You are right about the Apocryphal writings, "gospels, " and their sometimes farfetched exaggerations of Christ, his early years, etc. Also, that if one delves into the actual Gnostic writings, it becomes quite garbled and confusing.
Not regarding the Gnostic texts, or the later Apocryphal writings which were denounced by the formal church, there WAS a contemporary sect of Gnostics contemporary and prior to the time of Christ. There are speculations that Jesus, John the Baptist, and Paul were all either Gnostic or influenced by Gnosticism, which says we have the "knowledge" within us. I find this fascinating and not at all countering to the foundations of Christianity.
Patty