Early Christianity and Gnosticism

Antinomianism ( [] 'against' and [] 'law') is a term used to describe any view which rejects laws or legalism and argues against moral, religious or social norms (), or is at least considered to do so. The term has both religious and secular meanings.

work of Christian theology written in Greek by Irenaeus

Valentinianism was one of the major Gnostic Christian movements. Founded by Valentinus ( CE – CE) in the 2nd century, its influence spread widely, not just within the Roman Empire but also from northwest Africa to Egypt through to Asia Minor and Syria in the east. Later in the movement's history, it broke into Eastern and Western schools. The Valentinian movement remained active until the 4th century, declining after Emperor Theodosius I issued the Edict of Thessalonica in 380, which established Nicene Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire.

thumb|A lion-faced, Snakes in mythology|serpentine [[deity found on a Gnostic gem in Bernard de Montfaucon's ''L'antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures'', a depiction of Yaldabaoth.]]

literary work

gnostic christian thinker

work by Hippolytus of Rome

controversial early Christian document