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"In The Beginning Was The Word"
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." John 1:1-3The Pre-existence of Jesus in Timeless Eternity is recorded in John 1:1-3. This opposes the theory of creation called "Gnosticism" or "The Knowing Ones."
Chaos The Grrek god of creationThe term "gnostic" derives from "gnosis," which means "knowledge" in Greek. The Gnostics believed that they were privy to a secret knowledge about the divine, hence the name. (Huxley coined "agnosticism" on the basis that all knowledge must be based on reason. We cannot rationally claim to have access to knowledge that is beyond the powers of the intellect.)
The Gnostics thought that the world was so bad that a truly good god could not have made it. So they imagined a series of emanations, each inferior to the one before, until the 23rd emanation (or step) down was foolish enough to make our world and they named him Chaos, the Greek god of creation. Later authors defined Chaos as the chaotic mix of elements that existed in the primeval universe. Others sought to account for the rise of Gnosticism by the influence of Greek Platonic philosophy and the Greek mysteries, while Harnack described it as "acute Hellenization of Christianity". It is markedly peculiar to Gnosticism that it places the salvation of the soul merely in the possession of a quasi-intuitive knowledge of the mysteries of the universe and of magic formulae indicative of that knowledge. Gnostics were "people who knew", and their knowledge at once constituted them a superior class of beings, whose present and future status was essentially different from that of those who, for whatever reason, did not know.
By the second century, many very different Christian-Gnostic sects had formed within the Roman Empire at the eastern end of the Mediterranean. Some Gnostics worked within Jewish Christian and mainline Christian groups, and greatly influenced their beliefs from within. Others formed separate communities. Still others were solitary practitioners.
There does not seem to have been much formal organization among the Gnostics during the early centuries of the Christian movement. As mainline Christianity grew in strength and organization, Gnostic sects came under increasing pressure, oppression and persecution. They almost disappeared by the 6th century. The only group to have survived continuously from the 1st century into modern times is the Mandaean sect of Iraq and Iran. This group can trace their history continuously back to the original Gnostic movement.
Many new emerging religions in the West have adopted some ancient Gnostic beliefs and practices. By far, the most successful of these is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- the LDS or Mormon church, centered in Salt Lake City, UT.
At its higher form Gnosticism related to abstract speculation and grappling with problems which are obstacles to educated people. A modern-day example would be the Theory of Evolution. At its lowest form it related to secrets of the future, or psychic revelation.
The early church was fertile ground for Gnostic teachers according to the writings of Irenaeus. Gnostic teachers of John's day sought to fill this longing for knowledge in a manner compatable with both Christian and worldly beliefs. Gnostics attempted to turn the church into a social club. Evil became equated with ignorance. Salvation came not through forgiveness but from "Illumination." Some Christians today still seek to be "Illuminated" by some secret revelation rather than Bible knowledge.
Jesus is the Light of the World
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