patristic testimonies reconsidered Epiphanius’ ignorance also shows that, by his time, the Nazarenes were
not generally known as “those believing Jews who do believe in the virgin
birth.”
In the light of Epiphanius’ ignorance, it is surprising that modern
scholars usually characterize the Nazarenes’ theology by highlighting
their belief in the virgin birth. One argument presented in favor of this
view is that, although the Nazarenes were not mentioned by Epipha-
nius’ predecessors, they were already known to Origen (Contra Celsum
.) and Eusebius (Hist. eccl. ..–), who make a distinction between
two groups of Ebionites: some Ebionites did believe in the virgin birth
(= “Nazarenes”), while others did not (= the “real” Ebionites).^66 How-
ever, as was shown above^67 this distinction may itself be based on an
early textual corruption of Irenaeus’ heresiology. In any case, it is clear
that Epiphanius, the “inventor” of the Nazarenes, did not identify the
Nazarenes with these “more orthodox” Ebionites. Further evidence of the
Nazarenes’ belief in the virgin birth has been found in Jerome’s letter to
Augustine (Epist. ) but, as will be shown below (..), the reference
to the Nazarenes in this letter is extremely problematic from a historical
point of view.
If Epiphanius’ did not know the stance of the Nazarenes on the virgin
birth, how is it possible that he was able to present some other details
about their doctrines? Where did he get his information?
Everything that Epiphanius does reveal about the doctrines of the
Nazarenes can be read inPan. ... Therefore, the passage will be
repeated here, with the numbering of the information about the Naza-
renes’ doctrines that was used above:
They acknowledge both () the resurrection of the dead, and () the divine
creation of all things, and () declare that God is one, and that () his
Son/servant (πα ς)isJesusChrist.
According to Pritz, one indication of the fact that the Nazarenes were
the successors of the earliest Jerusalem church is that Epiphanius’ infor-
mation inPan. .. about the doctrines of the Nazarenes accords with
Acts’ information about the early Jerusalem church:
One need make only a quick comparison with the opening chapters of
Acts to see that these basic doctrines had a place in the teaching of the
earliest Jerusalem church: the resurrection of the dead (Acts :,; :;
(^66) See, Pritz , , –; Wilson , –; Mimouni , , ; Bauck-
ham , –.
(^67) See above, Chapter ...