List of Gnostics

 

Early Christians knew their chief competitor, Gnosticism well. Gnosticism was not Christian because all Gnostics

1.Rejected the Old Testament

2. Believed the God of the Old Testament was evil or inferior to the God of the New Testament

3. Rejected the doctrine that Jesus was a real human being.

4. Either were immoral, or else went to the other ascetic extreme, and thought even marriage was bad.

 

Here is a list of earl Church writers who wrote about the Gnostics.

 

JM        Justin Martyr                             119 pgs                        138-165 A.D.

He        Shepherd of Hermas                 47 pgs                          160 A.D.

Th         Theophilus [Antioch]                  33 pgs              168-181/188 A.D.

Ir          Irenaeus                                    264 pgs                        182-188 A.D.

Te         Tertullian [Rome]                       830 pgs            200-220 A.D.

CA        Clement of Alexan.                    424 pgs            193-217/220 A.D.

Hi         Hippolytus,                               233 pgs            225-235/6 A.D.

Or         Origen                                      622 pgs                        225-254 A.D.

JA        Julius Africanus                                                 232-245 A.D.

Cp        Cyprian and friends                   270 pgs                        248-258 A.D.

 

List of Gnostics and pseudo-Gnostics Christians Wrote Against

Heresies / Heretical writer

JM

He

Th

Ir

Te

CA

Hi

Or

JA

Cp

Apelles, disciple of Marcion

-

-

-

-

X

 

 

X

-

X

Basilides

-

-

-

X

X

X

X

X

-

X

Beron and Helix

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

-

-

 

Cainites (libertine Gnostics)

-

-

-

X

X

 

 

-

-

 

Callistus

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

-

-

 

Carpocrates (libertine Gnostics)

-

-

-

X

X

X

X

-

-

 

Cerdo/Cerdon (Gnostic before Marcion)

-

-

-

X

X

 

X

-

-

X

Cerinthus (Gnostic)

-

-

-

X

-

 

X

-

-

 

Colorbasus (Gnostic)

-

-

-

X

X

 

X

-

-

 

Docetics

-

-

-

-

-

 

X

-

-

 

Dositheus (proto-Gnostic repudiated the prophets)

-

-

-

-

X

 

 

-

-

 

Elchasites

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

-

-

 

Encratites (Tatian)

-

-

-

X

X

 

X

X

-

 

Gospel According to the Egyptians (Naaseni)

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

-

-

 

Gospel of Thomas (Gnostic)

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

-

-

 

Harpocratians

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

X

-

 

Heracleon

-

-

-

-

X

 

X

-

-

 

Hermogenes

-

-

-

-

 

 

X

-

-

 

Justinus’ Baruch (Gnostic)

-

-

-

-

-

 

X

-

-

 

Lucan / Lucian (Gnostic)

-

-

-

-

X

 

X

-

-

 

Marcellinians (Gnostic)

-

-

-

X

-

 

 

X

-

 

Marcion of Pontus (followers are Marcosians)

X

-

-

X

X

 

X

X

X

X

Marcus (followers called Marcites)

-

-

-

X

X

 

X

-

-

 

Melchizedechians

-

-

-

 

 

 

X

-

-

 

Menander / Meander (of Capparetaea, Samaritan) Simon’s disciple

X

-

-

X

X

 

 

-

-

 

Monoimus the Arabian

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

-

-

-

A Naaseni Hymn (Gnostic)

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

-

-

 

Nicholaus (Nicolaitans)

-

-

-

X

X

 

X

-

-

 

Ophites (Gnostic)

-

-

-

X

X

 

X

X

-

 

Peratae / Peratics (astrologer Gnostics)

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

-

-

 

Praxeas (Oneness)

-

-

-

-

X

 

-

-

-

 

Ptolemy / Ptolemaeus (Valentinian Gnostic)

-

-

-

X

X

 

X

-

-

 

Sethians Sethites (Gnostic)

-

-

-

X

X

 

X

-

-

 

Sethians Paraphrase of Seth

-

-

-

X

-

 

X

-

-

 

Saturninus (Encratite, derived from Valentinus)

-

-

-

X

X

 

X

-

-

 

Secundus (and Epiphanes a teacher in his school)

-

-

-

-

X

 

X

-

-

 

Simon the Sorcerer

X

-

-

X

X

 

X

X

-

 

Tatian, disciple of Justin  (Encratite Gnostic)

-

-

-

X

X

X

X

-

-

 

Valentinus (Gnostic)

-

-

-

X

X

X

X

X

-

X

Writer

JM

He

Th

Ir

Te

CA

Hi

Or

JA

Cp

Time

97/98 A.D.

150 A.D.

168 A.D.

200

225 A.D.      258 A.D.

Pages

151 pages

99 pgs

264

854

424

225

622

8

270

 

Justin mentions Menander, disciple of Simon the Sorcerer. First Apology of Justin Martyr ch.26 p.171

Justin mentions the Acts of Pontius Pilate. First Apology of Justin Martyr ch.35 p.175

Justin mentions Plato and Epicurus. Second Apology of Justin Martyr ch.12 p.192

Justin mentions the Sotadists, Philaenidians, Dancers, and Epicureans. Second Apology of Justin Martyr ch.15 p.193

Justin mentions Homer and Hesiod in The Discourse to the Greeks ch.1 p.271

Justin mentions Berosus the Chaldean historian. Justin’s Hortatory Address to the Greeks ch.37 p.288

 

Meletio of Sardis mentions the Sybil on vol.8 p.752 and the Magi on p.753

 

The Pastor/Shepherd of Hermas and the Letter of Barnabas are at the end of the Sinaiticus manuscript.

 

Tatian mentions his teacher, “the most admirable Justin” Address of Tatian to the Greeks ch.18 p.73

 

The Magi The Octavius of Minucius Felix ch.27 p.189

Archesilaus, Carneades, Pyrrho The Octavius of Minucius Felix ch.38 p.197

Aristo the Stoic The Octavius of Minucius Felix ch.19 p.184

Mention of Xenophanes, Xeuxippus, Democritus, Aristotle, Heraclides of Pontus, Theophrastus, Zeno, Chrysippus, Cleanthes, Zeno, Hesiod, Homer, Orpheus, Diogenes of Babylon, Xenophon, Plato’s Timaeus The Octavius of Minucius Felix ch.19 p.184

 

Clement, bishop of Rome saw the apostles in person. Mention of Clement’s Letter to the Corinthians. Irenaeus Against Heresies book 3 ch.3.3 p.416

Irenaeus mentions the martyr Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who was instructed by the apostles. Polycarp wrote a letter to the Philippians. Irenaeus Against Heresies book 3 ch.3.4 p.416

The Encratites (meaning self-controlled) came from Saturninus and Marcion. Encratites were against marriage, and some among them were against animal food [meat]. Tatian, a hearer of Justin [Martyr] was the one who introduced this blasphemy. Tatian was novel in denying the salvation of Adam. Irenaeus Against Heresies book 1 ch.28.1 p.353

Papias was a hearer of John and a friend of Polycarp according to Irenaeus Against Heresies 5:32 (vol.1 p.154)

Irenaeus quotes Ignatius’ Letter to the Romans in Against Heresies book 5 ch.28 p.557

Irenaeus mentions the\ martyr Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who was instructed by the apostles. Polycarp wrote a letter to the Philippians. Irenaeus Against Heresies book 3 ch.3.4 p.416

Tatian, a hearer of Justin [Martyr] was the one who introduced this blasphemy. Tatian was novel in denying the salvation of Adam. Irenaeus Against Heresies book 1 ch.28.1 p.353

Irenaeus mentions Cerdo, his successor Marcion, Valentinus, Simon the Sorcerer, his disciple Menander in Irenaeus Against Heresies book 3 ch.4 p.417

 

Tertullian (200-240 A.D.) mentioned the Book of Enoch as Scripture. He added that some to not regard this as scripture, as it was supposed it would not have survived the flood, and it is not in the Jewish canon either. However, Tertullian believed the Book of Enoch was genuine scripture though. Tertullian’s On the Apparel of Women book 1 ch.3 p.15-16

Against the Shepherd of Hermas: But I would yield my ground to you, if the scripture of “the “Shepherd”, which is the only one which favours adulterers, had deserved to find a place in the Divine Canon; if it had not been habitually judged by every council of churches (even of your own) among apocryphal and false (writings);” Tertullian On Modesty ch.10 p.85

Tertullian mentions Tatian as a heretic.

Tertullian mentions Simon the Magician. Tertullian’s De Fuga Persecution ch.12 p.123 and A Treatise on the Soul ch.24-25 p.215-216.

Tertullian mentions Carpocrates in A Treatise on the Soul ch.25 p.216

Tertullian mentions Socrates p.28

Tertullian briefly mentions that the Romans installed Simon Magus as a god. Tertullian’s Apology ch.11 p.29

Mention of Pindar the poet, Diogenes, and the Cynic Varro in Tertullian’s Apology ch.14 p.30

Tertullian mentions Zeno and Cleanthes in Tertullian’s Apology ch.20 p.34

Tertullian mentions Marcion, Tatian, and Pythagorean heretics all in one sentence Tertullian On Fasting ch.15 vol.4 p.112

Tertullian mentions Simon Magus in Tertullian’s Apology ch.13 p.29

Tertullian mentions Apelles (the heretic, not the painter) in A Treatise on the Soul ch.36 p.217

Tertullian mentions Menander the Samaritan heretic in A Treatise on the Soul ch.50 p.227-228

Tertullian mentions Valentinus and Marcion in The Prescription Against Heretics ch.7 p.246

Tertullian mentions Ptolemy, Secundus, and Valentinus, Heracleon Against All Heresies ch.4 p.652

Tertullian mentions Colorbasus Against All Heresies ch.6 p.653

Tertullian mentions Cerdo, Marcion, Lucian, and Apelles. Against All Heresies ch.6 p.653

Tertullian mentions Tatian, pupil of Justin Martyr, Cataproclans, Cataeschinetans. Against All Heresies ch.7 p.654

Tertullian mentions Blastus, two Theodotuses, and Praxeas. Against All Heresies ch.8 p.654

Tertullian mentions Dositheus the proto-Gnostic, as the first to repudiate the prophets Against All Heresies ch.1 p.649.

Tertullian mentions Saturninus Against All Heresies ch.1 p.649.

Tertullian describes the heresy of the Gnostics Basilides and Nicolaus (Nicolatians) in Against All Heresies ch.1 p.649-650.

Tertullian mentions the Ophites. Against All Heresies ch.2 p.650

Tertullian mentions the Cainites and Sethites. Against All Heresies ch.2 p.651

Tertullian mentions Carpocrates, Cerinthus, and Ebion. Against All Heresies ch.3 p.651

Tertullian mentions Valentinus, Ptolemy, Secundus, Heracleon. Against All Heresies ch.4 p.652

Tertullian mentions the Gnostics Marcus, Colorbasus. Against All Heresies ch.v p.653 and Cerdo ch.6

Tertullian mentions the Gnostics Marcion, Lucan, Apelles. Against All Heresies ch.v p.653 and Cerdo ch.6

Tertullian mentions the Cataphrygians (Montanists) Against All Heresies ch.7 p.654

Tertullian mentions Blastus, Cataphrygians, Cataproclans, Cataeschinetans and two Theodotus’ in Against All Heresies ch.7-8 p.654

 

Clement of Alexandria quotes Philolaus p.382,403

 

Refers to Clement of Rome. Clement of Alexandria Stromata book 5 ch.12 p.4763; book 14 ch.17 p.428

Refers to Barnabas’ writing. Clement of Alexandria Stromata book 5 ch.10 p.459

Clement of Alexandria mentions the Letter of Barnabas p.362, 459, 495

Clement of Alexandria mentions the Shepherd of Hermas p.319

Clement of Alexandria mentions the Preaching of Peter  p.489,490,510

 

Hippolytus mentions Anaxagoras, Anaximenes, Archelaus, Aristotle, Chrysippus, Democritus, Ecphantus, Empedocles, Epicurus, Hippo, Leucippus, Pythagoras, Thales,Heraclitus, Parmenides, Plato, Socrates, Stoics, Zeno, Brahmins/Brachmans, Celtic Druids, Hesiod. The Refutation of All Heresies Contents p.9.

Mention of the Naasseni Gnostics using the Gospel According to the Egyptians. Hippolytus’ Refutation of All Heresies book 5 ch.2 p.49

Hippolytus quotes from the Gospel of Thomas, but this is not found in the Gospel of Thomas we have. “He who seeks me, will find me in children from seven years old; for there concealed, he shall in the fourteenth age be made manifest.” Refutation of All Heresies book 5 ch.2 p.50

Hippolytus quotes an entire Naaseni hymn. Refutation of All Heresies book 5 ch.5 p.58

Hippolytus briefly mentions the Sibylline Oracles (2:1), though it is not a positive reference. Refutation of All Heresies book 5 ch.11 p.62

Hippolytus mentions the heretic Theodotus in Against the Heresy of One Noetus ch.8 p.224

Hippolytus mentions Herodotus in The Refutation of All Heresies book 5 ch.19-20 p.69

Hippolytus mentions (Celtic Druide p.22, Brachmans p.21-22, Archelaus p.17,  Hippo of Rhegium p.17, Ecphantus the Skeptic p.17, Democritus p.16, Leucippus p.16, Parmenides p.16, Plato p.19, Arostotle p.19, Zeno, Epicureans, Pyrrho, Chrysippus p.19; Socrates p.9, Hesiod p.22, Zymolxis the Pythagorean p.22, Thales of Miletus p.11, Anaxagoras ofClezomenae p.14, Anaximander hearer of Thales of Miletus p.13 Anaximeus of Miletus p.14, Heraclitus of Ephesus p.13, Empedocles p.13

Hippolytus mentioned in his heresies Euphrates the Peratics, Acembes the Carystian. Hippolytus’ Refutation of all Heresies book 4 ch.2 p.24

The Peratics are also in Hippolytus’ Refutation of all Heresies book 5 ch.9-13 p.60-65

Hippolytus mentions the Sethians in The Refutation of All Heresies book.5 ch.15-17 p.65-69

Hippolytus refers to the following Greek philosophers in discussing heresies. Thales of Miletus, Pythagoras, Empededocles, Heraclitus of Ephesus, Anaximander hearer of Thales, Anaximenes of Miletus, Anaxagoras of Clazomenae, Archelaus of Athens, Parmenides, Leucippus, Zeno the stoic, Democritus, Ecphantus of Syracuse, Hippo of Rhegium, Socrates hearer of Archelaus, Plato disciple of Socrates, Aristotle pupil of Plato, Chrysippus and other stoics, Hesiod.

The Celtic Druids derived their system from Zamolxis of Thrace, disciple of Pythagoras. Hippolytus’ Refutation of all Heresies book 1 ch.22 p.22

Hippolytus mentions Colorbasus in The Refutation of All Heresies book.4 ch.13 p.30

Hippolytus mentions Simon and Valentinus in The Refutation of All Heresies book.4 ch.51 p.45

Hippolytus mentions the Peratae, Linus, Musaeus, and Orpheus in The Refutation of All Heresies book.5 contents p.47

Hippolytus mentions the heretic Justinus in The Refutation of All Heresies book.5.

Hippolytus mentions the heretics Secundus, Epiphanes,, a teacher in his school, Ptolemaeus in The Refutation of All Heresies book 6 ch.23 p.91

Hippolytus mentions the heretic Marcus, adept in sorcery in The Refutation of All Heresies book 6 ch.24 p.91-92

 

Hippolytus might mention many more too, but books 2 and 3 of The Refutation of All Heresies have not been preserved p.23

 

Cyprian refers to Cerdo/Cerdon  p.387

Cyprian refers to Cerdo’s pupil Marcion p.387,388

Cyprian refers to Valentinus and Marcion’s pupil Apelles p.388

 

Firmilian bishop of Caesarea to Cyprian (246-256 A.D.) mentions Cerdo, his disciple Marcion, Apelles, Valentinus, Basilides in Letter 74 p.391

Firmilian bishop of Caesarea to Cyprian (246-256 A.D.) mentions Cataphrygians, Montanus, and Prisca. 74.7 p.392

 

Origen mentions Apelles the disciple of Marcion in Origen Against Celsus book 5 ch.54 p.567

Origen refers to Tatian the younger p.403 and Encratites p.571

Origen refers to Ebionites p.570, p.571

Origen refers to Valentinus p.570,587

Origen refers to Ophites p.584,586

Origen mentions Marcion in his Commentary on John book 5 p.348

Origen mentions Marcion, Basilides, and Valentinus in his Commentary on Matthew book 12 ch.22 p.463

Origen says that Celsus claims “certain Christians are believers in the Sibyl, [Celsus] having probably misunderstood some who blamed such as believed in the existence of a prophetic Sibyl, and termed those who held this belief Sibyllists.” Origen Against Celsus book 5 ch.61 p.570