abbreviations and appendices TheGospel of the Ebionites. The beginning of theGospel of the Ebionites
[The beginning of the gospel among them reads:]
It happened in the days of Herod the king of Judea that John came, baptizing
with the baptism of conversion in the river Jordan. Of him it is said that he
was from the family of Aaron the priest, the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth.
And all went out to him.(Epiphanius,Pan. ..; ..).
. John’s diet
[And:]
It happened that John baptized and the Pharisees went out to him and were
baptized and all Jerusalem. And John was dressed in a mantle of camel’s
hair and a leather belt was round his waist. And his food was, it said,
wild honey, of which the taste was that of manna, like cakes in olive oil.
(Epiphanius,Pan. ..–).
. The Baptism of Jesus
[And after much is said in the Gospel it continues:]
After the people had been baptized Jesus also came and was baptized by
John. And when he ascended from the water the heavens opened and he
saw the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending and entering into
him. And a voice from heaven said: “You are my beloved son, in you
I am pleased.” And next: “Today I have begotten you.” And suddenly a
great light shone around that place. When John saw it, they say, he said
to him: “Who are you, Lord?” And again a voice from came from heaven
which said to him: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
After this, it says, John fell down before him and said: “I pray you, Lord,
baptize me.” But he withstood him and said: “Let it be, it is appropriate
that everything is fulfilled this way.”(Epiphanius,Pan. ..–; trans.
Klijn , modified).
. The Savior’s true brothers and mother
[Further they deny that he is a man, apparently from the word that the
Saviour spoke when he was told:]“See, your mother and your brothers
stand outside.” “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” And he