A free booklet provided by my employer, the Canadian Bible Society, @ Cafe Logos, 1207 Kingsway.
The Danger of False Teachers (2011), Bill Crowder, RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids.
Brief review:
The booklet prefaces on page 5 explaining that the first century Roman world resembled the religious pluralism of the 21st century, with numerous gods and various religious groups. (5).
Gnosticism was a philosophy influencing some within the Christian Church. The name comes from the Greek gnosis, meaning knowledge. (5). This philosophy presents this gnosis as hidden knowledge. (5).
Bible Hub
γνῶσις, εως, ἡ (Strong: 1108)
The booklet explains three problematic issues with Gnosticism and Christianity...
Gnosticism:
1. Claimed secret, hidden knowledge, in contrast to the gospel, which was publicly declared. (6).
I will add that the Hebrew Bible and New Testament were also scripturally revealed as religious documentation and religious history. (6).
2. Provided its adherents a license to sin, as it emphasized the spiritual and deemphasized
the physical. (6).
3. Viewed Jesus Christ as more of an angelic figure than as God the Son, within the Trinity. (6).
The nature and dangers of false teaching and false teachers is reasonably presented in a small booklet using biblical history and biblical theology.
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From this website archives
Book of Jude commenter David F. Payne explains that there is a traditional view, widely held, that Jude was the brother of James, both sons of Mary and Joseph, therefore half-brother of Jesus Christ. Payne (1986: 1590). Many scholars, reason the text was written in the 60s or 70s AD. Payne states 70s to 80s AD. Payne (1986: 1590).
Payne reasons that the free use of non-canonical text (such as Enoch) points to a first-century date. Payne (1986: 1590). The text was designed to counter particular heretical theologies and philosophical views that arose in the Church. Payne (1986: 1590).
Antinomianism was one manifestation and was connected to Gnostic thought. Matter was viewed as evil and in contrast, all spiritual was considered good. Payne (1986: 1590). Payne states that this led to cultivated spiritual lives and misdeeds of the physical nature. Payne (1986: 1590).
Gnosticism describes an early religious movement that placed special emphasis upon knowledge (Greek: gnosis) of God and the nature and eventual destiny of humanity. Knowledge was needed to liberate the soul from cosmic forces. Wilson (1999: 226).
PAYNE. DAVID F.(1986) Jude, in F.F. Bruce, (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.
WILSON, R. MCL (1999) ‘Gnosticism’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.
