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Gnosticism: Simon Magus
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Gnosticism was the most threatening heresy of the early church. Conceived of by Simon Magus, whose conversion is recorded in Acts 8, the philosophy sought to seamlessly combine elements of Greek thought and revelation with the miracles and teachings of the gospel.
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In view of the unanimous patristic view that Gnosticism began with Simon Magus, some scholars have continued to seek the roots of Gnosticism in Samaria. Jarl Fossum stresses the links of Simon to Dositheus,54 and I. P. Culianu avers that Simon Magus borrowed the idea of a second Creator from the Magharians.55 Unfortunately for such theories, the link with Dositheus is questionable and the sources for the Magharians are quite late.57
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Jones: Some readers will have read of Gnosticism under the term "Docetism" from the Greek verb, dokeo – "to seem". Christ only seemed to be physically human, but, as a matter of fact, Christ, from the realm of the spirit, could not be so closely associated with the work of the evil creator. In particular, the Sethian Gnostics (like Judas) laughed at the ignorance of those who thought they were crucifying Christ (since it was Simon of Cyrene on the cross).
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This school represents the oldest phase of Gnosticism, as Western Asia was the birthplace of the movement. Dositheus, Simon Magus, Menander, Cerinthus, Cerdo, Saturninus Justin, the Bardesanites, Sevrians, Ebionites, Encratites, Ophites, Naassenes, the Gnostics of the "Acts of Thomas", the Sethians, the Peratae, the Cainites may be said to belong to this school.
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Simon Magus