33–100 AD: Sects & Movements — The True Way vs. the Counterfeits

⚠️ FALSE & COMPETING GROUPS (33–100 AD)

1. Pauline Assemblies
   • Claimed Jesus fulfilled or replaced Torah
   • Introduced grace vs. law, flesh vs. spirit
   • Rejected circumcision, Sabbath, and obedience
   • ➡️ Used by Rome to lay foundation for a new religion
2. Simon Magus Followers
   • Claimed spiritual power could be bought
   • Early roots of Gnosticism
   • ➡️ Seen as an enemy of truth by Peter
3. Gnostics (Early Forms)
   • Blended Jesus with Greek philosophy
   • Rejected YHWH as Creator; wrote “secret” teachings
   • ➡️ Gospel of Thomas, etc. — began 60–90 AD
4. Docetists
   • Denied Yeshua came in the flesh; only “appeared” human
   • ➡️ Contradicts Torah: Messiah must be born and suffer physically
5. Marcionite Proto-Thought
   • YHWH = bad Old Testament god; Jesus = new god of love
   • ➡️ Early forms circulating; formalized by 140 AD
6. Gentile Mystery Cult Adopters
   • Mixed Mithraism, Dionysus, Orphic rituals with Jesus
   • Introduced blood redemption, sacrificial god, immortal savior myths
   • ➡️ Built dying-rising “god-man” idea—against Torah
7. Elchasai-Like Mystics
   • Angel worship, mystic baptism
   • ➡️ Influenced Gnostics, Kabbalists, and later, Islam
8. Anti-Torah Jesus Sects
   • Claimed Jesus freed from all commands; used his name to excuse sin
   • ➡️ Attacked in 1 John 2:4: “He who says ‘I know Him’ and does not keep His commandments is a liar.”
9. Early "Churches" in Rome & Alexandria
   • Highly Hellenized, replaced Hebrew customs with Greek logic
   • Taught Trinity-like ideas forming before 100 AD
   • ➡️ Root of the Roman Church
10. Hellenistic Gospel Writers (Luke/Acts)
    • Shaped story to appeal to Greeks; added new parables/prayers/miracles
    • ➡️ Contrasts what Matthew preserved in Hebrew