Ebionites and Jewish Christianity
Early Christian writers describe the Ebionites as Jewish Christians who kept the law of Moses and, in some accounts, denied the virgin birth. Irenaeus, Hippolytus, and Origen are the main witnesses here, and they agree that the group stayed tied to Jewish customs. Justin and Ignatius also help show the wider debate over whether Christians should keep Jewish practices. The Bible passages on circumcision and the law give the background for that debate, even though they do not name the Ebionites.
111 early-church witnesses · 202 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about the Ebionites and Jewish Christianity?
Early Christian writers mostly used the name Ebionites for Jewish-Christian groups that kept the law of Moses, practiced circumcision, and rejected Paul. Irenaeus, Hippolytus, and Origen also say many Ebionites denied the virgin birth and treated Jesus as a mere human, while some Jewish Christians in Justin’s writings kept the law without forcing it on others. Ignatius draws a sharper line by saying Christianity should not be mixed with Judaism, but he is not speaking about Ebionites by name.
The Bible passages here fit the same wider dispute about circumcision and the law, especially Acts 15 and Acts 21, though they do not name the Ebionites. Overall, the evidence is strong that early Christians saw Ebionites as law-keeping Jewish Christians, but the details about their beliefs are partly mixed because different writers describe them a little differently.
Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Ebionites were usually described as Jewish Christians who kept Moses' law and circumcision.
- Irenaeus, Hippolytus, and Origen connect them with a low view of Jesus, and some say they denied the virgin birth.
- Acts 15 and Acts 21 show the wider church debate over circumcision and law-keeping.
- Ignatius and Justin show that some early Christians allowed Jewish practice, but not as a requirement for all believers.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did the Ebionites use only the Gospel of Matthew?
Irenaeus says the Ebionites used only Matthew’s Gospel and that this Gospel itself refutes them. This is one of the clearest repeated claims in the supplied sources.
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
for Ebion signifies poor among the Jews, and those Jews who have received Jesus as Christ are called by the name of Ebionites.
Did the Ebionites keep Jewish law and customs?
Multiple sources say the Ebionites lived according to Jewish customs, practiced circumcision, and treated the law of Moses as the standard for justification. Acts also provides the broader background for early Christian debates over circumcision and Moses.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
The Ebionites, following these, assert that He was begotten by Joseph;
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
... their lives, like the Jewish multitude, according to the Jewish law. These are the twofold sect of Ebionites. They either acknowledge with us that Jesus was born of a virgin, or deny this and maintain that He was begotten like other human beings. What does that avail as a charge against those who belong to the Church, and whom Celsus has called those of the multitude? He adds also that certain of the Christians are believers in the Sibyl, probably because he misunderstood some who blamed those who believed in the existence of a prophetic Sibyl, and who called those who held this belief Sibyllists.
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
Let it be admitted, moreover, that there are some who accept Jesus, and who boast on that account of being Christians, and yet would regulate their lives, like the Jewish multitude, in accordance with the Jewish law — and these are the twofold sect of Ebionites, who either acknowledge with us that Jesus was born of a virgin, or deny this, and maintain that He was begotten like other human beings — what does that avail by way of charge against such as belong to the Church, and whom Celsus has styled those of the multitude?
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
The Ebionaeans, however, acknowledge that the world was made by Him Who is in reality God, but they propound legends concerning the Christ similarly with Cerinthus and Carpocrates.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
And the (Ebionaeans allege) that they themselves also, when in like manner they fulfil (the law), are able to become Christs;
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
But the Ebionaeans assert that the world is made by the true God, and they speak of Christ in a similar manner with Cerinthus.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
according to the law, and saying that Jesus was justified by fulfilling the law.
What did early Christians say the Ebionites believed about Jesus?
The sources say the Ebionites held a diminished view of Christ: some descriptions say Jesus was treated as a mere man or as Joseph’s son, while another says they placed Christ in a way similar to Cerinthus and Carpocrates.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
The Ebionaeans, however, admit that the world was made by Him who truly is God. But they put forward stories about Christ similar to those of Cerinthus and Carpocrates. They live according to Jewish customs, claiming that they are justified by the law, and saying that Jesus was justified by fulfilling the law. And therefore, according to the Ebionaeans, the Savior was called the Christ of God and Jesus, because no one else among mankind had completely kept the law. For if even any other person had fulfilled the commandments in the law, he would have been that Christ. And the Ebionaeans also claim that they themselves, if they likewise fulfill the law, are able to become christs. For they say that our Lord Himself was a man in the same sense as all the rest of the human family.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching
What are the opinions propounded by the Ebionaeans, and that they in preference adhere to Jewish customs.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
What are the views taught by the Ebionaeans, and that they choose to follow Jewish customs rather than anything else.
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
But the Ebionaeans claim that the world was made by the true God, and they speak about Christ in much the same way as Cerinthus. However, in every respect they live according to the law of Moses, claiming that this is how they are justified.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
...th a son," as translated by Theodotion the Ephesian and Aquila of Pontus, both Jewish converts. The Ebionites, following this view, claim that He was fathered by Joseph, thereby undermining as much as they can the remarkable plan of God and disregarding the testimony of the prophets that came from God. This prophecy was indeed made before the people were taken to Babylon, before the Medes and Persians came to power. It was translated into Greek by the Jews themselves long before our Lord's coming, so that no one could suspect the Jews of interpreting these words to please us. If they had known of our future existence and that we would rely on these scriptural proofs, they would never have hesitated to destroy their own Scriptures, which declare that all other nations share in eternal life and show that those who boast of being the house of Jacob and the people of Israel are excluded from the grace of God.
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John 7:22 Background
Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
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Galatians 5:3 Background
I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
Did the Ebionites deny the virgin birth?
Origen says the Ebionites were divided on this point: some acknowledged that Jesus was born of a virgin, while others denied it and said he was begotten like other human beings.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Supporting witness
2. Those who are called Ebionites agree that the world was made by God; but their views about the Lord are similar to those of Cerinthus and Carpocrates. They use only the Gospel according to Matthew and reject the Apostle Paul, insisting that he was an apostate from the law. Regarding the prophetic writings, they attempt to interpret them in a rather unique manner: they practice circumcision, persist in following the customs prescribed by the law, and are so Judaic in their way of life that they even worship Jerusalem as if it were the house of God.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
... acknowledge them, and from these writings, each attempts to support their own unique doctrine. The Ebionites, who use only the Gospel of Matthew, are refuted by this very Gospel, as they make false assumptions about the Lord. Marcion, who distorts the Gospel of Luke, is shown to be a blasphemer of the one true God, even from the passages he retains. Those who separate Jesus from Christ, claiming that Christ was impassible while Jesus suffered, and prefer the Gospel of Mark, can have their errors corrected if they read it with a love of truth. Furthermore, those who follow Valentinus and extensively use the Gospel of John to support their theories will be proven completely wrong by this very Gospel, as I demonstrated in the first book. Since our opponents testify to us and use these writings, our proof from them is firm and true.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
For the Ebionites, who use Matthew’s Gospel only, are confuted out of this very same, making false suppositions with regard to the Lord.
Were circumcision and the law of Moses disputed in the early church?
Acts shows that some believers insisted Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses, and that accusations about teaching Jews to forsake Moses were already being made. These passages provide the biblical background for later Ebionite descriptions.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching
but I do not agree with them. But if some, through weak-mindedness, wish to observe such institutions as were given by Moses, from which they expect some virtue, but which we believe were appointed by reason of the hardness of the people’s hearts, along with their hope in this Christ, and [wish to perform] the eternal and natural acts of righteousness and piety, yet choose to live with the Christians and the faithful, as I said before, not inducing them either to be circumcised like themselves, or to keep the Sabbath, or to observe any other such ceremonies, then I hold that we ought to join ourselves to such, and associate with them in all things as kinsmen and brethren.
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
Nay, Peter himself seems to have observed for a considerable time the Jewish observances enjoined by the law of Moses, not having yet learned from Jesus to ascend from the law that is regulated according to the letter, to that which is interpreted according to the spirit, — a fact which we learn from the Acts of the Apostles.
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Galatians 2:12 Background
for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
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Acts 15:5 Background
But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
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Acts 21:21 Background
but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
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Acts 15:1 Background
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
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Romans 10:5 Background
For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
Did early Christians think Christianity should stay separate from Judaism?
Ignatius says it is wrong to profess Christ and then follow Judaism, and he says Christianity did not take in Judaism. That is a broad statement about the Christian-Jewish boundary, not a direct description of the Ebionites.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Short Version) Direct teaching
... exist. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For anyone called by any other name besides this is not of God. Lay aside the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be salted in Him, lest anyone among you becomes corrupted, since by your savor you will be judged. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus and then follow Judaism. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism embraced Christianity, so that every tongue which believes might be gathered together to God.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Short Version) Supporting witness
For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believeth might be gathered together to God.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Long Version) Supporting witness
For where there is Christianity there cannot be Judaism.
Common Questions
Who were the Ebionites in early Christian writing?
They were usually described as Jewish Christians who kept the law of Moses and circumcision, and some writers said they also rejected key beliefs about Jesus.
Did early Christians think the Ebionites were true Christians?
Some writers treated them as a Christian-related group, but they usually described their views as wrong and outside the church's teaching.
Did the Ebionites keep Jewish customs?
Yes. Irenaeus, Hippolytus, and Origen all connect them with Jewish customs and law-keeping.
What Bible passages relate to the Ebionites' beliefs?
Acts 15:1, Acts 15:5, and Acts 21:21 are the main passages on circumcision and keeping the law of Moses.
Source Index for the Ebionites and Jewish Christianity
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 202 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 111
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 91
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Book 79 1:3
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