passion traditions reinterpreted such close connections to the ideas of theGospel of the Ebionitesand
to Epiphanius’ own observations about the practices of the Ebionites
that it can be used to illustrate the Ebionites’ views. Theologically, the
most significant similarity is the abandoning of the prophets and Christ’s
rejection of the sacrificial cult. Epiphanius’ Ebionites andRec. .–
also share marked anti-Paulinism. The idea that Jesus came to abolish
sacrifices and the Temple was destroyed because people were reluctant
to cease sacrificing is so unique within the early Christian tradition that
its appearance both inRec. .– and theGospel of the Ebionitescannot
be coincidental.^15
Epiphanius presents eight quotations from theGospel of the Ebion-
ites.^16 He quotes the gospel mainly in order to show its inconsistencies
or in order to show how the Ebionites have twisted the wording of the
canonical gospels. What interests us here is that he also finds examples
of the Ebionites’ rejection of meat in their gospel. They have changed
John the Baptist’s diet from locusts to honey cakes (Pan. ..–) and
they have made Jesus say that he does “not earnestly desire to eat meat”
with the disciples at Passover (Pan. ..–). The latter passage is espe-
cially important for the present discussion and deserves closer examina-
tion.
Panarion has the following description of Jesus’ conversation with his
disciples before the Last Supper where Epiphanius criticizes the wording
of theGospel of the Ebionites.
Next the Lord himself says: “I earnestly desired to eat this Passover with
you.” And he did not say Passover alone but this Passover lest somebody
should adapt this saying to his own purpose by tricks. The Passover con-
sists, as I said, of meat roasted in fire and the other things. They, however,
destroyed the true order and changed the passage; that is clear to everyone
because of the words that belong together, and they made the disciples
to say: “Where do you wish that we prepare the Passover to eat for you?”
And they made him answer: “I do not earnestly desire to eat meat with
you this Passover.” But how then will this deceit not be brought to light,
since—the order of words being clear—the “mu” and the “eta” have been
added? For instead of saying: “I earnestly desired” (πιυμ9α πε$μησα)
they added the word “not” (μ8). Actually he said: “I earnestly desired to
eat this Passover with you.” They, however, added “meat” and deceived(^15) Bauckham , .
(^16) For the quotations and commentary, see Klijn , –.