As a term in religious studies, Gnosis refers to various religious teachings and groups from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, as well as earlier predecessors, and represents a religious secret knowledge that, according to the Gnostics' own understanding, distinguishes them from the rest of humanity. Since the 2nd century, there are testimonies from opponents of this movement, which believes that knowledge (the meaning of the Greek word "Gnosis") leads to salvation from a hostile world. In addition to these testimonies, there exists a large number of original texts found in the Egyptian desert sands that showcase the richness of Gnostic mythological narratives. The source texts reveal the most important Gnostic teachers and systems. Furthermore, they also raise significant questions: Was there a Gnostic religion? Did the Gnostics have their own beliefs?.