The Gnostic Conception of the Cross."
JOURNAL OF THE TRANSACTIONS OJ' ~ht iji,ct11rin -Jnstitut~, Jgilosopbital Socid~ of ~nat Jritain. GBNEI!,lL SBCI!ETAJU': L11cruxB S11cR11r,111r: E. J. SEWELL. E. WALTER MAUNDER, F.R.A.S. VOL. L. LONDON: (~ullltdt,tll tip ~r indtftutr, 1, ~mtraI JSuiillingd, mltrdtmtndter, j,.a!l. 1.) ALL BIGHTI IIBIBBTMD, 1918. 599TH ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING, HELD IN COMMITTEE ROOM B, CENTRAL BUILDINGS, WESTMINSTER, ON MONDAY, APRIL 15TH, 1918, AT 4.30 P.M. THE REV. H. J. R. MARSTON, M.A., IN THE OHAIR. The Minutes of the previous Meeting were read, confirmed, and signed. The HoN. SECRETARY announ<'ed the election as Associates of the Rev. Dr. M. G. Kyle and Edward P. Vining, Esq., LL.D. The rules regulating the discussion following the papers were read; and in the absence of the Rev. Dr. MacCulloch the Chairman requested the Secretary to read the Canon's paper on "The Gnostic Conception of the Cross." THE GNOSTIC CONCEPTION OF THE CROSS. By Canon J. A. MAcCULJ,OCH, D.D., Rector of S. Saviour's, Bridge of Allan. N its original form Gnosticism may be described as an extra I Christian, and doubtless also a pre-Christian, religious syncretism, which aimed at enlightening men through esoteric means and ritual. Later, its prominent teachers laid hold of Christian doctrines, especially those relating to the Person of Christ, adapting these freely to their own views, and thus presenting a misleading likeness to Christianity. A pre liminary sketch of their Christology is essential to our purpose. I. All material substance was regarded as evil.
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