Key Figures in Gnosticism — Teachers, Scholars & Prophets

8 articles in this section ⏱ 1 min read
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Gnosticism was shaped by remarkable individuals — from 2nd-century teachers like Valentinus and Basilides who built sophisticated theological systems, to medieval prophets like Mani whose religion spread from Rome to China, to modern scholars like Elaine Pagels who brought the Nag Hammadi texts to the world, and thinkers like Carl Jung who found in Gnosticism a map of the human psyche.

New here? Start with: Valentinus — The Greatest Gnostic Teacher →
The most influential Gnostic teacher of the 2nd century — his system, his school, and his legacy.
8 Key figures profiled
136 AD Valentinus arrives in Rome
1979 Pagels publishes The Gnostic Gospels
1916 Jung writes Seven Sermons to the Dead

8 Articles in This Section

01 Valentinus — The Greatest Gnostic Teacher Rome, c. 136–165 AD. The most systematic Gnostic philosopher. 02 Basilides Alexandria, c. 120–140 AD. 365 Aeons and a cosmic lottery. 03 Marcion Rome, c. 144 AD. Rejected the entire Old Testament. 04 Mani — Prophet of Light Persia, 216–276 AD. Founded Manichaeism — the first world religion. 05 Elaine Pagels Princeton scholar who brought Gnosticism to the modern world. 06 Gershom Scholem The scholar who connected Gnosticism and Jewish mysticism. 07 James Robinson The man who brought the Nag Hammadi Library to the English-speaking world. 08 Carl Jung & Gnosticism Jung read the Gnostic texts and found a map of the human psyche.

The figures in this section span two thousand years — from the 2nd-century teachers who built Gnostic theology in the schools of Rome and Alexandria, through the medieval prophets who carried versions of the tradition across continents, to the modern scholars and thinkers who recovered it from near-total suppression.

Individual profile pages for all 8 figures are coming. Each will cover life, core teachings, key works, and legacy.