The Gospel according to the Hebrews
The Gospel of the Nazirenes appears to contain all of the doctrines that the Ebionites believed that we know of. The gospel of the Hebrews has been lost or destroyed and only a few passages of it are found in the writings of some of the church fathers, which is how we even know of its existence. Epiphanius said that their gospel was possibly identical to the Gospel of the Twelve which is another name for the Gospel of the Nazarenes.
We first hear about this gospel from the writings of Papias, a bishop of Hierapolis (ca. 60-130 A.D.). Jerome said he thought that it was first published in Hebrew (Commentary on Matthew, p. 64 — Book 1, chap. 2).
It was in all likelihood written sometime in the first century, certainly before the writings of the four gospels. Most scholars believe the four Gospels were written in Greek.
Mark, considered to be the first gospel is thought to be written around 66-70 AD. The gospel of the Hebrews had to have been written before the synoptic gospels since it was written in the native tongue of Jesus and the disciples.
There are conflicting histories about the death of Matthew, the authentic writer of the gospel of the Hebrews. Some say he was martyred in 60 AD others say in 34 AD, and still others say he was the only disciple who died of a natural death.
At any rate, Matthew was an eye-witness of Jesus and the gospel of the Hebrews is estimated to have written the gospel somewhere before 42 to 50 AD at the latest — much earlier than the synoptic gospels.
According to Epiphanius, the name Ebionite was a name for all Christians who were early Jewish followers of Jesus before his death. Many of these Jewish Christians were also called Nazarenes.
Both of these groups of early Christians were Adoptionists until there was a split and they became separate groups — the Nazarenes adopting the new doctrines that were foreign to the earlier teachings of the gospel of the Hebrews.
They used only the Gospel of the Hebrews written by Matthew.
(The Ebionites repudiated Paul) and used only the Gospel according to the Hebrews, making but slight account of the others. (Eusebius, Eccl. Hist. iii.27.4.)
It is assumed here that “making slight account of the others” is referring to the four gospels that were written in Greek and had many new ideas that were in conflict with the the authentic gospel of the Hebrews actually written by the disciple of Jesus, Matthew.
The following are passages that reveal some of the beliefs the Ebionites held which were teachings of Jesus contained in the Gospel of the Nazarenes — most of which are in or believed to have been in the Gospel of the Hebrews:
- They did not believe Jesus was born of a virgin.
“Joseph, now awake, did as the angel directed him, and went in to Mary his espoused bride. In her womb she conceived the Holy One.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 2:12)
- They believed that Jesus was a natural born son of Joseph and Mary.
And Yeshua was beginning his thirtieth year, being by physical body indeed the Son of Joseph and Mary (Gospel of the Nazirenes 8:8)
- They rejected all animal sacrifice. They were strictly vegetarians.
“Wherefore I say to all who desire to be my disciples, keep your hands from bloodshed and let no flesh meat enter your mouths, for God is just and bountiful, who ordains that man shall live by the fruits and seeds of the earth alone.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 38:4)
- They believed that Jesus came to destroy animal sacrifices.
He also said, “I have come to end the sacrifices and feasts of blood, and if you don’t cease offering and eating of flesh and blood, the wrath of God will not cease from you. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 21:8)
I say to you, for this end have I come into the world, that I may put away all blood offerings and the eating of flesh of the beasts and the birds that are slain by men. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 75:9)
- They rejected Paul’s writings and considered him to be a liar and apostate from the law.
But the Ebionites use only that Gospel which is according to Matthew, (AKA: Gospel of the Hebrews) and repudiate the Apostle Paul, calling him an apostate… (Irenaeus — Against Heresies, i.26.2)
- They were observant of the Law — but the spirit of the Law.
“And Yeshua beheld a man working on the Sabbath, and He said to him, man, if you know what you are doing, you are blessed, for you are not breaking the law in the spirit…” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 41:7)
Who so breaks the law of purification by necessity, is blameless, for they do it without exercising their own free will. They don’t despise the law which is just and good. For cleanliness in all things is great gain. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 43:22)
And Yeshua said to them, “Behold a new law I give to you, which is not new but old … after the spirit.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 46:7)
And when they came down from the mount, one of His disciples asked Him, “Master, if a man does not keep all these commandments will he enter into life?”
... And he said, “The law is good in the letter, but more excellent in the spirit, for the letter without the spirit is dead, but the spirit makes the letter alive.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 47:1) (Paul quoted this)
“Take heed that you obey, from the heart, and in the spirit of love, all the commandments which I have given to you.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 47:2)
- They did not accept the Law of Moses in its entirety; certain sayings they rejected.
“The priests indeed receive such offerings as a reconciliation of the worshipers for the trespasses against that which they believe to be the Law of Moses; “
“…but for sins against the Law of God there can be no remission, save by repentance and amendment.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 33:3)
- They abstained from eating meat
And certain of the elders and scribes from the temple came to him saying, “Why do your disciples teach men that it is unlawful to eat the flesh of beasts though beasts are offered in sacrifice as Moses ordained.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 51:12)
You believe that Moses indeed commanded such creatures to be slain and offered in sacrifice and eaten, and so do you in the temple, but I have come to light The Way back to The Law, even the true Law of Moses,
…and He comes to put away the bloody sacrifice of the law, and the feasts on them, and to restore to you the pure oblation and unbloody sacrifice as in the beginning, even the grains and fruits of the earth. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 28:3)
- They were conformed to the customs of the Jews. They were justified according to the law, and saying that Jesus was justified by fulfilling the law
Don’t think that I have come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 25:8)
Keep the commandments. Love your God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. On these hang all the law and the prophets. And the sum of the law is this– Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you. Do you to others, what you want others to do to you.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 75:13)
…And when they had performed all things according to the law, Mary and Joseph returned to Galilee, to their own city Nazareth (Gospel of the Nazirenes 4:18)
- They believed Jesus was the Messiah and true prophet mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:15.
…”We have found Him, of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 10:8)
And Moses spoke, saying, “This is He of whom I foretold saying, ‘a prophet from the midst of your brothers like myself, will the eternal send to you, and that which the eternal reveals to him, he will tell you. And to him will you listen. Those who will not obey will bring their own destruction upon themselves’.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 46:3)
“These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 88:4)
- They believed in “holy poverty”.
…Yeshua answered, “Go, sell all you have and divide with the poor, and follow me.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 14:11)
“Blessed in spirit are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 25:2)
And yet another asked him, “Master, how many of the rich and mighty will enter into life and join us who are poor and despised? (Gospel of the Nazirenes 94:8)
- They held Jerusalem in great veneration.
…they brought the child to Jerusalem, to present it to God, for it is written in the Law of Moses: “Every male that opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 4:12)
…those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law, Mary and Joseph returned to Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 4:18)
Now, Joseph and Mary His parents, went up to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 6:1)
When Mary and Joseph had completed their stay, and as they returned, the child Yeshua stayed behind in Jerusalem. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 6:2)
…and He taught there and in Jerusalem as an accepted Rabbi, even in the temple, none hindering Him. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 6:24)
James being in and around Jerusalem, and John all around and about the outlying and surrounding areas of Judea. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 6:15)
Next: The Ebionites | What the Early Christians Really Believed