How are they Different?
Today, some claim affiliation with "Nazorenes", others with "Ebionites". What is recorded about these two sects, what were their doctrines and what Scriptures did they follow? Here is what we have found.
EBIONITES
"It is possible that the name 'Ebionaioi' grew out of a practice of referring to the first Christians in Jerusalem as 'the poor', especially after the destructiuon of the city in 70 A.D. ...It seems likely that the original use of the word 'Ebionite' was in no way connected to an heretical sect. There is also considerable evidence that the name was derived from an individual named Ebion, hence, "Ebionite", follower of Ebion.
"The Ebionites were a Jewish-Christian group, first mentioned by Irenaeus in 175 A.D. (Adv. haer. 1,26,2), which flourished during the second, third and fourth centuries... [There is no evidence that "Ebionites" existed before this date (175 A.D) ed.]. In the New Testament there is mention of Jewish Christians, who believed in Yeshua (Jesus) but also observed the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:1 ff., 21:21, Gal. 2)....
They aquired
"heterodox notions in time from other sources, such as Cerinthus (1) and the Elchesaites (2). Here is some EBIONITE LITERATURE they followed completely.
Eusebius (Hist. eccl. 3,5) tells us:
"The people of the church in Jerusalem were commanded by an oracle given by revelation before the war to those in the city who were worthy of it to depart and dwell in one of the cities of Perea which they call Pella. (K. Lakes' translation).
"It is important to note that Eusebius does not call these emigrants by the name of Ebionites, nor have we any reason to to assume that he was speaking of them specifically (3). Justin distinguished two sorts of Jewish Christians, those who observed the Mosaic Law but did not require its' observance of all others, and those who maintained that this observance was necessary for Salvation. Justin would communicate with the former, but not with the latter (Dial. 47:48). Schoeps equates the Ebionites with the more intransigent group. By the time of Irenaeus there was definitely a sect named Ebionites, and they were considered heretical by him, and were listed among the Gnostics. (Adv. haer. 1,26,2). He mentions specifically that they rejected the virgin birth of Yeshua (Christ) (5,1,3; 3,21,1) and denied the Incarnation (4,33,4).
Here are the basic beliefs of the Ebionites, as distinguished from the Nazaroi (4), with reference to the authors recording same: O=Origen, I=Irenaeus, T-Tertullian, H=Hippolytus, Ep=Epiphanius, Eu-Eusebius, J=Jerome
BRIEF SUMMARY OF EBIONITE BELIEFS
They depend on Cerinthus (see footnote) and Carpocrates. (I,T,H)
They believe in one G-d, the creator of the world. (I,T,H)
They use the Gospel of Matthew only. (I,T,Ep)
They reject Paul as an apostate from the Law (I,O,Ep)
They expound the prophets "curiosius" (I)
They practice circumcision (I,O,Ep) [Including already Saved Gentiles after Salvation. A violation of Galatians 5.]
They observe the Sabbath (Eu,Ep)
They live according to the Jewish way of life, according to the Law. (I,H,O,Eu,Ep)
They face Jerusalem when they pray (I)
They hold the Mosaic Law as necessary for Salvation (H,Eu)
They reject the virgin birth of Christ (I,T,O,Eu,Ep)
They hold Christ to be a mere man (I,T,H,Eu,Ep)
They maintain Jesus had to "merit" His Title, Christ, by fulfilling the Law (H,Ep)
They reject virginity and continence. (Ep) [They were in no way monastic, but just the opposite]
They use purificatory baths (Ep)
They use remedial baths (Ep)
They admit baptism (Ep)
They celebrate the mysteries (The L-RDs' Supper) with unleavened bread and mere water (Ep)
They hold that Christ came to abrogate (permanently put an end to) sacrifice in the Temple (Ep) [This belief would not have authorized or condoned in any way, the rebuilding of the Holy Temple at Jerusalem or the reinstitution of the Levitical sacrificial system whatsoever]
They believe that G-d set the the devil and Christ to rule over this world, and the world to come, respectively (Ep) This was a Dualistic belief-system.
They give up all goods and possessions (Ep)
They permit divorce (Ep)
They admit Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, but none of the prophets [David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Elijah, Elisha] (Ep)
They claim the Christ alone is the True Prophet (Ep)
They use the book, "Periodoi Petrou dia Klementos" (Ep)
They abstain from meat "like Peter". (Ep)
BRIEF SUMMARY OF NAZARAOI BELIEFS
They believe in one G-d, creator of the world (Ep)
They use the Gospel of Matthew only (Eu, Ep)
They reject Paul as an apostate from the Law (O,Eu)
They practice circumcision (Ep)
They observe the Sabbath (Eu,Ep, [Eusebius says that they observed Sunday too])
They follow the Jewish way of life according to the Law (Eu,Ep)
They do not reject the virgin birth of Christ (O,Eu,J;Ep is not sure about this)
They deny Jesus' Pre-Existence as G-d [His Co-Equality and Co-Eternity with the Father](Eu)
They call Jesus the "Son of G-d" [only] (Ep,J)
They believe in the resurrection of the dead (Ep)
Biblioghraphy and Credits
The Scrolls and the New Testament, Stendahl, Crossroads, 1992, "The Ebionites", Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J.
The History of Christian Doctrines, Louis Berkhof, Banner of Truth Trust, 1937, reprinted 1991
Footnotes
(1) The Ebionites followed the doctrines of Cerinthus. One of the main doctrines of Cerinthus was that Yeshua (Jesus) was human, and Christ was a "higher spirit" that descended upon Him at the time of His Baptism, and left Him again before the crucifixion. This doctrine was judged religious philosophical speculation and heretical. The Brit Chadashah (New Testament) directly combats this heresy in John 1:14; 20:31; I John 2:22; 4:2,15; 5:1; II John 7.
(2) The Elchesaites, or Elkesaites were a Jewish Christian group that held theosophic speculations and strict asceticism. They rejected the virgin birth of Yeshua and claimed He was born as other men. They spoke of Him as a "higher spirit" or "angel". They regarded Him as the incarnation of the "ideal Adam" and also called Him "the highest archangel". They observed circumcision and the Sabbath, practiced repeated washings; to which a magical, reconciling, cleansing power was ascribed. They also practiced magic and astrology. They had secret doctrines concerning observance of the Torah. It is believed that the Epistle to the Colossians and First Timothy warns the Assemblies about this group.
(3) There were many different believers coming from varied backgrounds living in Jerusalem prior to 70 A.D.: i.e, ex-Essenes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, Herodians, etc., plus Gentile believers. None of these were "Ebionites", which were unknown before the last part of the 2nd Century (175 A.D).
(4) The Ebionites and Nazaroi were two completely distinct and doctrinally separated groups, holding completely opposite views in many very critical areas. Their separate views were basically irreconcilable, and at the same time in major disagreement with the earliest Bishops of the Assemblies. Many of these Bishops that disagreed with the Ebionites and Nazorenes were either taught by Disciples of the Apostles, or based their decisions directly from the teaching of the Apostles of Yeshua Himself. Much of the misunderstanding was a direct result of not realizing which Covenant Believers in Yeshua now found themselves by Divine Faith and listening to teachers that were either not IN the New Covenant, or did not understand It and were not Practicing It. Go here to learn more about the Melchetzaddik Covenant or New Covenant that is Superior to every other Covenant that G-d Has ever Made with man.
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