Final answer:
Gnosticism involved beliefs in a supreme divine being, the malign nature of the material world, and salvation through secret knowledge, while Irenaeus' view affirmed the goodness of creation and focuses on redemption through Christ's incarnation, emphasizing orthopraxy and doctrinal correctness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Basic Tenets of Gnosticism
Gnosticism is a term that encompasses a variety of ancient religious ideas and systems that originated in Jewish-Christian milieus in the first and second century AD. One of the basic tenets of Gnosticism is the belief in a distant, supreme divine being and the conviction that the material world is the creation of a lesser, ignorant deity. Gnostics held the view that the material world is inherently flawed or evil, and salvation is achieved through esoteric knowledge, or 'gnosis,' which allows for the reconnection of the divine spark within a person to the supreme divine being.
The Gnostic Approach
The gnostic approach often included elements borrowed from various religious traditions and philosophies, such as the mystery religions, including Orphism. It focused on secret knowledge and had a cognitive approach to mysteries, emphasizing inner enlightenment over traditional religious rituals or customs. The Gnostic text 'The (First) Apocalypse of James' is one example that illustrates these aspects, showing a dialogue about the pre-existent Father and the ascending spirit's identity.
Irenaeus' Theological Anthropology
Irenaeus, a second-century bishop, sharply diverged from the Gnostic views in his theological anthropology. He affirmed the goodness of creation and the material world, directly opposing the Gnostic belief in the inherent evil of the material world. For Irenaeus, salvation was not about secret knowledge but about the redemption of all creation through Christ, which was an inclusive, not exclusive endeavor. His view held that all humans are created in the image of God and are called to attain the likeness of God through obedience and Christ's incarnation, bestowing importance on orthopraxy and doctrinal correctness over esoteric knowledge.