This book is the first comprehensive study of the doctrines and history of "Valentinianism," making full use of the documents from Nag Hammadi as well as the reports of the Church Fathers.

Revision of author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1989.

The book deals with thinkers and movements that were embraced by many second-century religious seekers but which are now largely forgotten or known only as "heretics": Basilides, Sethianism, Valentinus' school, Marcion, Tatian, Bardaisan, Montanists, Cerinthus, Ebionites, Nazarenes, Jewish-Christianity of the "Pseudo-Clementines," and Elchasites.

"The object of this work is to demonstrate, from the Word of God and from history, the exclusive right of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament, and of the twenty-seven books of the New, to a place in the list of inspired writings. This right is called thir canonicity. We shall first establish it from history, as regards the New Testament; and then establish it by doctrinal evidence, as regards the whole Bible" -- Page 1.