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Gnosticism

Concise Bible Dictionary:

An early system of philosophy professedly Christian. One of their theories was that the Lord was an Æon and not really a man. Apparently to refute this, the apostle insists on Christ having come “in flesh” (1 John 4:2-3²Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:2‑3); 2 John 1:7⁷For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 7)). The same may be alluded to in Colossians 2:9⁹For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9), “in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” in opposition to their mysticism. See GENEALOGIES.