gnoosis, rather "knowledge falsely so-called" (1 Timothy 6:20). There was a true "knowledge," a charism or "gift" of the Spirit, abused by some (1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 12:8; 1 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Corinthians 14:6). This was counterfeited by false teachers, as preeminently and exclusively theirs (Colossians 2:8; Colossians 2:18; Colossians 2:23). Hence arose creeds, "symbols" (sumbola), i.e. watchwords whereby the orthodox might distinguish one another from the heretical; traces of such a creed appear in 1 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:13-14.
        The germs of the pretended gnoosis were not developed into full blown gnosticism until the second century. True knowledge (epignoosis, "full accurate knowledge") Paul valued (Philemon 1:9; Colossians 2:3; Colossians 3:10). He did not despise, but utilizes, secular knowledge (Philemon 4:8; Acts 17:28, etc.); and the progress made in many of the sciences as well as in the arts (as in that of design, manifested in the vases and other works of that description), was evidently very great.