patristic testimonies reconsidered . In Epiphanius’ view, they maintain contradictory views of Christ:
Some of them say that (a) Adam is Christ (Pan. ..) while others
claim that (b) Christ is eternal and has appeared several times in
history—to Abraham and others—in the guise of Adam’s body, and
that he was finally crucified, raised and returned to heaven (Pan.
..–). Some of them may also say that (c) Christ went into Jesus
(Pan. ..; see alsoPan. ..).
. Epiphanius presents quotations from the Ebionites’ gospel, arguing
that the Ebionites have mutilated the Gospel of Matthew (Pan.
.., etc.).
. They detest Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Elijah, Elisha, Sam-
son,Samuel,David,Salomonandalltheprophets(Pan. ..,
..–, ..).
. They abstain from meat (Pan. .., .., .., ..–).
. They accept baptism in addition to their daily purifications (Pan.
..).
. They celebrate the Eucharist annually with unleavened bread and
water only (Pan. ..).
. They believe that Christ came to abolish the sacrifices (Pan. ..)
and James, the brother of Jesus, preached against the temple and the
sacrifices (Pan. ..).
. They claim to have received their name, Ebionites (“poor”, from
the Hebrew word), when their ancestors had given up their
property to the Apostles (Pan. ..–; cf. Acts :–).
. They have invocations and lustrations to help those stricken by
sickness or bitten by a snake (Pan. ..–; also in theBook of
Elchasai).
. Like Elchasai, they picture Christ as a huge invisible figure, miles
long and miles wide (Pan. ..–; also in theBook of Elchasai).
. Young Ebionite men are obliged to marry, coerced by their teachers
(Pan. ..; cf. above ).
. The Ebionites have synagogues, governed by archisynagogues and
elders (Pan. ..–).
. They do not accept the entire Pentateuch (Pan. ..–).In addition, Epiphanius transmits some new (fictitious) stories that illus-
trate the Ebionites’ anti-Paulinism. For instance, the Ebionites explained
that Paul’s antipathy toward the law and circumcision was caused by his
unfortunate love affairs. According to this account, Paul was originally of
Greek parentage. He went to Jerusalem and fell in love with the daughter