Is Christianity a hybrid of gnostic ideas and Judaism?

Question

Consider the following passage in Romans:

Romans 8

5For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

The idea here is that the flesh is bad and the spirit is good.

While Paul wasn't a gnostic some of the concepts he presents are gnostic in nature. Being Jewish he was still well grounded to the material world.

Perhaps orthodox Christianity is an evolution of gnostic Christianity.

Christ started out as an idea or logos that became flesh as time passed.

John 1

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

...

14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What do you all think?

Answer 1

It seems to make sense, until you learn the timeline of the first 75 years of Christianity.

It's not that "orthodox Christianity is an evolution of gnostic Christianity," Gnosticism is an off-shoot of Christianity.

Gnosticism rose, lived, and died, while other Christians continued in their beliefs, (the Church of Alexandria, for example) so we can see that Gnosticism was an aspect of Christianity, not the source.

The roots you see in scripture, helped to give birth to the Gnostic idea, they aren't the remnants of the idea.

Gnosticism believed that Jesus was never a human -- that Jesus was only spirit.

Historically, Gnosticism found followers once the people who knew Jesus, or saw him as a living person, were all dead, and the 'spirit' idea made sense.

But, the Christian oral tradition and writings all refute the idea.

So, your idea makes sense, it's just not historically accurate and has been written about in other scholarly writings.

(I came to this idea, as well. Because I wanted answers is one of the reasons I went to seminary.)

Answer 2

Don't forget paganism , especially Zoroastrianism .

http://www.pocm.info/getting_started_poc...

Answer 3

That's quite possible, but it appears to me that modern theology is based on the teachings of Paul/Saul, who was rather active in terrorizing the very people who had accepted the real Gospel that Jesus preached. (Acts 7:58 to 8:3)

So you are right on target. There is misrepresentation, but I think it came from Paul. More on my biography.

Answer 4

It is the teaching of false prophet Paul and is hiding behind the pretext of Jesus Gospel. Jesus being the true prophet of God.

Answer 5

Probably is. It is certainly a man-made, recently invented religion compared to others.

It also copies so many others that it is difficult to embrace any of it as 'real'

Answer 6

Modern-day Christianity has turned into a religion about Jesus mixed with various pagan rituals and holy days.

Answer 7

You're going to run into interpretation problems if you read the scriptures wearing gnostic colored glasses.

Gnosticism was but ONE of the heresies which God warned against when He inspired the writers of scripture.

Some, as Peter noted, had been twisting the scriptures to their own damnation.

To believe as you have written, ignores the fact of the inspiration of the scriptures, or shows a misunderstanding of that doctrine.

Answer 8

Christianity itself has always been from the beginning. It's like one of the primary colors.