gnostic etymology

Etymology

The word "gnostic" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "gnōstikos," which means "having knowledge" or "pertaining to knowledge."

Meaning

The term "gnostic" refers to a diverse group of religious and philosophical beliefs that emerged in the early centuries of Christianity and shared certain common characteristics:

• Emphasis on esoteric knowledge: Gnostics believed in a privileged access to higher or divine knowledge that was hidden from the general populace.
• Dualism: They often held that the material world was evil or inferior, while the spiritual realm was good or divine.
• Cosmic redemption: Gnostics believed in a process of cosmic redemption or salvation through the acquisition of secret knowledge and the liberation of the soul from the material world.
• Rejection of mainstream Christianity: Gnostics typically rejected the traditional doctrines and practices of orthodox Christianity, such as the belief in Jesus as the sole savior or the importance of faith and good works.

Origin

Gnosticism originated in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries CE in the Hellenistic world, primarily in Egypt and Syria. It was influenced by various religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions, including:

• Platonic philosophy: Gnostics adopted Plato's concept of a higher realm of pure ideas or Forms.
• Philo of Alexandria: A Jewish philosopher who interpreted the Hebrew Bible allegorically, emphasizing the importance of spiritual understanding.
• Mystery religions: Gnosticism incorporated elements from mystery religions, which offered secret rituals and teachings to initiates.
• Zoroastrianism: Some Gnostic beliefs resembled Zoroastrian dualism and the concept of a cosmic battle between good and evil.

Over time, Gnosticism developed into various schools and sects, each with its own unique teachings and beliefs. Prominent Gnostic figures included Valentinus, Marcion, and Simon Magus. Gnosticism faced opposition and condemnation from early Christian leaders, such as Irenaeus and Tertullian, who accused Gnostics of heresy and false teachings.

gnostic relate terms

• agnostic

  Etymology From Ancient Greek ἀ a without γνῶσις gnōsis knowledge

• gnostic

  Etymology The word gnostic is derived from the Ancient Greek word gnōstikos which m

• Gnosticism

  Etymology The term Gnosticism is derived from the Greek word γνῶσις gnōsis m

• gnostic

  Etymology The word gnostic is derived from the Ancient Greek word gnōstikos which m

• acknowledge

  Etymology Acknowledge comes from the Middle English word acnowlechen which itself der

• acquaint

  Etymology Old French acointer Latin accolligere to bring together Proto Indo Europea

• agnostic

  Etymology From Ancient Greek ἀ a without γνῶσις gnōsis knowledge

• anagnorisis

  Etymology From Ancient Greek ἀναγνώρισις anagnorisis from ἀνα ana

• astrognosy

  Etymology Astro Greek for star Gnosis Greek for knowledge Meaning Astrognosy

• cognition

  Etymology Cognition is derived from the Latin word cognoscere meaning to know or to

• cognizance

  Etymology Latin cognoscere to know understand com with together gnoscere

• connoisseur

  Etymology French connoisseur Latin cognoscere to know to be acquainted with

• could

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It traces the evolut

• couth

  Etymology Old French cooth known familiar courteous Medieval Latin couthus kno

• cunning

  Etymology The word cunning comes from the Old English word cunnan which means to k

• diagnosis

  Etymology Greek dia through gnosis knowledge Meaning The process of iden

• ennoble

  Etymology From Old French ennobler to ennoble from Latin innobilio innobilire t

• gnome

  Etymology The word gnome derives from the Latin gnomus which was the Roman renderin

• gnomic

  Etymology Gnomic is derived from the Greek word gnōmē which means maxim sente

• gnomon

  Etymology The word gnomon is derived from the Greek word gnōmōn which means indi

• gnosis

  Etymology Greek γνῶσις gnōsis knowledge Meaning Gnosis is a term used

• gnostic

  Etymology The word gnostic is derived from the Ancient Greek word gnōstikos which m

• gnostic

  Etymology The word gnostic is derived from the Ancient Greek word gnōstikos which m

• ignoble

  Etymology The word ignoble comes from the Latin word ignobilis which is composed of

• ignore

  Noun cat dog tree car book Verb run jump walk talk eat Adjective big small red

• incognito

  Etymology The word incognito originates from the Latin phrase in cognito which means

• kenning

  Etymology Old Norse kenning knowledge recognition Meaning A kennning is a type

• kith

  Etymology Kith is derived from the Old English word cyððe meaning acquaintance

• know

  Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It investigates how words have

• knowledge

  Etymology Derived from the Middle English knowleche which itself comes from Old Engl

• narrate

  Etymology Narrate comes from the Latin verb narrare which means to tell relate or

• narration

  Etymology The word narration originates from the Latin word narratio which means a

• nobility

  Etymology Latin nobilitas Proto Indo European ne bʰel to know understand

• noble

  Etymology The English word noble comes from the Old French noble c 1080 which is

• notice

  Etymology Notice derives from the Latin word noticia meaning knowledge notice inte

• notify

  Etymology Origin Middle English notifeien Old French notifier Latin notare to mark

• notion

  Etymology of Notion The word notion originates from the Old French word notion meani

• notorious

  Etymology The word notorious is derived from the Latin phrase nota reus which means

• physiognomy

  Etymology Greek physis nature growth gnomon indicator interpreter Meaning

• prognosis

  Etymology Greek prognōsis pro before in advance gnōsis knowledge opinion

• quaint

  Etymology The word quaint comes from the Old French word coint meaning refined or

• recognize

  Etymology The study of the origin and history of words Meaning Etymology provides insi

• reconnaissance

  Etymology Middle English reconissaunce from Anglo French reconissaunce from Latin reco

• reconnoiter

  Etymology Reconnoiter Middle English reconnoitren lt Old French reconoitre lt Late

• uncouth

  Etymology The word uncouth comes from Middle English uncouthe which in turn origina

• Zend

  Etymology The word Zend is derived from the modern Persian word zend which means c

• Marcionite

  Etymology and Meaning Marcionite is an adjective or noun that refers to a member or fol

• demiurge

  Etymology The word demiurge comes from the Greek word δημιουργός dēmiour

• Manichaeism

  Etymology From the Greek Manichaios named after its founder Mani Meaning A du

• Sabian

  Etymology The name Sabian is derived from the Aramaic word ṣāʾbéʾ meaning ba

• bain marie

  Etymology The term bain marie is derived from the French phrase bain marie which tra

• advocate

  Etymology The word advocate comes from the Latin word advocare which means to call

• exponent

  Etymology The word exponent comes from the Latin word exponere which means to set

• issue

  Etymology The word issue originates from the Old French word issu which is the past

• entail

  Etymology Middle English entaillen from Anglo Norman French entailler from Old French