7/2/2026 – From BSA/Bible Nerds here.
OP – Origins of “Gnostic” thought? – Avery Barron Jun 12 – Out of raw curiosity I’m wondering if scholars have a picture of why [the suite of cosmological and theological concepts we tend to call] Gnosticism emerged, respectively in contrast to the cosmo/theology of the contemporary orthodoxy. I’ve gotten bigger picture insights that make the logical connections to Middle/Neo-Platonism as the sort of ontological setting for such ideas to develop, but I guess what I don’t have a picture of why these ideas seemed useful for developing a Biblical/Christological model when ostensibly the simpler path was hopping on board with the relatively teleological development of extant theological models. Any insights or links to good writing are welcome. Thanks y’all!
[Below are comments I found responsive.]
OV – A good starting point for this exploration is to consider Gnosticism and Apocalypticism as two different solutions to the problems created by monotheism.
Avery – Does this imply Gnosticism isn’t concerned with the eschaton or is that not the exclusive property of Apocalypticism?
OV… I think with the eschaton. It depends on whether this is viewed as an individual or a collective solution. Driving this is a desire for some fairness and justice. The apocalypticists are hoping for a divine solution to punish the wicked so that life on earth can be protected from evil; this is a collectivist solution. The Gnostics have given up on saving Earth and are hoping they will return to the source and not have to worry about the physical plane anymore; this is the individualistic solution. So it depends on whether you consider the end to be personal or collective. I think both of these are evolving counterculture movements
Keith P. Myers – part of the answer depends upon how you define “Gnosticism.” But really, most of the elements of Gnosticism were already present within Middle Platonism. Middle Platonism meets Christian myth and….whoala!….you essentially have Gnosticism. I think Gnosticism is essentially Christianity through the lens of Middle Platonism. Good God/Bad God….already in Middle Platonism. “Divine sparks” trapped in matter….already in Middle Platonism. Spirits freeing themselves to reunite with the “One/God”….already in Middle Platonism. Some of these elements were also found in strains of Jewish thought, which simply made there acceptance all the more favorable. For instance, Philo was a rough contemporary of Jesus and had already combined Platonic philosophy with his Judaism.
Keith P. Myers Jun 13 – Jesus was part of an Apocalyptic movement. They were all expecting God to establish a Kingdom on earth that set everything right with Jesus as a Kingly ruler. And then he died! This was likely a great shock to everyone! But rather than the movement breaking apart, something happened. People starting reporting appearances of Jesus or visions of Jesus. So the default position became…..the Kingdom is still coming, but Jesus has been taken up to heaven to be with God, so what REALLY has to happen is a SECOND coming! And it is going to happen soon! Until it didn’t. At this point people were scrambling to make sense of the whole thing. Some simply assumed that there WILL be a second coming, just unknown time off in the future. Others switched it around and said that there had been a misunderstanding. Jesus didn’t mean a Kingdom of God on earth, he meant a Kingdom of Heaven up there with God! Therefore when we accept him as our saviour and believe in his death and resurrection when we die we will go up to heaven to be with God. The earth is not our home. We are only here temporarily. Gnosticism was part of this phase or version of answering the question….Jesus died! Now what?
And, as far as early inclinations within Judaism, consider the wisdom literature. Particularly Proverbs Ch 8. From 8:22….”I was beside him like a Master Craftsman” (wisdom speaking). Here wisdom is being personified as a female agent and described as a Master Craftsman that participated in the creation of the world. This is certainly an early version of the Gnostic idea of wisdom as a female agent Sophia, and the idea of a Demiurge/Craftsman creating the world.
Charles Bledsoe Jun 13 – Perhaps it was simply the case that Christian Gnostics found the mix of mythology, middle Platonism, Eastern dualism, and Jewish mysticism that went into forming Gnosticism to be subjectively appealing, credible, and persuasive. It simply struck the right chord with many early Christ-believers because of their religious and philosophical background and worldview.
Charles Bledsoe, Jun 18 – Paul Trejo Let’s not overlook Middle Platonism. The roots of Christian Gnosticism are largely to be found in Middle Platonism.
