Wrap-up Chapter 4

1. Wrap-up Chapter 4 Start on page 75 Read together in class “The Official Religion of the Empire” Heresy: beliefs contrary to some essential belief of the faith Heresy #1: Gnosticism All material things were evil If Jesus came from God, He could therefore not have been human Human figure of Jesus was an apparition

2. Gnosticismcontinued • Human beings in general have no knowledge of God because He is so far removed from them • But Gnostics themselves believed they had a special knowledge of God • Salvation was not a gift from Jesus to all persons but only to the Gnostics • Gnosticism was a heresy because it was contrary to the understanding we get from the primary sources on Jesus: the Apostles via the Gospels • Thrived during the period of persecution • Gnosticism caused turmoil, but long-term led to clarity and unity of belief

3. Gnosticismtook a bewildering variety of forms, but basically it teaches salvation through knowledge (gnosis). Its underlying philosophy is a dualism which regards matter as inherently evil, the product of a demiurge or master-workman who is an inferior being to the Supreme God. The Supreme God, being pure spirit, naturally cannot allow Himself to contract defilement by coming into contact with matter in any way. (Hence Gnosticism cannot accept in their fullness the biblical doctrines of creation, incarnation or resurrection.)

4. According to Gnosticism, in this life men are souls imprisoned in material bodies; it is by true knowledge that they can be liberated from this imprisonment and from the entanglements of the material universe, and thus ascend to the upper world of light where the spiritual nature has its home. • Jesus appears in Gnosticismas the redeemer who came to communicate this saving knowledge and effect this liberation; He communicated the knowledge to selected disciples in the interval between His resurrection and ascension, that they in turn night impart it to a spiritual élite.

5. Selected Extracts from The Text of the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas PROLOGUE These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded. 1 And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death.“ 2 Jesus said, "Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will rule over all.“ 3 Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's) imperial rule is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the (Father's) imperial rule is inside you and outside you. When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty.“ 4 Jesus said, "The person old in days won't hesitate to ask a little child seven days old about the place of life, and that person will live. For many of the first will be last, and will become a single one.“ 5 Jesus said, "Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden from you will be disclosed to you. For there is nothing hidden that won't be revealed."

6. 52 His disciples said to him, "Twenty four prophets have spoken in Israel, and they all spoke of you." He said to them, "You have disregarded the living one who is in your presence, and have spoken of the dead.“ 62 Jesus said, "I disclose my mysteries to those [who are worthy] of [my] mysteries. Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.“ 112 Jesus said, "Damn the flesh that depends on the soul. Damn the soul that depends on the flesh.“ _________________________________________________________________________ • By year 200 BCE Gnosticism had helped lead to formulation of the Apostles Creed which all persons wishing to be baptized had to accept in public

7. Another Heresy: Arianism • Denied Jesus’ divinity • Arose after the persecutions around the time of Constantine • Caused a split in the church which lasted for centuries • Arians did not believe the unknowable, unreachable, and unchangeable God could take the form of a mere human • Arians believed calling Jesus divine was merely a courtesy as he was neither human or divine – He was something in between

8. Constantine called a church council to meet at Nicaea, a town opposite Constantinople • Arius, the founder of Arianism, watched as is beliefs were condemned as wrong • When he refused to recant, Arius was declared a heretic • The council of bishops wrote a creed more elaborate than the Apostles Creed and called it the Nicene Creed which is still read at Mass today; the anti-Arianism part in italics is: We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father

9. Anti-Gnosticism: The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

10. Anti-Arianism: The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.