How did Gnostic teachings affect early Christian beliefs?

Answer 1

Christianity seems to have been divided into many competing sects from the very earliest times. Eventually, Christianity seems to have evolved into two main branches: what is now called the proto-Catholic-Orthodox branch, from which developed the modern denominations; and Gnosticism. Unlike the main alternative, Gnosticism did not enforce strict discipline among its members, who were free to develop new theological concepts and seek their adoption, or even form their own new sect, with no harassment or compulsion to return. As a result, there were many Gnostic sects, with only a general theology in common. Exactly which early Christian sects were Gnostic is debatable, since some early Christian sects seem to have belonged to neither of the two main branches. The Marcionits may have had more in common with the Catholic-Orthodox Church than with Gnosticism, while some say that Paul was an early Gnostic. Certainly, many of the early Gnostics believed they traced their faiths back to Paul.

Many Gnostic sects did not have their own churches and attended Catholic-Orthodox churches, not only for worship, but to attract new members.

John's Gospel, which is the most different of the present New Testament gospels, is said to have some Gnostic features, and some scholars believe it to have been written in a Gnostic or proto-Gnostic community and subsequently amended to make it more acceptablre to what was becoming the central Church.

Saint Augustine of Hippo, now considered one of the Church Fathers, was a Manichee from 373 to 382 CE, but then joined the central Church. He repudiated Manichaeism but never rid himself entirely of its radical dualism, which he helped pass on to Catholicism in such forms as the idea of original sin.