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Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About The Cainites And Early Heresy

Early Christian writers did talk about the Cainites as a heretical group, but the evidence here is limited and mostly polemical. Tertullian names the Cainites directly, Hippolytus groups them with other sects like the Ophites, and Origen mentions them as sects that departed from Jesus’ teaching. Irenaeus gives the clearest early background by saying some heretics claimed Cain came from a higher power, which fits Cainite ideas.

Most of the rest of the cards are about heresy in general, baptism disputes, or Old Testament Cain texts, so they do not give much direct evidence about the Cainites themselves.

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Early Christian Beliefs About The Cainites And Early Heresy

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1 1 John 3:12 2 Jude 1:11 3 Genesis 4:15 4 Genesis 4:16 5 Genesis 4:5 6 Genesis 4:8 7 Genesis 5:14 8 Genesis 5:13 9 Genesis 5:12 10 Genesis 4:2

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14 references

Supporting Passages

1 John 3:12 primary

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

direct Cain passage about evil and murder

Jude 1:11

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

way of Cain passage

Genesis 4:15

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

mark of Cain background text

Genesis 4:16

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Cain leaves God's presence

Genesis 4:5

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Cain's rejected offering and anger

Genesis 4:8

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Cain kills Abel

Genesis 5:14

And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Genesis 5:13

And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Genesis 5:12

And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Genesis 4:2

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

sets up the Cain and Abel narrative

Acts 24:5

For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Revelation 2:15

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Galatians 5:20

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Genesis 4:17

And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.