Deliberate Anti-Docetism in the NT?

[AndyN]

Hello!
My Theology Lecturer informs me that 1 John 4:1-3, 2 John 7 and Colossians 2:9 refer to the prevalence of doetic beliefs in NT times. Wasn't it far too early for this? Or was there a general variation of strange beliefs around that time?

:o)

[Solly]

There are better than I who can answer, but I think it comes down to the view that John and the writer of Colossians were affected by nascent Gnosticism, which would favour docetism over ebionitism.

[AndyN]

thanks. I always thought Gnosticism came along much later (ie the 2nd century at least)....

[Solly]

They used to think it was much earlier, hence my clling it nascent. To some extent, it grew on the back of Chrisitanity, and if John is a later writer, and Paul was in the territory - Western Asia, it would explain it.