ORTHODOX EBIONITES AND HETERODOX
EBIONITES
In the writings of the Church Fathers
we find two descriptions of the Ebionites, very much different one from the
other.
The first description of the Ebionites is found in the writings of all
the Church Fathers, except Epiphanius of
Salamis, and describes orthodox Ebionites, that followed faithfully everything
that is in the Tanach (Old Testament).
The second description of the Ebionites is only found in the writings of
Epiphanius of Salamis, and describes heterodox Ebionites, that had
contradictory, absurd, mystic and esoteric beliefs.
However, Epiphanius of Salamis, in his book Panarion, 30:17:5, said the
following: "But I already showed above that Ebion did not know these
things, but later, his followers that associated with Elchasai had the circumcision, the Sabbath and the customs of Ebion,
but the imagination of Elchasai".
Therefore, we see that Epiphanius, when describing the heterodox
Ebionites, excepted that they are the result of a distortion of the original
Ebionism, that was the orthodox Ebionism, distortion this that appeared because
of the fact that some Ebionites have believed in the false prophet Elchasai (or
Elcasai, or Elkasai, or Elxai), who preached mystic, esoteric and absurd
doctrines, totally incompatible with the Tanach (Old Testament), and so became
heterodox or heretical Ebionites.
Wherefore, we must have the care of distinguishing between the orthodox
Ebionites, that were the true followers of
Jesus Christ (Yeshua haMashiach), that had beliefs and practices totally in
agreement with the Tanach (Old Testament), and the heterodox Ebionites, that,
in a contradictory manner, mixed the correct faiths and practices of the
orthodox Ebionites with the heretical, absurd, esoteric and mystic doctrines
and practices, totally incompatible with the Tanach (Old Testament), that were
introduced by the false prophet Elchasai.
And we must follow the doctrines of the orthodox Ebionites, that are
correct and coherent doctrines, perfectly in agreement with the Tanach (Old
Testament), because we must faithfully follow Yahveh, our blessed Creator,
whose words are in the Tanach (Old Testament), and Jesus
Christ (Yeshua haMashiach) said that we must follow faithfully everything
that is in the Tanach (Old Testament) (Matthew 5:17-19).
And we must reject the heretical, absurd, esoteric and mystic and in
disaccord with the Tanach (Old Testament) beliefs and practices of the
heterodox Ebionites described by Epiphanius of Salamis in his book Panarion.
The heretical beliefs, doctrines and practices of the heterodox
Ebionites that we must reject are the following ones:
1) The belief in the false prophet Elchasai.
2) The false doctrine that says that we must not eat meat. This false
doctrine is totally absurd, because it is written in Genesis 9:3 that Yahveh
gave us the animals to serve as food for us, with exception only of the unclean
animals (Leviticus chapter 11), and it is written in Exodus 12:8 that Yahveh
commanded us to eat the meat of the lamb of the Passover (Pêssach).
3) The false doctrine that says that we must not offer to God sacrifices of animals. This doctrine
is totally absurd, because God
expressly commanded us to offer to Him sacrifices of animals (burnt-offerings,
sacrifices of peace-offerings, sacrifices of gratefulness, sin-offerings and
guilt-offerings) (Leviticus, chapters 1 to 7).
4) The false doctrine that says that Jesus Christ
came to abolish the sacrifices of animals. This doctrine is totally false and
absurd, because it is written in Matthew 5:17-19 that Jesus
Christ said that he did not come to abolish absolutely nothing of the Law
of God, and that we must fulfill all
the commandments of the Law of God,
among which are the commandments of offering to Him sacrifices of animals
(burnt-offerings, sacrifices of peace-offerings, sacrifices of gratefulness,
sin-offerings and guilt-offerings) (Leviticus, chapters 1 to 7).
5) The heretical practice of celebrating a mystery annually with
unleavened bread and water (Epiphanius, Panarion, 30:16:1). This practice is
heretic because God did not command
to do this.
6) The heretical doctrine that says that Christ was created as one of
the archangels, that governs the angels and all the things created by God, and that he came and he gave
instructions to abolish the sacrifices (Epiphanius, Panarion, 30:16:4).
7) The undue increment that they did in the text of the Gospel, that
says that Jesus said: "I came to abolish the sacrifices, and if you do not
stop sacrificing, the anger will not cease from you " (Epiphanius,
Panarion, 30:16:5).
8) The heretical doctrine that says that Jesus
Christ was the only true prophet, and that the prophets were prophets of
the intelligence, and not of the truth (Epiphanius, Panarion, 30:18:4-6).
9) The heretical doctrine that says that we must reject some parts of
the Pentateuch of Moses (Epiphanius, Panarion, 30:18:7).
10) The undue alteration that they made in the text of the Gospel, that
says that Jesus Christ said "With desire
have I desired to eat with you this meat, the Passover?” (Epiphanius, Panarion,
30:22:4).
We must reject these heretical doctrines and beliefs and practices of
the heterodox Ebionites described by Epiphanius of Salamis, because they are
contrary to the doctrines and commandments of God, that are in the Tanach (Old
Testament), and they are contrary to the doctrine of Jesus
Christ.
We must accept only the beliefs and practices of the orthodox Ebionites,
described by the other Church Fathers, and
partly also by Epiphanius of Salamis, because they are in agreement with the
commandments and doctrines of God,
that are in the Tanach (Old Testament).
These are the doctrines and practices of the orthodox Ebionites, that we
must accept:
1) It is necessary to obey
all the commandments of the Law of God, including the commandment of doing
the circumcision.
2) The gentiles that convert to God
must do the circumcision, and must obey all the
commandments of the Law of God
(Torah) (first five books of the Bible).
3) Jesus Christ is the Messiah that will
come, but is not God.
4) Jesus Christ was not born of a virgin.
5) Jesus Christ was generated by Joseph.
6) Paul of Tarsus was an
apostate and a heretic and a false apostle
and a false prophet.
7) The Holy Scriptures are
only the Tanach (Old Testament) and the
authentic text of the Gospel according to Matthew.
Yahveh bless you.
João Paulo Fernandes Pontes.
Published in November 21, 2008.
Updated in April 23, 2010.
EN FRANÇAIS EN ESPAÑOL EM PORTUGUÊS בעיברית