Ebionites

[SonCatcher]

Did they believe Christ was savior? To the person way above he made me question my faith for a while but these replies have strengthened it. I will build my faith though once this debate is done.

They apparently believed in Him as Messiah. I’m not sure how much difference that made for them.

 

[FireFromHeaven]

It seems like you didn’t read any links provided.

Seriously Fire, do you want us to type everything out for you.

Read the replies and read the links provided within this thread.

It seems like you want a quick one work or one sentence answer.

Sorry. I seem to have searched through found it and forgot where it was. Found it again though.

 

[jakasaki]

Sorry. I seem to have searched through found it and forgot where it was. Found it again though.

Wonderful!

If you are going to “debate”, you better be prepared with information.

Wishing you well as always!

Best regards
Pam

 

[gnosisofthomas]

I was debating a Muslim. I said no early Christian groups that I knew besides the gnostics denied the incarnation. Then he told me about the ebionites. How do I reply?

Gnostics didn’t deny the incarnation. There were some Gnostic sects that held slightly different beliefs about it, and there were other sects that believed Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.

According to Epiphanius, the Ebionites believed that Christ was an archangel who incarnated into Jesus and was adopted as the Son of God. There’s very little information on the Ebionites’ beliefs out there, aside from some heresiological writings… which may or may not be accurate portrayals of their beliefs.

 

[aspirant]

I was debating a Muslim. I said no early Christian groups that I knew besides the gnostics denied the incarnation. Then he told me about the ebionites. How do I reply?

There were lots of groups that “denied the incarnation” as orthodox Christians understand it. Another obvious example would be Arians.

 

[IgnatianPhilo]

I think the ebionites beliefs are hard to set down for certain, we have none of their writings and only rely on the writings of others. Heres what Iraneaus had to say about them.

Against Heresies, Book 1 Chapter 26-1. Cerinthus, again, a man who was educated in the wisdom of the Egyptians, taught that the world was not made by the primary God, but by a certain Power far separated from him, and at a distance from that Principality who is supreme over the universe, and ignorant of him who is above all. He represented Jesus as having not been born of a virgin, but as being the son of Joseph and Mary according to the ordinary course of human generation, while he nevertheless was more righteous, prudent, and wise than other men. Moreover, after his baptism, Christ descended upon him in the form of a dove from the Supreme Ruler, and that then he proclaimed the unknown Father, and performed miracles. But at last Christ departed from Jesus, and that then Jesus suffered and rose again, while Christ remained impassible, inasmuch as he was a spiritual being.

1. Those who are called Ebionites agree that the world was made by God; but their opinions with respect to the Lord are similar to those of Cerinthus and Carpocrates. They use the Gospel according to Matthew only, and repudiate the Apostle Paul, maintaining that he was an apostate from the law. As to the prophetical writings, they endeavour to expound them in a somewhat singular manner: they practise circumcision, persevere in the observance of those customs which are enjoined by the law, and are so Judaic in their style of life, that they even adore Jerusalem as if it were the house of God.
2. The Nicolaitanes are the followers of that Nicolas who was one of the seven first ordained to the diaconate by the apostles. They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence. The character of these men is very plainly pointed out in the Apocalypse of John, [when they are represented] as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practise adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. Wherefore the Word has also spoken of them thus: “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.” Revelation 2:6

Did the ebionites whom were Jews it seems believe there was A Christ and the Jesus? I don’t know. But the bare bones of it are that the ebionites do not represent what the apostles were or believed, they were a second century sect which was radically set on having the law. This is wrong.

 

[Porknpie]

Sorry. I seem to have searched through found it and forgot where it was. Found it again though.

Fire,

The apostles spread all over the world and taught the same faith wherever they went. Eleven out of twelve died for the belief that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. They were witnesses to this fact. They knew Jesus having spent three years with Him. They knew it was Jesus who died on the cross, was resurrected and came back and not only appeared to them but taught them some more prior to his ascension to heaven.

Jesus was who he said he was…the apostles knew it…and they died for it for the one True faith, The Muslims are following a false gospel. Educated yourself in your faith first…read the catechism. Then debate.

 

[Trebor135]

There were lots of groups that “denied the incarnation” as orthodox Christians understand it. Another obvious example would be Arians.

What Muslims have to prove is that any of these groups (1) had essentially Islamic beliefs and (2) could trace themselves back to the apostles.

If you’re waiting for it to happen… don’t hold your breath.

 

[aspirant]

The first post didn’t really say anything about the point of the discussion.