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Issue 96 : The Gnostic Hunger for Secret Knowledge

Originally published in 2007

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Table of Contents

Gnostics: Did You Know?

Interesting and Little Known Facts about the Gnostics

Jennifer Trafton and Rebecca Colossanov
From the Editor

It Only Takes a Spark (to keep a heresy going)

Jennifer Trafton
Defining the Faith

Gnosticism emerged during a time when Christians faced an identity crisis.

Everett Ferguson
In the Know

The Gnostics believed that knowledge is the key to salvation--for a select few.

David M. Scholer
The Secret is Out

The discovery of the Nag Hammadi collection brought ancient Gnostic writings to light.

David M. Scholer
The Gnostic Christ
One God, One Christ, One Salvation

Irenaeus the "peacemaker" was the early church's best warrior against Gnostic heresy.

D. Jeffrey Bingham
Gnosticism Unmasked

D. Jeffrey Bingham
The Earliest Mere Christianity

Before creeds, even before an official New Testament, there was the Rule of Faith.

D. H. Williams
No Other Gospel

Despite the appearance of Gnostic "gospels," the early church decided that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were without rival.

Nicholas Perrin
What Is the Truth about Jesus?

Ask those who knew his earliest followers, said Irenaeus.

Fr. John Behr
The Heresy that Wouldn't Die

Though Gnostic sects faded in the early church, Gnostic ideas have had a long shelf life.

Philip Jenkins
The Christian History & Biography Timeline

The Unfolding Faith

A bird's eye view of the early church, the emergence of the Gnostics, and the development of the biblical canon.

Michael Holmes and Nicholas Perrin
Roots Matter

Defending the faith in today's cultural climate means not only knowing our Bible but also knowing our history.

Darrell L. Bock

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Today in Christian History

December 3, 1552: Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier, one of the founding members of his order (the Society of Jesus or the Jesuits) and one of the greatest missionaries ever, dies awaiting admission to China. Before that, he had converted 700,000 people in Portugal, India, Indonesia, Japan, and elsewhere.

December 3, 1846: Presbyterian widow Leslie Prentice leads a pro-life rally outside the home of New York City's foremost abortionist, Anna Lohman, a.k.a. Madame Restell.

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