Azahari Hassim
What does Pauline Christianity mean?
Pauline Christianity refers to the form of Christianity that follows the beliefs and teachings of the Apostle Paul, particularly emphasizing salvation by faith in Jesus Christ and not by adherence to the Mosaic Law.
Pauline Christianity and Ebionism are two distinct religious movements that emerged in the early years of Christianity.
Pauline Christianity refers to the teachings and beliefs associated with the apostle Paul, also known as Saint Paul. After his conversion to Christianity, Paul played a significant role in spreading the message of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire.
He emphasized faith in Jesus as the means of salvation and argued for a universalist approach, welcoming both Jews and Gentiles into the Christian community. Paul’s writings, which form a significant portion of the New Testament, laid down theological foundations for many aspects of Christian doctrine.
Ebionism, on the other hand, was a Jewish-Christian movement that arose during the same period. The Ebionites were primarily Jewish followers of Jesus who maintained their adherence to Jewish laws and customs.
They believed that Jesus was not divine but rather an ordinary human being chosen by God as His Messiah or anointed one. According to Ebionite beliefs, salvation could only be achieved through strict observance of Mosaic Law (the Torah) along with faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
The main point of contention between Pauline Christianity and Ebionism lies in their understanding of Jesus’ divinity and his relationship with Judaism. While Pauline Christians saw Jesus as both fully human and fully divine, emphasizing faith over works for salvation, Ebionites regarded him solely as a human prophet sent by God within a Jewish context.
These two movements had different views on various theological matters such as circumcision, dietary laws, Sabbath observance, and more. Pauline Christians believed that these practices were no longer necessary for salvation since they considered themselves under a new covenant through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. In contrast, Ebionites continued to observe these Jewish rituals alongside their belief in Jesus.
Over time, Pauline Christianity gained wider acceptance among Gentile converts while distancing itself from its Jewish roots. As a result, it became dominant within the early Christian community, eventually evolving into what is now known as mainstream Christianity. Ebionism, however, gradually faded away and became marginalized as a minority sect.
In summary, Pauline Christianity and Ebionism represent two distinct branches of early Christianity with differing beliefs on Jesus’ divinity and the role of Jewish law. While Pauline Christianity emphasized faith in Jesus for salvation and embraced Gentile converts, Ebionism maintained strict adherence to Jewish customs alongside their belief in Jesus as the Messiah.
The Gospel of Matthew: Challenging Pauline Doctrine by Upholding the Torah in the Gospel Narrative
The Gospel of Matthew is believed to have been written between 70 to 80 AD, while the Epistles of Paul were written between 50 to 64 AD. It’s important to note that these dates are approximate and subject to some scholarly debate.
In the 80s, a few years after the death of Paul but before the Book of Acts was written, the author of the Gospel of Matthew condemned Paul’s central teaching, and, interestingly, he did so through the words of Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, for instance, we find the following passage attributed to Jesus:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets… For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5 verses 17 to 19).
This is a crucial passage for understanding Matthew’s Jesus. As a strict follower of Moses’ law, Jesus did not believe in the abolition of Torah. This passage is aimed squarely at the heart of Paul’s teaching, which had denied the validity of Jewish law.
It is also very easy to see Paul and his followers in the last phrase “whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teachers others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” Paul’s Christ Movement was the only religion on the horizon teaching that people should not observe the law.
Matthew sent a stern warning to those who would find Paul’s position attractive: Jesus would not have agreed with you. He made clear to his followers that Paul’s religion was not for them. Steer clear of these people was his advice. Their message violates the religion of Jesus.
Abandonment of Torah was not consistent with the religion taught and practiced by Jesus. Matthew’s Jesus was even more stringent than the Pharisees and required his followers to live up to the challenge of the higher righteousness.
Why were Ebionites antagonistic toward Paul?
The Ebionites were a Jewish-Christian sect that emerged in the early Christian era. They rejected the divinity of Jesus and insisted on the strict observance of Jewish law, including circumcision and dietary practices.
There are several reasons why the Ebionites were antagonistic toward Paul, who was a prominent figure in spreading the message of Christ among the Gentiles.
- Apostolic Authority: The Ebionites believed that only the original disciples and James, the brother of Jesus, had true apostolic authority. They viewed Paul as an interloper who had never met Jesus during his earthly ministry. They considered his apostleship to be illegitimate and believed that he had distorted the teachings of Jesus.
- Jewish Law: The Ebionites were strict observers of Jewish law and viewed it as a mandatory requirement for salvation. They criticized Paul’s teachings, which emphasized faith in Christ over the works of the law. Paul argued that salvation came through faith in Jesus, rather than adherence to the Jewish law, which caused disagreement and conflict between him and the Ebionites.
- Gentile Inclusion: Paul actively preached the message of Christ to Gentiles, allowing them to become followers of Jesus without undergoing circumcision or observing Jewish laws. This inclusive approach was contrary to the Ebionites’ strict adherence to Jewish customs and practices. They saw Paul as diluting the original Jewish character of Christianity by opening it up to non-Jews.
- Pauline Theology: The Ebionites had a different understanding of Jesus’ nature and believed that he was a human prophet and not divine. Paul’s writings, particularly his emphasis on Jesus as the Son of God, contradicted their beliefs, leading them to reject his teachings and view him as a heretic.
In summary, the Ebionites opposed Paul due to his claim to apostolic authority, his emphasis on faith over Jewish law, his inclusion of Gentiles in the Christian community, and his theology that conflicted with their understanding of Jesus’ nature.
What was the level of esteem that the Ebionites held for James, the brother of Jesus?
The Ebionites held James, the brother of Jesus, in extremely high esteem, considering him a central and authoritative figure in their movement. They regarded him as the true successor to Jesus and a model of righteousness, likely due to his leadership of the early Jerusalem Church and his strict adherence to Jewish law.
Early Christian sources, such as The Recognitions of Clement and The Ascents of James, which are associated with Ebionite traditions, depict James as the ultimate teacher of the faith, emphasizing his role as the head of the Jerusalem community and a guardian of the Torah-observant message of Jesus. Additionally, Church Fathers like Epiphanius of Salamis noted that the Ebionites revered James and saw him as a pillar of their beliefs, in contrast to figures like Paul, whom they rejected.
ABRAHAMIC THEOLOGY 