key doctrines of the Christian faith, including the incarnation of Christ and the physical resurrection of the body. One of the central tenets of Gnosticism was the idea that salvation came not through faith in Jesus Christ, but through acquiring secret knowledge about the divine. The Gnostics claimed to possess this hidden knowledge, which they believed set them apart from ordinary Christians.

Irenaeus rejected these claims and stood by the truth of Scripture. He emphasized that true knowledge comes from the revelation of God through Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. In his writings, he pointed out that the Gnostics' so-called "knowledge" was not based on divine revelation but on human speculation and false traditions. The apostle Paul had similarly warned against this type of deception, writing in Colossians 2:8: "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."


One of the more insidious aspects of Gnosticism was its distortion of the person and work of Christ. Many Gnostics embraced a doctrine known as Docetism, which taught that Christ did not actually come in the flesh but only appeared to do so. According to this view, Jesus' physical body was an illusion, and His suffering and death on the cross were not real. This directly contradicted the clear teaching of Scripture, which affirms both the humanity and divinity of Christ. The apostle John warned against such false teachings, writing: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist" (2 John 1:7).


Gnostic teachings were often accompanied by a rejection of moral responsibility. Some Gnostic sects promoted asceticism, believing that all physical pleasures were inherently evil, while others advocated for moral licentiousness, claiming that since the physical body was evil, it did not matter how one lived. Both of these extremes were incompatible with the Christian call to holiness and sanctification. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).



The Influence of Gnosticism on Apostate Christianity


While Gnosticism was rejected by orthodox Christianity, it left an enduring mark on the development of heretical Christian doctrines. Irenaeus and other early Church Fathers were vigilant in their defense of the faith, but some Gnostic ideas infiltrated Christian thought. One example is the ransom theory of atonement, a concept that later theologians like Origen elaborated upon. According to this theory, Christ's death was viewed as a payment made to Satan in order to secure the release of humanity from his control. This idea, though present in early Christian writings, was not biblically grounded and was eventually rejected by later theologians like Anselm of Canterbury, who argued that Christ's sacrifice was made to God, not to Satan.


Gnosticism's disdain for the material world also influenced some early Christian sects to adopt extreme ascetic practices, rejecting marriage and procreation as inherently evil. This stands in stark contrast to the biblical view of marriage, which is presented as a good and holy institution established by God (Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4). The apostle Paul warned against such false teachings, writing: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving" (1 Timothy 4:1-3).



Irenaeus: A Defender of the Faith


Irenaeus' writings provide invaluable insight into the beliefs and practices of early Christianity. He stood firmly on the foundation of Scripture and was uncompromising in his defense of the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). His work Against Heresies not only exposed the errors of Gnosticism but also reaffirmed the central doctrines of the Christian faith, including the belief in one God, the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, who came in the flesh to redeem humanity.


Irenaeus was particularly concerned with preserving the apostolic tradition, which he believed had been handed down through the teachings of men like Polycarp, who had been a disciple of the apostle John. Irenaeus wrote: "These doctrines are not consistent with the church, and involve those who follow them in the greatest impiety." He appealed to the teachings of the apostles and the Scriptures as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and doctrine.


His refutation of Gnosticism was not merely an intellectual exercise but a heartfelt plea to preserve the purity of the gospel. In his letter to his former friend Florinus, who had fallen into the Gnostic heresy of Valentinianism, Irenaeus sought to bring him back to the truth. He reminded Florinus of their shared training under Polycarp and the sound doctrine they had been taught. While there is no record that Florinus ever responded to this letter, Irenaeus' efforts demonstrate his deep concern for the spiritual well-being of others and his commitment to defending the faith.



The Legacy of Irenaeus' Writings


Though Gnosticism eventually faded as a prominent movement, its influence lingered in various forms of heresy throughout church history. The writings of Irenaeus served as a bulwark against these false teachings, providing future generations of Christians with a clear defense of biblical truth. His work laid the groundwork for later theological developments, including the articulation of key doctrines such as the Trinity and the nature of Christ.


Irenaeus' Against Heresies remains an essential resource for understanding the early church's struggle to maintain doctrinal purity in the face of heretical teachings. His unwavering commitment to the authority of Scripture and his rejection of speculative philosophy and false knowledge continue to inspire Christians today to "contend for the faith" and guard against the encroachments of false teaching.


As believers, we are called to follow the example of men like Irenaeus, who stood firm in the truth and did not allow the philosophies of the world to distort the gospel. Paul's warning in Colossians 2:8 remains relevant for us today: "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."


The battle against false knowledge and heresy did not end in the early centuries of Christianity; it continues in various forms today. However, the Word of God remains the ultimate standard by which all teachings must be tested. As the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). By grounding ourselves in the Scriptures and faithfully adhering to the teachings of Christ and His apostles, we can resist the allure of false knowledge and remain steadfast in the truth.



About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).


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