Final answer:
The Gnostic gospels were rejected from the sacred canon due to their heretical views, their blending of Christian theology with pagan mysticism, and their lack of alignment with the emerging orthodox Christian doctrine and emphasis on a universal church.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Gnostic gospels were rejected for the sacred canon for several reasons. Primarily, these texts were considered heretical by orthodox Christianity because they presented a version of Christianity that deviated significantly from accepted theology. The Gnostics saw Jesus as a secret-teller imparting hidden knowledge meant to facilitate personal salvation and union with God, a view that relied on secret knowledge or mysticism rather than on the faith and practices that were becoming the bedrock of early Christian communities.
Furthermore, Gnostic texts often appropriated themes from Orphism and other mystery religions, which confused or blended Christian concepts with pagan ones. This syncretism led Christian authorities like Clement of Alexandria to strongly reject these influences as heretical. The Gnostics' lack of interest in evangelizing their beliefs to the broader public also contributed to their texts not being included in the canon; the focus on personal enlightenment conflicted with the growing Christian doctrine of a universal church.
This exclusion is also tied to the developing orthodoxy's efforts to establish a clear, unified set of texts and beliefs that would guide the church's teachings. Debates over the true message of Christ persisted in early Christianity, but as the church solidified its doctrines, including the interpretations championed by figures like St. Paul, nonconforming texts like the Gnostic gospels were ultimately excluded to avoid doctrinal confusion and preserve institutional unity.