Guy Duininck: Early Gnostics In Ephesus
Early Gnostics in Ephesus
from "Must We Confess Our Sins?"
If the early gnostics of John’s day had just been a group of people living their lives in the way that ordinary sinners live, they would not have been a serious threat to the church or a serious concern to the apostle John. But these early gnostics claimed to be enlightened, even to be specially enlightened Christians, and some of them had once fellowshipped
as if they were part of the church, but then had, “(gone) out
from us” (I John 2:19).
Some of those who had gone out from the church were endeavoring to extend their influence back into the church, presenting themselves as teachers of truth and as spiritually enlightened. The active proselytizing of these individuals who had once behaved as if they were part of the sound body of Christ made them a unique threat to the spiritual well being of the churches in the region and to John’s spiritual children.
That is why John was so deeply concerned and that is why he repeatedly and strongly addressed their error and the lifestyle that accompanied it, warning his spiritual children to avoid those deceived deceivers.
