Witnessing to a Gnostic

This past Monday night at Union Station in Washington, DC, I noticed a woman wearing a T-shirt that stated “Faith Can Move Mountains”, plus made reference to Matthew 17:20. She later approached me asking about electric outlets available. I pointed to one I was using to charge up my iPhone. She then plugged in her phone in the extra open socket. I went on to compliment the woman’s shirt and asked if she knew Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She mentioned liking the artwork and then asked what denomination I was. 

This woman eventually revealed her Jewish heritage and later attended a Methodist church, but she found it unfulfilling. She now identifies as a gnostic and claims to have gained a deeper understanding of spiritual matters. I referred to 2 Corinthians 10:5 which talks about “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” She made statements about Jesus that weren’t scriptural. I handed her a gospel tract and mentioned that true Christianity is not a religion but a relationship, which she agreed with. I also managed to share my testimony before we were interrupted by her cell phone ringing. Since my train to New York was soon to arrive, I decided to leave.


One dictionary defines gnosticism as “a prominent heretical movement of the 2nd-century Christian Church, partly of pre-Christian origin.” It’s not always wrong to seek spiritual knowledge in addition to the Bible. As a young believer, I read many Christian books that were helpful. We can also benefit by studying church history and the lives of saints from the past (one series I recommend reading is Roberts Liardon’s “God’s Generals”). Eventually, I cut back on reading other people’s writings about the Bible and read it more for myself.


The Apostle Paul warned in Galatians 1:6-7, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.” That could include “gnostic gospels” such as those named after Thomas, Mary, Philip, and Judas. Aside from them promoting ideas contrary to the Bible, these “gospels” were written years after their alleged authors died. 


One might ask, “What about the Apocrypha and the Book of Enoch?” Some truths are mentioned in these writings, but there are reasons why they are not included in most versions of the Holy Bible. For instance, these books were not discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Princeton scholar and historian Bruce Metzger stated, “The Canon is a list of authoritative books more than it is an authoritative list of books.” 


At his seminars, apologist Frank Turek lists these guidelines to determine if a writing was divinely inspired:

  • Was it written by a prophet of God? 
  • Was the writer confirmed by acts of God or someone who was confirmed as an eyewitness (such as Paul confirming Luke)? 
  • Was it accepted by the people of God?

Gnosticism can also be defined as a religious movement emphasizing secret knowledge as the key to salvation. 2 Peter 1:20-21 says, “…that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” It’s often said the gospel is so simple, it takes the mind of man to complicate it. 


Many folks spend hours studying and researching, but still don’t know the Savior. 2 Timothy 3:7 refers to those who are “…always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Instead of seeking spiritual revelation outside the Bible, it’s best if they focus on the Scriptures that are readily available to us. Embracing ideas contrary to God’s word opens doors to deception.


“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” 

- Proverbs 30:5-6


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