Just wanted to flag up that while 'the Gnostics' are often mentions in opposition to (primarily) Christian belief, that's not to mean that there is not an orthodox gnosis in the Abrahamic Traditions – quite the reverse in fact.
The use of the term 'Gnostic' with reference to certain heretical teachings originates in the 17th century, derived from the writings of Irenaeus (c130-202).
Irenaeus famously wrote "On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis, referring to "knowledge falsely so-called" (pseudonymos gnosis) – a quotation from 1 Timothy 6:20 – St Paul wasn't dismissing gnosis per se.
The use of the term 'Gnostic' with reference to certain heretical teachings originates in the 17th century, derived from the writings of Irenaeus (c130-202).
Irenaeus famously wrote "On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis, referring to "knowledge falsely so-called" (pseudonymos gnosis) – a quotation from 1 Timothy 6:20 – St Paul wasn't dismissing gnosis per se.