Editing Adoptionism (section)

====Ebionites====
{{Main|Ebionites}}

Adoptionism was also adhered to by the [[Jewish Christians]] known as [[Ebionites]], who, according to [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]] in the 4th century, believed that Jesus was chosen on account of his [[sinless]] devotion to the [[will of God]].<ref>Epiphanius of Salamis (403 CE). pp. 30:3 & 30:13.</ref>

The Ebionites were a [[Jewish Christian]] movement that existed during the early centuries of the Christian Era.<ref>{{Cite book | editor1-last = Cross | editor1-first = EA | title = The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 1989 | contribution = Ebionites | editor2-last = Livingston | editor2-first = FL}}</ref> They show strong similarities with the earliest form of Jewish Christianity, and their specific theology may have been a "reaction to the [[Paul and Judaism|law-free Gentile mission]]".{{sfn|Dunn|2006|p=282}} They regarded Jesus as the [[Messiah in Judaism|Messiah]] while rejecting his [[divinity]] and his [[Virgin birth of Jesus|virgin birth]],<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | url = http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/177608/Ebionites | encyclopedia = Encyclopædia Britannica | title = Ebionites}}</ref> and insisted on the necessity of following [[Halakha|Jewish law and rites]].<ref>{{Cite book | first = Kaufmann | last = Kohler | chapter-url = http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=22&letter=E | contribution = Ebionites | editor1-first = Isidore | editor1-last = Singer | editor2-first = Cyrus | editor2-last = Alder | title = Jewish Encyclopedia | date = 1901{{ndash}}1906}}</ref> They used the [[Gospel of the Ebionites]], one of the [[Jewish–Christian gospels]]; the Hebrew Book of Matthew starting at chapter 3; revered [[James, brother of Jesus|James the brother of Jesus]] (James the Just); and rejected [[Paul the Apostle]] as an [[Antinomianism#Supporting Pauline passages|apostate from the Law]].<ref name="Maccoby 1987">{{Cite book| author = Hyam Maccoby| author-link = Hyam Maccoby| title = The Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity| pages = 172–183| publisher = HarperCollins | year = 1987 | isbn = 0-06-250585-8}}, [http://ebionite.tripod.com/mac15.htm an abridgement]</ref> Their name ({{langx|grc|Ἐβιωναῖοι|Ebionaioi}}, derived from {{langx|hbo|אביונים|ebyonim}}, meaning {{gloss|the poor}} or {{gloss|poor ones}}) suggests that they placed a special value on [[Vow of poverty|voluntary poverty]].

Distinctive features of the Gospel of the Ebionites include the absence of the [[virgin birth of Jesus|virgin birth]] and of the [[genealogy of Jesus]]; an [[Adoptionist]] [[Christology]],{{refn|group=note|{{harvnb|Kloppenborg|1994|pp=435–9}}; p.&nbsp;435&nbsp;– "This belief, known as "adoptionism", held that Jesus was not divine by nature or by birth, but that God chose him to become his son, i.e., adopted him."}} in which Jesus is chosen to be [[Son of God|God's Son]] at the time of his [[Baptism of Jesus|Baptism]]; the abolition of the [[Korban|Jewish sacrifices]] by Jesus; and an advocacy of [[vegetarianism]].{{refn|group=note|{{harvnb|Vielhauer|Strecker|1991|pp=166–71}}; p.&nbsp;168&nbsp;– "Jesus' task is to do away with the 'sacrifices'. In this saying (16.4–5), the hostility of the Ebionites against the Temple cult is documented."}}