Defining Gnosticism after the publication of the Gospel of Judas

Abstract

With the recent publication of the Gospel of Judas in 2006, Gnostic Christianity was put back onto the agenda of Church History. Since the publication of the Gospel of Judas, the limi-ting of Gnostic studies by some kind of definition or frame-work seems to have become of less importance. In this article, the term “Christian Knowledge” is used to describe movements within Christianity according to the typological definition proposed by Christoph Markschies’ recent monograph. The background and origins of Christian Knowledge are described by reflecting on some ideas from Plato. The Apocryphon of John and the Gospel of Judas are analysed to see whether they fit into this typological definition. The first case corresponding to this typological definition is then looked at.