Faith without religion.
The Origins of the Gospels and Gnostic Influence
In a recent video on Dylan.com, the host delves into the complexities of the Gospels and their origins. Having grown up in a village and never having read the Bible until now, the host is on a journey of discovery, asking questions and seeking answers from his father, who is a former cult leader. The discussion centers around why there are four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and their significance as witnesses to the life of Jesus, as established by the Tanakh’s requirement for two or three witnesses.
The host explains that the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the synoptic Gospels due to their similar content, which scholars believe may have been derived from a common source referred to as “Q.” In contrast, John’s Gospel is largely original, written to counter the growing influence of Gnosticism, a belief system that claimed secret knowledge and denied the possibility of God becoming human.
The video also touches on the teachings of a figure named Cerinthus, who propagated the idea of a dual nature in Jesus, which some argue influenced the development of Trinitarian doctrine. The host clarifies his stance, emphasizing a non-Trinitarian view that sees Jesus as a man with God’s word in him, which left him on the cross, differing from the Gnostic and Trinitarian perspectives.
This exploration raises intriguing questions about the historical and theological contexts of early Christianity, inviting viewers to consider the diverse interpretations and teachings that have shaped Christian thought over the centuries.
