It is evident that the early Christians abstained from flesh meats, contrary to what modern Christianity would have us believe.
- Nazarenes
Epiphanius says that the Nazarenes “eat no meat”. Hugh Shonfield, in The Passover Plot: The name borne by the earliest followers of Jesus was not Christians: they were called Nazoreans (Nazarenes)…. They were vegetarians and rejected animal sacrifices.“
- Ebionites
Epiphanius of Salamis stated that the Ebionites “…opposed animal sacrifice, denying parts or most of the Law, and practiced religious vegetarianism“ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebionites)
- The Apostle Matthew
…was himself a vegetarian, “Accordingly, the apostle Matthew partook of seeds, and nuts, and vegetables, without flesh“. (Clement of Alexandria)
- James, the brother of Jesus — Eusebius, quotes Hegesippus:
After the apostles, James the brother of the Lord surnamed the Just was made head of the Church at Jerusalem. Many indeed are called James. This one was holy from his mother’s womb. He drank neither wine nor strong drink, ate no flesh“ (Hegesippus’ account of James from the fifth book of Hegesippus’ lost Commentaries)
- John the Baptist
(his diet) “consisted of wild honey that tasted like manna, like sweet cake cooked in oil.” (In the Gospel of Matthew which they call the Hebrew Gospel.)
- Peter
“However, such a choice has occurred to you, perhaps, without you understanding or knowing my manner of life, that I use only bread and olives, and rarely pot-herbs;” (Homily of Clement IX chapter 6)
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Jacobus the brother of Jesus — lived of seeds and vegetables and did not accept meat or wine.
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The Essenes
lived on vegetables that grew on their own accord, and wore only such clothing that could be procured from plants or trees. (Josephus – 1st century historian)
- Gospel of the Ebionites
Distinctive features of the text include the absence of the virgin birth and genealogy of Jesus, an adoptionist Christology in which Jesus is chosen to be God’s son at the time of his baptism, Jesus’ appointed task of abolishing the Jewish sacrifices, and an advocacy of the practice of vegetarianism. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel\_of\_the\_Ebionites)
- Gospel of the Hebrews
I am come to abolish the sacrifices, if ye cease not from sacrificing, the wrath will not cease from you.” Also: “the disciples asked him, Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the Passover? To which He replied: I have no desire to eat the flesh of this Paschal Lamb with you.”
- Gospel of the Nazirenes
“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, even as it came to your fathers in the wilderness, who lusted for flesh, and ate to their content, and were filled with rottenness, and the plague consumed them.” Woe unto the crafty who hurt the creatures of God. Woe unto the hunters for they shall become hunted — Jesus
- Gospel of Peace
And the flesh of slain beasts in his body will become his tomb. For I tell you truly, he who kills, kills himself, and whoso eats the flesh of slain beasts, eats the body of death. — Jesus
- St Francis of Assisi
All things of creation are children of the Father and thus brothers of man, God wants us to help animals, if they need help. Every creature in distress has the same right to be protected.
- Clement of Alexandria
advocated a vegetarian diet and claimed that the apostles Peter, Matthew, and James the Just were vegetarians. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement\_of\_Alexandria)
The unnatural eating of flesh-meats is as polluting as the heathen worship of devils, with its sacrifices and its unpure feasts, through participation in which a man becomes a fellow-eater with devils. “It is far better to be happy than to have your bodies act as graveyards for animals. (Clementine Homilies — Second Century AD).
- Saint Jerome
The eating of meat was unknown up to the big flood, but since the flood they have the strings and stinking juices of animal meat into our mouths, just as they threw in front of the grumbling sensual people in the desert. Jesus Christ, who appeared when the time had been fulfilled, has again joined the end with the beginning, so that it is no longer allowed for us to eat animal meat.
- Saint Basil
The steam of meat meals darkens the spirit. One can hardly have virtue if one enjoys meat meals and feasts. In the earthly paradise, no one sacrificed animals, and no one ate meat.
- Hugh Shonfield
in The Passover Plot: The name borne by the earliest followers of Jesus was not Christians: they were called Nazoreans (Nazarenes)…. They were vegetarians and rejected animal sacrifices.”
Vegetarian Church Fathers:
- Augustine of Hippo
- Jerome
- Tertullian
- Saint David
- Clement of Alexandria
- San Francisco of Assis
Famous Vegetarians:
- Albert Einstein
- Thomas Edison
- Benjamin Franklin
- Mohandas K. Gandhi
- Adolf Hitler
- Paul McCartney
- Shania Twain
- H. G. Wells
- John Wesley
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