Hedonism vs asceticism10/28/2023 Paul spends time reminding the Colossian believers that man’s philosophy always has a disappointing end, especially when the message is presented as ‘the secret that will finally fulfill you’, as Gnostics claim. Ralphie, upon learning the secret knowledge Ritenbaugh meant exclusivist in that Gnostics claimed the way to salvation was delivered exclusively and uniquely to them, that they alone possessed the higher knowledge which would aid them in their paths to attaining heaven. … Gnosticism was ascetic and exclusivist, and it relied heavily on magic.” John Ritenbaugh in Forerunner Commentary says, “Here is the earliest indication of Gnosticism as a religion-or at least a philosophy, a way of life that eventually became a religion. Gnosticism itself is an amorphous amalgam of various elements of many false religions, man-made traditions, and human philosophies. Though never named, scholars indicate that the philosophy was Gnosticism. In Colossians, Paul warned the believers at that little church to beware the philosophies of the day which were encroaching upon them.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |