Some research from years ago.

Your article on Gnosticism … Beauties of the Truth, Volume 22, No. 2 (May 2011) reminded me of some research I did many years ago. I had a developing interest on how various ancient false systems of thought impinging upon the Bible’s Ransom teaching influenced so called “orthodoxy” into error; and researching along these lines developed a special interest in the “Gospel” of Philip. As doubtless you are aware; Gnosticism is a thoroughly mixed bag of utter confusion, however the faithful Church was providentially protected from its vile and baneful influences by the Gospel ministry of her faithful servants, of those in the right hand of Jesus Christ, especially as found in the writings of Irenaeus and Hippolytus. Their polemic writings concerning Gnosticism reflect the wide range of belief and practice in that thoroughly alien and deeply distorted demonic system, which having its origin in Tartarus well reflects that deep Stygian darkness.

One statement in the “Gospel” of Philip is in defiant contradiction to the Apostolic teaching of a “ransom for all” because it teaches a “ransom for some”; however, in true Gnostic fashion, it immediately muddies the waters by adding the thought of delivering others as well as redeeming others. A recent and authoritative translation by Professor Bentley Layton of Yale renders it; “The Anointed came to purchase some, to rescue some, and to ransom some.” (Page 329 section 5). Professor Kurt Rudolph of Leipzig University (Marxist) published in English (in 1983) his overview of the Gnostic system. He identifies the “Gospel” of Philip as a document representing the Valentinian version of Gnosticism, also Professor Layton describes this document as a “Valentinian Anthology,” page 325. It was also this variant of the Gnostic cult which led a so-called early “Church Father” Tatian into serious error contrary to the Bible’s true Ransom teaching.

The reason that Irenaeus singles out Tatian as a false teacher is that he denied a further opportunity of salvation to Adam. Modem higher critical as well as “orthodox” scholars express puzzlement at the seriousness with which lrenaeus treats of this matter. However Bible Students are not in the least surprised that lrenaeus takes issue with Tatian with his denial of Adam’s salvation from the grave, for they have the benefit and blessing of that beloved servant’s teaching concerning the Ransom; a teaching which was brought to light early in the Lord’s second advent. A teaching that had been lost in the early centuries of the Christian era. Tatian’s Valentinian heresy has been revived in recent times by J. F. Rutherford and his followers; who since 1931 have paraded themselves under the banner of “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” It affords an interesting example of how Gnosticism covertly still influences men towards error and false teaching in this modern age.

Your brother, by his grace, Richard D. Doidge (West York- shire, UK)

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