Gnosticism!

[AHIMSA]

I've just been reading through an amazing book called "Living Gnosis: A Practical Guide to Gnostic Christianity" by Tau Malachai. The focus of the book is on Sophian Gnosticism, and is not dualistic as many other Gnostic schools are, thus, I find it perfectly reconcilible with the Bible and my other religious affiliations.

Gnosticism calls us to obtain Gnosis, to meet the Divine in a radical, deeply personal encounter with the self, to uncloud our illusions and bring forth the soul of light that exists within each of us.

Gnosticism immerses us in a world in which symbols become the primary language of religion and life, in which everything takes on a tremendous potential for meaning. Thus we are left ever-contemplating, ever growing, ever-evolving, moving upwards towards God and re-unification. The focus on the Divine Feminine (Sophia) is also very uplifting as it has helped me to rework my image of the purely male God.

This book has changed my life, and I can now add Gnostic to my multi-religious identity.

Has anyone else had any encounters with Gnosticism? I'm sure SomaSight has some good things to add.

* If you're going to tell me that Gnosticism is a heresy, that I should turn away from it and find "real" Christianity, ect. then just keep in mind before you type that it isn't anything I haven't heard or been told before.

 

[Sothenes]

Petrement, Simone, "A Separate God", The Origins and Teachings of Gnosticism is a book that I found in CBD's catalog. I don't believe in Gnosticism.

 

[Soma-Sight]

Well AHIMSA dont be too surprised if no one around here understands the merit of Gnosticism.

Gnosticism calls us to obtain Gnosis, to meet the Divine in a radical, deeply personal encounter with the self, to uncloud our illusions and bring forth the soul of light that exists within each of us.

"Before Gnosis all scripture is misunderstood....

After Gnosis all scripture is unecessary....."

lol... :wink:

Did Saint Paul have a Gnostic encounter on the road prior to his conversion?

Being hit by the 'white light' and the subsequent "interior knowledge" of the power of Jesus Christ?

If that is not a bona fide Gnostic experience than I dont know what is! He never actually met Christ in the flesh and the men with him were unaffected by the nuclear blast from God on Saint Pauls head......

Gnosticism immerses us in a world in which symbols become the primary language of religion and life, in which everything takes on a tremendous potential for meaning. Thus we are left ever-contemplating, ever growing, ever-evolving, moving upwards towards God and re-unification. The focus on the Divine Feminine (Sophia) is also very uplifting as it has helped me to rework my image of the purely male God.

Im not sure if it has been done in any sort of study but there has to be some sort of psychological basis for the early gnostic movement.

I wonder what Jung thought of the Gnostics?

Anyways, the utter lack of the feminine aspect of God in modern day mainstream Xtianity makes one very "suspicious" of an unbalanced trinity. Top off this male dominated trinity with an OT full of women being treated like "property" and you find yourself thinking.....

"Where is the 'ying' in our 'yang'????" :

How can you have male and no female? :

Then you look back in history and find that many early Christians actually did believe in a Female Diety and you see the "light"..... :wink:

 

[Disciple88]

Well AHIMSA dont be too surprised if no one around here understands the merit of Gnosticism.

Gnosticism calls us to obtain Gnosis, to meet the Divine in a radical, deeply personal encounter with the self, to uncloud our illusions and bring forth the soul of light that exists within each of us.

"Before Gnosis all scripture is misunderstood....

After Gnosis all scripture is unecessary....."

lol... :wink:

Did Saint Paul have a Gnostic encounter on the road prior to his conversion?

Being hit by the 'white light' and the subsequent "interior knowledge" of the power of Jesus Christ?

If that is not a bona fide Gnostic experience than I dont know what is! He never actually met Christ in the flesh and the men with him were unaffected by the nuclear blast from God on Saint Pauls head......


[quote:cdacd]Gnosticism immerses us in a world in which symbols become the primary language of religion and life, in which everything takes on a tremendous potential for meaning. Thus we are left ever-contemplating, ever growing, ever-evolving, moving upwards towards God and re-unification. The focus on the Divine Feminine (Sophia) is also very uplifting as it has helped me to rework my image of the purely male God.

Im not sure if it has been done in any sort of study but there has to be some sort of psychological basis for the early gnostic movement.

I wonder what Jung thought of the Gnostics?

Anyways, the utter lack of the feminine aspect of God in modern day mainstream Xtianity makes one very "suspicious" of an unbalanced trinity. Top off this male dominated trinity with an OT full of women being treated like "property" and you find yourself thinking.....

"Where is the 'ying' in our 'yang'????" :

How can you have male and no female? :

Then you look back in history and find that many early Christians actually did believe in a Female Diety and you see the "light"..... :wink:[/quote:cdacd]

Wow, Paul warned us about people like you. "Difficult times with come for men will be lovers of self....arrogant...unholy"(2Tim. 3:1-2). "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desire"(2Tim 4:3).

Evil and unholy men like you two are apostates, and ALL WHO READ THIS SHOULD KNOW! I have warned you in the past Soma, just like God's Word commands me to do so, as wel as I am exposing you too. You are not a son of God but a son of your father the devil.

Let it be known, you will be judged by the God Almighty and condemned if you do not repent of your evil ways.

Bondservant of the One and only Saviour, Jesus Christ,

Andrew

 

[soma]

"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding." JOB 37:5 NIV

Insight into truth or contact with God through an exaltation of the mind or soul is not bad. Gnosism is knowledge to know God. It is positive and not negative so the spirit can fly. Others feel comfortable shooting anything that flys in the air, but don't let their jeolousy get you down, down, down where red is the predominant color. Self reflection and the awakening of consciousness is good.

 

[Soma-Sight]

Wow, Paul warned us about people like you. "Difficult times with come for men will be lovers of self....arrogant...unholy"(2Tim. 3:1-2). "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desire"(2Tim 4:3).

Evil and unholy men like you two are apostates, and ALL WHO READ THIS SHOULD KNOW! I have warned you in the past Soma, just like God's Word commands me to do so, as wel as I am exposing you too. You are not a son of God but a son of your father the devil.

Let it be known, you will be judged by the God Almighty and condemned if you do not repent of your evil ways.

Bondservant of the One and only Saviour, Jesus Christ,

Andrew

......................... : : :

Were you going to refute specific points of my argument through reason and dialectic?

Or are you just going to continue with childish name calling and oooggiiee boogiiee bad man finger pointing? :-? :-?

Evil and unholy men like you two are apostates

:-?

Boy you sure have me pinned down!

After writing this I am planning on getting drunk and kiling some virgins in the name of Machu - Pichu...... You got me thier chief! :roll:

I have warned you in the past Soma, just like God's Word commands me to do so, as wel as I am exposing you too. You are not a son of God but a son of your father the devil.

My dad might be pretty uncaring in a lot of ways but he is not all devil.... :

Seriously though..... What are you trying to prove with rhetoric like this?

Is this somehow going to magically change my beliefs to be in accordance with the "objective" doctrine of Calvinism and help me join the Rush Limbau news letter squad?

Thanks for the concern.....

Let it be known, you will be judged by the God Almighty and condemned if you do not repent of your evil ways.

Your right!

Please pray for me that my Spirit is strong when dealing with closed minded bigots that love to point fingers everywhere but themselves.....

 

[Relic]

.

NO, they are NOT the alternative documents to Christianity nor are they valid addendums to the Gospel as we have it in the bible! Why? Because although some give "part truths" most of the Gnostics elaborate and contradict the bible as a whole.

What is Gnosticism?
Watch this section of a broadcast of the John Ankerberg show with Dr. Erwin Lutzer speaking on the origin and brief description of Gnosticism. It is 1 minutes :29 seconds long.
http://www.ankerberg.com/TV/now_playing_VCDAVQ5.htm

What are the Gnostic Gospels?
same broadcast different section of the broadcast. 2 minutes 43 seconds long.
http://www.ankerberg.com/TV/now_playing_VCDAVQ6.htm



Additional resources:
Ankerberg Theological Research Institute - The John Ankerberg Show Do the Gnostic Gospels provide important historical information? ... What is gnosticism? What do they believe? Are there modern day gnostics, ...
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0504W1.htm - 86k -

Should Additional Gospels Have Been in Our Bibles The teaching of Gnostic dualism is what the gospels of John and Epistles appear to be ... So what is the evidence that these Gnostic Gospels give us better ...
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articl...dditional-Gospels-Have-Been-in-our-Bibles.htm- 70k -

Should Additional Gospels Have Been in Our Bibles Some radical critics of the New Testament claim that the Gnostic Gospel of ... Furthermore, the Gnostic theological bias against matter would downplay the ...
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articl...i/HJ-davinci-What-Is-The-Gospel-of-Thomas.htm - 61k

Five Key Questions From the DaVinci Code This knowledge of which the Gnostic boasted, related to the subjects ordinarily ... Are the Gnostic Gospels earlier and more accurate? Why were the Gnostic ...
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/historical-Jesus/DaVinci/HJ-davinci-5-questions.htm- 83k

Crash Goes the DaVinci Code In this line of thought, the true version of Christianity was Gnostic Christianity ... 18 The Apocryphon of John, another Gnostic document, contains a sober ...
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/historical-Jesus/DaVinci/HJ-davinci-crash-davinci-code.htm - 217k

Theological Dictionary Articles What is gnosticism? What do they believe? Are there modern day gnostics, or was this only a first-century problem? Dr. Geisler explains. March, 2000 ...
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/archives-td.htm - 215k -
[PDF]File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat -Gnosticism
By Dr. Norman Geisler (from the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Baker, 1999)
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFArchives/theological-dictionary/TD4W0300.pdf

Ankerberg Theological Research Institute - The John Ankerberg Show The Bible is consistently interpreted along Gnostic, occult lines, while the philosophy of the New Age itself is anti-biblical. The occult philosophy of the ...
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/new-age/NA1101W3.htm- 68k -

[PDF] What God Wishes Christians Knew About Christianity - Part 6 File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat -
Well, then What About 1 John 1:9? Well, folks, Gnosticism was A big problem. in the churches at that time. the Gnostics believed that all matter was evil. ...
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFArchives/practical-christianity/PC3W0505.pdf


.

 

[ÃÂoppleganger]

Its funny how there were few gnostic documents B4 christianity, after Christ theres an explosion of gnostic gospels, apocryphas & epistles. Most early biblical writers who knew the former disciples and their apprentices refute Gnostic teachings completely. Very few pre-christ texts compared 2 post-christ texts. All they did was piggy back on the true messiahs success and re-invent it in their own image, like Marcion. Gnosticism was a bit different then, as opposed to now, but essentially the same. Mithrians believe the devil is the creator of Genesis, also. This was later changed too by various sects to line up with church views. Jews had there own form of Gnosticism centered in Alexendria and supported by Ptolemy and others. The Epistle of Barnabas written b4 the last jewish revolt even claims in biblical terms how the temple shall be rebuilt after the jewish revolt succeeds. Obvilisly, that didnt happen. Sophists = byzantines were just gnostics poising as christians, the wierdness that happened in the court of Constantinople attests 2 this. Later Albigensians, Cathars and Templars perpetuated this lie written in the daVinci codes and Holy Blood Holy Grail. its nonsense!!!!!

 

[DivineNames]

Wow, Paul warned us about people like you. "Difficult times with come for men will be lovers of self....arrogant...unholy"(2Tim. 3:1-2). "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desire"(2Tim 4:3).

Evil and unholy men like you two are apostates, and ALL WHO READ THIS SHOULD KNOW! I have warned you in the past Soma, just like God's Word commands me to do so, as wel as I am exposing you too. You are not a son of God but a son of your father the devil.

But how do we know that Paul wasn't a "son of his father the devil"? And if he was, well we obviously can't trust his warnings.

 

[OrpheusStar]

I wonder what Jung thought of the Gnostics?

- Quoting him directly - Your vision will become clear only when you look into your own heart. Who looks outside dreams. Who looks inside awakes.

- Carl Jung, Letters, volumes I

 

[OrpheusStar]

Its funny how there were few gnostic documents B4 christianity, after Christ theres an explosion of gnostic gospels, apocryphas & epistles. Most early biblical writers who knew the former disciples and their apprentices refute Gnostic teachings completely. Very few pre-christ texts compared 2 post-christ texts. All they did was piggy back on the true messiahs success and re-invent it in their own image, like Marcion. Gnosticism was a bit different then, as opposed to now, but essentially the same. Mithrians believe the devil is the creator of Genesis, also. This was later changed too by various sects to line up with church views. Jews had there own form of Gnosticism centered in Alexendria and supported by Ptolemy and others. The Epistle of Barnabas written b4 the last jewish revolt even claims in biblical terms how the temple shall be rebuilt after the jewish revolt succeeds. Obvilisly, that didnt happen. Sophists = byzantines were just gnostics poising as christians, the wierdness that happened in the court of Constantinople attests 2 this. Later Albigensians, Cathars and Templars perpetuated this lie written in the daVinci codes and Holy Blood Holy Grail. its nonsense!!!!!

- Your whole post is a complete ignorant mess of incoherent evanglism and ignorace of history. There were MANY Gnostic documents before the ones that are considered "Christian". Gnosticism dates back far beyond Christianity and has roots in Greece, Egyptian and Jewish mysticism. And like the classical HERESIOLOGIST, here we go picking on Marcion. I love how things never change. Here we go.

Most early biblical writers who knew the former disciples and their apprentices refute Gnostic teachings completely

- Oh you mean, literal scriptural that scholars have shown has either been forged or altered in one fashion or the other? Paul was made out to be anti-Gnostic in some of his writings, and those particular writings, the pastorals I believe, are considered among a large amount of scholars to be forged. Interesting. Fact of the matter is, during the second and third centuries you had alot of documents attributed to people. Forgeries. Including Paul. And even the synoptic gospels dated to 65 - 100 AD have evidence of being tampered with.

- I need to quote Elaine Pagels for this:

"Much of passes for "historical" interpretation of Paul and "objective" analysis of his letters can be traced to second-century heresiologists. If the apostle were so unequivacally anti-Gnostic, how could the GNOSTICS claim him as their great teacher? How could they say the following is his example when they offer secret teachings of wisdom and knowlege "to the initiates". How could they claim his resurrection theology as the source of their own, citing HIS word as decisive evidence AGAINST the proto-orthodox doctrine of bodily resurrection" (Empasis mine)

 

[ÃÂoppleganger]

Boy ur sure upset! No I'm hardly ignorant. Get bac 2 u ->

1. The word Gnosis comes from the word "to know" Know what?
2. Some may argue that some epistle ascribed to Paul and Peter really aren't written by them? Yet most Early church writers AD - 300 refer to the the Known - Ascribed To - Already (canonized) NT books while disregarding known Gnostic texts as heretical!
3. Mythraism, Jewish Gnostics and Christian Gnostisism explode after Christ's Death ascribing there authority of knowing to Christ himself! But that wasn't The Message Of The Gospels Or Epistles!
4. Heres 1 definition of a Gnostic. Gnosticism is a historical term for various mystical initiatory religions, sects and knowledge schools that were most active in the first few centuries A.D. Thats not Christ's teachings or followings!
5. This "special" pursuit of mysticism or "special knowledge" "gnosis" as the central goal of life isn't found in those dumb Gnostic tractates of heretics! TRUTH is only found in the One True Bible, which includes Paul and Peter. Which the earliest church fathers and proto-disciples like Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp attest to.
6. Irenaeus of Lyon a disciple of Polycarp wrote a number of books, the most important that survives is a 5 volume set "On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis." Maybe you should Read it!
7.(The Number of Completeness) An excerpt from PAGAN & CHRISTIAN CREEDS: THEIR ORIGIN AND MEANING By EDWARD CARPENTER

Returning to the doctrine of the Savior, I have already
in preceding chapters given so many instances of belief
in such a deity among the pagans--whether he be called
Krishna or Mithra or Osiris or Horus or Apollo or Hercules
--that it is not necessary to dwell on the subject any further
in order to persuade the reader that the doctrine was 'in the
air' at the time of the advent of Christianity. Even
Dionysus, then a prominent figure in the 'Mysteries,'
was called Eleutherios, The Deliverer. But it may be of
interest to trace the same doctrine among the PRE-CHRISTIAN
sects of Gnostics. The Gnostics, says Professor Murray,[1]
"are still commonly thought of as a body of CHRISTIAN
heretics. In reality there were Gnostic sects scattered over
the Hellenistic world BEFORE Christianity as well as after

 

[AHIMSA]

1. The word Gnosis comes from the word "to know" Know what?

I think this is the fundamental problem between orthodox Christianity and Gnosticism. People who look literally to the Bible will never know what it is that the Gnostics know, for gnosis is a knowledge that far surpasses intellectual or surface understandings. It is transhistorical and transreligious, and its true nature can only be understood by those who are truly willing to press forth and recongnize the symbollic language of religion. Gnosis, in scripture, is never found in a simple reading of a text, nor in doctrine, dogma or theology. This is why it is hidden, why so often it is secret because, by its nature, it is sublime. The Gnostic sees the path in the cannonized Christian scriptures, and his own. As goes the Gnostic saying "both read the bible day and night, but you read black where I read white".

Those who wish to encounter the Gnostic Christ will do so, as Jesus said "if you ask you will recieve".

Think of it, Jesus spent his entire ministry proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom of God, yet he then declares:
"The Kingdom is within you".

The entire inner life of the soul unfolds in the cannonized gospels.

 

[ÃÂoppleganger]

Luke 1:76-79
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

1 John 4:4-6
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Jeremiah 51:17 Every man is brutish by his knowledge

Psalms 144:3-4 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Psalms 94:11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

1 john 5:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

As you can see Gnostics are only fooling themselves, They can't by God's own words have understanding. The beginning and end of all Gnosticledge (knowledge) is the FEAR of the LORD. Man has no knowledge or understanding other than what God gives him. They may use common sense, and scientific methods, or humm Ohms to some Mystical voodoo God. But That aint Knowledge! Not of God anyways! LITERALLY !!

Acts 8:9 - 25

 

[Soma-Sight]

I think this is the fundamental problem between orthodox Christianity and Gnosticism. People who look literally to the Bible will never know what it is that the Gnostics know, for gnosis is a knowledge that far surpasses intellectual or surface understandings. It is transhistorical and transreligious, and its true nature can only be understood by those who are truly willing to press forth and recongnize the symbollic language of religion. Gnosis, in scripture, is never found in a simple reading of a text, nor in doctrine, dogma or theology. This is why it is hidden, why so often it is secret because, by its nature, it is sublime. The Gnostic sees the path in the cannonized Christian scriptures, and his own. As goes the Gnostic saying "both read the bible day and night, but you read black where I read white".

Those who wish to encounter the Gnostic Christ will do so, as Jesus said "if you ask you will recieve".

Think of it, Jesus spent his entire ministry proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom of God, yet he then declares:
"The Kingdom is within you".

The entire inner life of the soul unfolds in the cannonized gospels.

Thats pretty intense.

 

[Soma-Sight]

As you can see Gnostics are only fooling themselves, They can't by God's own words have understanding. The beginning and end of all Gnosticledge (knowledge) is the FEAR of the LORD. Man has no knowledge or understanding other than what God gives him. They may use common sense, and scientific methods, or humm Ohms to some Mystical voodoo God. But That aint Knowledge! Not of God anyways! LITERALLY !!

When you are hit in the face with the Clear Light of God's presence you WILL know FEAR. But at the same time you will feel LOVE and COMPLETENESS that no material wealth can fill.

The Gnostic experience of Christ has nothing to do with the "knowledge" you imply. It is an ACTUAL experience of the TRANSCENDESCENT while in a body. You cannot put it into words or justify it by reason.

It is beyond the "knowledge" you imply, and to equate Gnosticism with this kind of knowledge is a misrepresentation of what "Gnosis" is all about.[/b]

 

[ÃÂoppleganger]

Gnostics call it that not me, christianity isn't transcendentalism either. IF faith and salvation were based on it most people would die a 2nd spirtual death anyways. Thats the message of the gospels & Epistles. Your message doesn't come from the Bible and you can't show me any proof it does! Only certain people, special people can have that! Well God gave many gifts to man I don't ever read Transcendence being 1 of them. I was given the gift of prophecy once! And it totally came true. I don't need your fake religion to enlighten me, Thank-you very much!?!

Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Job 15:2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? {vain...: Heb. knowledge of wind}

Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. {law: or, doctrine} {converting: or, restoring}

Psalms 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Ecclesiastes 9:17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

Ecclesiastes 8:5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. {shall...: Heb. shall know}

Isaiah 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! {in their own sight: Heb. before their face}

Proverbs 24:23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

Jeremiah 8:8 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. {in vain made...: or, the false pen of the scribes worketh for falsehood}

Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools

 

[OrpheusStar]

Soma Sight, what do you consider yourself? A Gnostic? Orthodox? or some kind of hybrid?

 

[soma]

An empty Christian has nothing to give so they condemn and talk trash about everything under the sun. Please commune with Jesus Christ and come up with something positive.

 

[AHIMSA]

Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.


Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Gnostics do not claim to have any great wisdom, nor do they claim to be wise or to understand.

For we must seek to gain understanding, we must pursue knowledge. The fruit of this quest is the knowledge that we understand nothing, and to know this is to understand. And to understand this is to be wise.

As Paul says, "we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles" 1 Corinthians 1:23

And indeed, the gnosis of Christ is said to be absurd, yet the Gnostics bathe in the mystery of his death. Christ was put to death, yet those who seek the Living Christ will find him. Yet not all will seek him, and so not all will reveal his secret wisdom.

Gnostic Hints in the Writings of Paul


"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature" (indicating that there were divisons among Christians, those who were ready to recieve the higher teachings and gnosis of Christ, and those who were in the infancy stages)

"No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age have understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

1 Corinthians Chapter 1.
The wisdom of God is secret and hidden, yet Christ is the key.