History of Christianity

This web site is under development. This section is a timeline of the atrocities involving death that were done by the Christians. There are a few comments included for background purposes. The original document is over 100 pages long and will be put up as time permits. I am asking for comments. If you know of atrocities that are not included in the listed time frame, please let me know. For comment, to inform us of missing information, or to point out inaccuracies, please contact us at: [email protected]

Christian History 0 to 999

The Ebionites and the Nazarenes, 62

The Ebionites or Nazarenes were Jews who believed that J---s was the Messiah. The term “Ebionite” was used to describe all Christians and is being used here as a historical designation to refer to the First Century, largely Palestinian, followers of J---s.

Mostly made up of Jewish/Israelite followers of John the Baptist, and later J---s, the Ebionite/Nazarene movement were concentrated in Palestine and surrounding regions. They were led by J---s’ older brother, James the Just, and flourished between 30-80 C.E. The Ebionites were zealous about the Torah and walked in all the mitzvoth (commandments). However, on the basis of some version of the Noachide Laws (Acts 15 and 21), the Ebionites accepted non-Jews into their fellowship.

The term “Ebionite” originated from the Hebrew word ‘Evyonim which means “poor ones” and was taken from J---s’ teachings on Matthew 5 where he stated: “Blessed are you, Poor Ones, for yours is the kingdom of God” and based on Isaiah 66:2 and other such related texts that address a remnant group of faithful ones.

Nazarene comes from the Hebrew word Netzer which means “a branch”. Taken from Isaiah 11:1, the Nazarenes where the believed to be “Branchites” or branch, as followers of the one were also largely believed to be.
The term Nazarene was likely the terms first used for these followers of J---s as evidenced by Acts 24:5 where Paul is called “the ringleader of the sect of Nazarenes.” Similarly, Josephus used the word Nazarene in his writings of the four schools/sects of Judaism: Pharisees; Sadducess; Essenes; and Zealots. The term Nazarene most probably is the broadest and best term for the movement while Ebionite was used along with a whole list of other terms such as Saints, Children of Light, the Way, New Covenanters and so on.

From the book of Acts, it is also obvious that the group preferred the designation “The Way” (see Acts 24:14, 22, etc). The term “Christian” is an attempt to translate the term Nazarene which basically means “a Messianist” and was used by Greek speaking areas for the movement.

The Pauline Christians opposed the Ebionites because their beliefs differed sparking authors such as Tertullian, Origen of Alexandria and other so-called heresy-hunters to write at great length against the Ebionites. Ridiculous claims were based largely on misunderstandings and disputes on what they believe in Theologically.

Pauline Christians were responsible for eradicating the Ebionites by burning their books, harassing and arresting people until none were left. To spread their Theological standing on J---s origins, Pauline Christians edited Luke 2:33 and Luke 2:48 where it was stated that Joseph was the father of J---s. Luke 3:22 was also revised to counter Ebionite belief that God adopted J---s.

Pauline Christians, as non-Jewish Romans, also came across a mistranslated prophecy that said J---s would be born of a virgin like other Roman sons-of-gods. This prophecy added two chapters to the beginning of the book of Matthew. These edits were later discovered and so is the fact that the Ebionites were cruelly and unfairly treated. The discovery also proved that the original readings of Matthew and Luke both support Ebionite Christianity.

Unfortunately, those who emerge victorious always get to write history and it is no wonder that Pauline Christianity became the legacy of the Roman Empire. However, if we were to guess which group was more holy, godly and austere, we would have to guess that it was the Ebionites. After the fourth century, the Ebionites were vanquished as the Pauline Christians didn’t stop from slaughtering, oppressing and slandering them until there were no more survivors.

80

The Ebionites were some of the original Christians: Jews who believed that Jesus was the Messiah. They populated the legendary Jerusalem Church. 'Ebionite' was sometimes used as a term to describe all Christians. Those who we now know of as Pauline Christians opposed the Ebionites, after discovering them and realizing that their beliefs differed. Authors such as Tertullian, Origen of Alexandria, and many other intolerant "heresy-hunters" wrote at great length against the Ebionites. Many of the claims made against them were based on misunderstandings of their beliefs, and many anti-Ebionite claims were plainly ridiculous. Pauline Christians eradicated the Ebionites, burning all of their books (none survived) and harassing and arresting the people until none were left. They edited Luke 2:33 and Luke 2:48 where Joseph was twice called the 'father' of Jesus so that it did not say so, and they also edited Luke 3:22 where it plainly stated, in accordance with Ebionite beliefs, that God adopted Jesus. Pauline Christians, as non-Jewish Romans, handily came across a mistranslated prophecy that said Jesus would be born of a virgin (like other Roman sons-of-gods), adding a whole two chapters to the beginning of Matthew to prove their point. These edits, when they were uncovered, have shown that the Ebionites were treated very cruelly and unfairly, and that the original readings of Matthew and Luke both support Ebionite Christianity, rather than the Pauline Christianity that the West has inherited. (2) If we were to guess which group was the more austere, holy and godly, we would have to guess it was the Ebionites rather than the Pauline Christians who slaughtered, slandered and oppressed them. Unfortunately the victors get to write history, and it is Pauline Christianity that became the legacy of the Roman Empire. After the fourth century, the Ebionites were vanquished. (2) The Ebionite/Nazarene movement was made up of mostly Jewish/Israelite followers of John the Baptizer and later Jesus, who were concentrated in Palestine and surrounding regions and led by "James the Just" (the oldest brother of Jesus), and flourished between the years 30-80 C.E. They were zealous for the Torah and continued to walk in all the mitzvot (commandments) as enlightened by their Rabbi and Teacher, but accepted non-Jews into their fellowship on the basis of some version of the Noachide Laws (Acts 15 and 21). The term Ebionite (from Hebrew 'Evyonim) means "Poor Ones" and was taken from the teachings of Jesus: "Blessed are you Poor Ones, for yours is the Kingdom of God" based on Isaiah 66:2 and other related texts that address a remnant group of faithful ones. Nazarene comes from the Hebrew word Netzer (drawn from Isaiah 11:1) and means "a Branch"—so the Nazarenes were the "Branchites" or followers of the one they believed to be the Branch. The term Nazarene was likely the one first used for these followers of Jesus, as evidenced by Acts 24:5 where Paul is called "the ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." Here we see the word used in a similar way to that of Josephus in writing of the four sects/schools of Judaism: Pharisees; Sadducess; Essenes; and Zealots. So the term Nazarene is probably the best and broadest term for the movement, while Ebionite (Poor Ones) was used as well, along with a whole list of other terms: Saints, Children of Light, the Way, New Covenanters, et al. We also know from the book of Acts that the group itself preferred the designation "The Way" (see Acts 24:14, 22, etc.). The term "Christian," first used in Greek speaking areas for the movement, actually is an attempt to translate the term Nazarene and basically means a "Messianist.". (1)