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Editor's Note
Welcome to our second issue of SIMUL, the journal of St. Paul Lutheran Seminary. This edition will discuss Gnosticism, the Christian heresy which held that one could be redeemed only through an understanding of secret knowledge. This knowledge was allegedly known to only a few enlightened teachers, who then handed down their doctrines to their students.
In this issue, Mark Granquist traces the heresy from the second-century church up until the present day. Virgil Thompson examines gnostic doctrine to see how it stacks up with the biblical witness. Brad Hales takes a more pastoral approach: identifying gnostic beliefs that are prevalent in the Church today. And I finish up the discussion, explaining how Gnosticism is centered on the self, how it ignores essential doctrines of faith, and how it undermines church authority.
"This edition will discuss Gnosticism, the Christian heresy which held that one could only be redeemed through an understanding of secret knowledge."
What’s Ahead?
We are so excited about this coming year. The Spring 2022 issue will explore Luther ’s two kingdoms and ponder the implications for today ’s church and state conflicts. Summer
2022’s topic will be the “Uses of the Law - 2 or 3?” (we will attempt to remain civil and avoid any further schisms). Our Fall 2022 issue will cover the subject of the sacraments, a topic which has come under much discussion during the COVID-19 shutdowns. And our Winter 2023 issue will be entitled “Renewing the Local Church.”
I also would like to remind everyone about our 2022 annual theological conference at the historic Jekyll Island Club in Georgia on April 19th and 20th, 2022 - always a fun event in a beautiful place, with so many talented speakers. Please join us, you won’t regret it. You can register at https://semlc.org /conference-registration/ I hope you enjoy this issue of SIMUL! If you have any questions about the journal or about St. Paul Lutheran Seminary, please shoot me an email at dennisdimauro@yahoo.com
