what does the bible say?
Gnosticism refers to a diverse set of ancient religious movements that emphasized secret knowledge (gnosis) as the path to spiritual enlightenment and salvation, often contrasting material existence with a higher spiritual reality. The Bible contradicts many Gnostic beliefs. Scripture teaches that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not secret knowledge (Ephesians 2:8–9). The Bible affirms the goodness of God's physical creation (Genesis 1:31) and the incarnation of Christ (John 1:14), opposing Gnostic dualism. It warns against false teachings that deviate from the gospel (Galatians 1:6–9) and emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16). The Bible presents Jesus as fully God and fully man (Colossians 2:9), not a mere spiritual being, as Gnostics claimed. It teaches that wisdom and knowledge come from God (Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5), not through esoteric human enlightenment.