gnosticism: References & Edit History
More Articles On This Topic
- angel and demonCelestial and noncelestial forms: relationships of beliefs in angels and demons to views of the cosmos
- astrologyNature and significance
- atheismAtheism and intuitive knowledge
- JesusEarly heresies
- ChristologyThe earliest controversies
- dualismNature and significance
- dualismGood and evil
- church yearEpiphany
- MaryDogmatic titles
- JesusSources for the life of Jesus
- ChristianityEarly church
- religious syncretism
- salvationNature
- religious symbolism and iconographyDiagrammatic and emblematic
- worshipCorporate exclusive worship
- Roman religionIntroduction of Christianity and Mithraism
- Hellenistic religionThe gods
- ChristianityNormative defenses in the early church
- ChristianityMessianic secrets and the mysteries of salvation
- history of MesopotamiaThe Parthian period
- millennialismMillennialism from the Renaissance to the modern world
- ancient Middle EastReligion
- St. Clement of AlexandriaEarly life and career
- St. Hyginus
- St. Ignatius of AntiochThe letters: Warnings against false teachings
- St. IrenaeusIrenaeus’s writings: conflict with the gnostics
- Roman CatholicismApostolic succession
- St. Pius I
- PlotinusPlotinus’s teachings and writings
- St. Polycarp
Additional Reading
Translations of the Nag Hammadi writings, the Berlin Codex 8502, and the Codex Tchacos—with helpful notes, discussions, and bibliographies—are found in Marvin Meyer (ed.), The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The International Edition (2007). An anthology of Nag Hammadi texts and selections from important heresiologists is Bentley Layton, The Gnostic Scriptures: A New Translation with Annotations and Introductions (1987). Comprehensive discussions of “gnostic” traditions and writings are Birger A. Pearson, Ancient Gnosticism: Traditions and Literature (2007); and Christoph Markschies, Gnosis: An Introduction, trans. by John Bowden (2003). Some problems with the category of gnosticism itself are treated in Michael Allen Williams, Rethinking “Gnosticism”: An Argument for Dismantling a Dubious Category (1996); and Karen L. King, What is Gnosticism? (2003).
Article Contributors
Primary Contributors
Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors
Article History
| Type | Description | Contributor | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add new Web site: Heritage History - Jewry, Father of the Gnostics. | Jul 23, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: Heritage History - The Gnostics. | May 28, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: Jewish Virtual Library - Gnosticism. | Feb 21, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: ABC listen - Sunday Nights - The Good Life and Gnosticism (Part 1 - America). | Jan 09, 2026 | ||
| Questions and answers added. | Mar 19, 2025 | ||
| Add new Web site: Academia - Gnosticism. | Apr 19, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: Christianity.com - Gnosticism. | Mar 08, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: Catholic Online - Gnosticism. | Dec 26, 2023 | ||
| Links added. | Aug 25, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Biblical Cyclopedia - Gnosticism. | Mar 31, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Encyclopaedia Iranica - Gnosticism. | Dec 03, 2022 | ||
| Add new Web site: World History Encyclopedia - Gnosticism. | May 23, 2022 | ||
| Add new Web site: Learn Religious - Gnosticism: Definition and Beliefs. | Mar 28, 2021 | ||
| Add new Web site: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Gnosticism. | Jun 18, 2017 | ||
| Article revised. | Apr 19, 2017 | ||
| Images added. | Jul 02, 2015 | ||
| Add new Web site: Jewish Virtual Library - Gnosticism. | Feb 21, 2014 | ||
| Add new Web site: JewishEncyclopedia.com - Gnosticism. | Feb 21, 2014 | ||
| Changed "transcedent" to "transcendent" in first paragraph under "Nature." | May 07, 2009 | ||
| Article thoroughly revised and updated. | May 07, 2009 | ||
| Added new Web site: Metareligion - Gnosticism. | Jan 31, 2007 | ||
| Article added to new online database. | Jul 20, 1998 |