Gnosticism and the Johannine Literature (Pt 1 )

As Christianity developed and came into contact with other cultural forms, it encountered many diverse challenges. Although the theological conflict certainly resulted in a better understanding of the meaning of Christ and a clearer presentation of Christian belief, it presented a serious threat to the very existence of Christianity. The challenge was in the arena of thought and it would either "make" or "break" Christianity. Gnosticism posed such a challenge.

Gnosticism was one of several sects existing during the early life of the Christian church. It denotes the teachings of a group of first and second century deviationists who were the scorned objects of many orthodox fathers. Gnosticism claimed to be a sure way to the knowledge, hence the vision, of God. It claimed that its rites, ceremonies, prescriptions, and its path to God were divinely inspired and transmitted to the elite esoteric through a mysterious tradition. Furthermore, it claimed, in essence, that its magical formulas offered an infallible means to salvation.

Gnosticism exerted a particular attraction upon the educated and sophisticated church Christians and threatened to overwhelm the primitive communities. The church increasingly came to think of the Gnostics as dangerous opponents of which there could be no peaceful co-existence. Nigg expresses it thusly: