Not To Be Confused With
Gnosticism is not one church but a family of systems. Its hallmark is secret saving knowledge plus matter-hating dualism — which is why it clashed with the Christian doctrines of creation and incarnation.
From Greek gnōsis, “knowledge.” Gnostic systems typically split a good spiritual realm from an evil material one, making the body a prison and the incarnation an embarrassment. The early Church rejected it by insisting creation is good and the Word truly became flesh.
Examples
- The Gospel of Thomas and other non-canonical “gnostic gospels” come from this milieu — flagged as non-canonical, not Scripture.