what is mainline christianity (disciples, America, churches, LDS, protestants)

[Elvendon]

I am


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See what I did there?

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by gnostic

Paul doesn't sound slightly Gnostic, though.

It depends how deeply you look.

For example, after a little research you will find that 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Ephesians, Hebrews, Colossians and 2 Thessalonians are all most likely forgeries.

The rest may have been edited to streamline them with these later psuedepigrapha, but you can still find much Gnostic thought in there - see here.

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by gnostic

Paul doesn't sound slightly Gnostic, though.

As Halcyon says above, the authentic epistles of Paul are susceptible to a Gnostic interpretation. Marcion was a fanatically Pauline Christian, and while he wasn't -- properly speaking -- a Gnostic, his teachings have some affiinity with Gnosticism. Likewise, Docetism was common among Gnostics, and there's ample evidence that the texts of the Gospels were altered specifically to combat Docetism. That seems to indicate that orthodox (or proto-orthodox) Christians felt the need for greater clarity on that issue.

[gnostic]

I don't visit Wiki that much, so I will take a look at it. Thanks, Halcyon.