Destra e sinistra: le fonti neotestamentarie di una dicotomia valentiniana

The aim of this work is, first and foremost, to illustrate the characteristics and properties of the dichotomy between “right” and “left” in Valentinian Gnosticism. It will be shown that this dichotomy always has an ontological significance and implies a hierarchical distinction within the tripartite division of substances characteristic of Gnosticism, functioning not as a fixed structure but as a relational and dynamic articulation. Once the fundamental traits have been outlined, and assuming that the core ideas of Gnosticism can be derived from its hermeneutics of Scripture, the research will proceed by exploring possible New Testament sources for this dichotomy.