Classical Gnostic Doctrines and Practices

Classical Gnostic Doctrines and Practices 

What is Gnostic Doctrine? 

Gnostic Doctrine is a research websites about Christian theology and philosophy teachings.

This website is not trying to create a new denomination or start a new faith 

This website should be used as a guide for the understanding of Gnostic terminology, beliefs traditions, and practices. Terms such as the Pleroma, Aeons, Demiurge, Ogdoad, Autogenes, are given a full exposition using the places where the words are used in the Septuagint and the New Testament (sometimes we will look at Hebrew words as well), than we will compare this with Gnostic texts from the nag hammadi library and other writings. 

I would suggest for beginners first to read the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Truth, the Gospel of Philip, the Odes of Solomon

It is the aim of this website to enlighten individuals or people studying in a group about early Christian traditions, beliefs and practices of the Gnostic sects

The most famous form of Gnostic Christianity was Valentinianism. Founded by Valentinus in the second century AD, its influence spread widely, not just within Rome, but also from Northwest Africa to Egypt through to Asia Minor and Syria in the east.

In the second century CE within the early stages of the development of the Christian congregations a philosophical and theological movement arose that was later called by their enemies the Gnostics or  "those of the know".. 

Note The Term Gnosticism was first used in the 19th century CE however the early Gnostics just refer to themselves as Christians like the Valentinians. 

Valentinus did not set out to start a separate denomination or \sect. He started teaching in Rome and set up a Christian Theology school in Rome and Alexandria long before the orthodox Catechetical School of Alexandria was founded.

The Valentinians were eventually excommunicated from the Orthodox Church for their understanding of creation, cosmological, and anthropology views 

The Valentinian system of the emanations of the Aeons is the easiest form of the Gnostic cosmological system to understand since it uses biblical words, which should make it easier for Christians to understand 

Valentinians congregations were organised autonomously each week a different person was the overseer, and different elders were chosen each week by the dewing of lots to say a prayer blessing on the bread and wine ect