Freethought & Rationalism Archive

stephan huller · 01-29-2012, 09:08 AM

Ebion isn't a person, it's a fake name derived from a Hebrew concept - 'the hidden power.' Some more examples of secret references to yod-shin (the first two letters of the name Jesus in Hebrew):

Quote:

To bequeath the lovers of YeSH, I will fill their storehouses. (Proverbs 8:21) Some Kabbalists say that this is referring to the YeSH that is hidden away for the righteous, for whom it is written: "Ha YeSH YHVH in our midst or AYN? (Exodus 17:7) [Gikatilla Gates of Light, Ninth Gate]

Here is some information on Gikatilla http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_...aham_Gikatilla who references the concept of yesh the hidden power from the Sefer Bahir http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahir

It is my observation that IF the earliest Aramaic manuscripts of the gospel (now lost) were the source of the nomina sacra then Jesus's name would appear there as yod-shin (= shin). Maybe that is all there was to the name.

With respect to the kabbalistic conception, notice that yesh is introduced in the ninth gate/second sphere (i.e. just before the ultimate sphere/tenth gate relative to the earth) of ayin. Yesh is the equivalent of the Logos in Alexandrian Judaism, Ayin is the unknowable Father.

aa5874 · 01-29-2012, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan huller

Ebion isn't a person, it's a fake name derived from a Hebrew concept - 'the hidden power.' Some more examples of secret references to yod-shin (the first two letters of the name Jesus in Hebrew)....

Well, Ebion is derived from the Hebrew word for "poor" based on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebionites

Quote:

The term Ebionites derives from the common adjective for "poor" in Hebrew (singular: אֶבְיוֹן ev·yōn, plural: אביונים ev·yōn·im),[9][10][11] which occurs fifteen times in the Psalms and was the self-given term of some pious Jewish circles (e.g. Psalm 69:33 "For the LORD heareth the poor,"1 QpHab XII, 3.6.10, etc.).[12]...

stephan huller · 01-29-2012, 10:50 AM

Then why does our earliest reference to him spell his name Hebion?

stephan huller · 01-29-2012, 11:09 AM

To give another parallel phonetic transliteration, hochmah is spelled with a he (= h) but the Church Fathers call Wisdom “achamoth.”. The h in Hebion is likely a chet.

stephan huller · 01-29-2012, 12:40 PM

Another passage from Proverbs which must have been viewed as having mystical significance:

For surely there is another (life = yesh akherit) and thine expectation shall not be cut off (Prov 23:18)

As with Hebion the term akher (= another) became the name of a heretic in Jewish circles. It is the personification of the doctrine of another God.

stephan huller · 01-29-2012, 02:02 PM

Yet another obvious Christian interest passage:

Quote:

There is (יֵ֣שׁ) maketh himself rich yet hath nothing there is that maketh himself poor yet hath great riches [Proverbs 13:7]

compare 2 Corinthians 8:9:

Quote:

Though [Jesus] was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

stephan huller · 01-29-2012, 06:41 PM

Back to the original topic - Ebion and Elxai: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebionites

Hippolytus of Rome (c.230) reports that a Jewish Christian, Alcibiades of Apamea, appeared in Rome teaching from a book which he claimed to be the revelation which a righteous man, Elkesai, had received from an angel. Though Hippolytus suspected that Alcibiades was himself the author.[113] Shortly afterwards Origen records a group, the Elkesaites, with the same beliefs.[114] Epiphanius claimed the Ebionites also used this book as a source for some of their beliefs and practices (Panarion 30.17).[26][115][116] Epiphanius explains the origin of the name Elkesai to be Aramaic El Ksai, meaning "Hidden Power" (Panarion 19.2.1). Scholar Petri Luomanen believes the book to have been written originally in Aramaic as a Jewish apocalypse, probably in Babylonia, in 116-117.[117]

stephan huller · 01-30-2012, 12:32 AM

Notice the reference to the number 310 in the Toldoth Yeshu. Jews would have recognized the yesh reference

Quote:

He [Jesus] gathered about himself three hundred and ten young men of Israel and accused those who spoke ill of his birth of being people who desired greatness and power for themselves. Yeshu proclaimed, "I am the Messiah; and concerning me Isaiah prophesied and said, 'Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.'" He quoted other messianic texts, insisting, "David my ancestor prophesied concerning me: 'The Lord said to me, thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.'"

The insurgents with him replied that if Yeshu was the Messiah he should give them a convincing sign. They therefore, brought to him a lame man, who had never walked. Yeshu spoke over the man the letters of the Ineffable Name, and the leper was healed. Thereupon, they worshipped him as the Messiah, Son of the Highest

And then there is the reference to Proverbs 8:21 in the Talmud which develops the discussion of Christian heresies in Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:1:

Quote:

All Israel have a portion in the world to come, for it is written: 'Thy people are all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.' But the following have no portion therein: one who maintains that resurrection is not a biblical doctrine, the Torah was not divinely revealed, and an Apikoros.

So the reader needs to keep this in mind when he considers the passages which hang off of this original backdrop in the Babylonian Talmud. We begin the gemara on the word 'epikoros' with the later sages not even knowing what an 'Epicurean' even is any longer. As the narrative goes on it is important to see how the discussion clearly transitions to bring forward the wacky beliefs of supposedly normative rabbis. Notice how Rabbi Meir the disciple of the (Christian) heretic Elisha ben Abuyah is intimated to promulgate (heretical) Christian beliefs:

Quote:

When R. Dimi came, he said: The Holy One, blessed be He, will give every righteous man His full Hand [of reward], for it is written, Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. Abaye demurred: But is it possible to say thus: is it not written, Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span? — He replied, Why are you not found familiar with the aggadah? For it was said in the West, [i.e., Palestine] in the name of Raba b. Mari: The Holy One, blessed be He, will give to every righteous man three hundred ten worlds, as it is written, That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance [yesh] and I will fill their treasures: now the numerical value of yesh is 310. It has been taught, R. Meir said: in the measure which one measures, so will there be [measured out] to him, as it is written, in measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt contend with it.37 R. Judah said: But can we say thus: if one gives a handful [of charity] to a poor man in this world, shall the Holy One, blessed be He, give him His hand full in the next? Surely it is written, and meted out heaven with the span? — [Meir replied:] Do you not admit this? [Now consider:] Which measure is greater? That of goodness [i.e., reward] or of punishment? Surely the measure of reward is greater than that of punishment, for with respect to the measure of goodness it is written, And he commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, And rained down manna upon them to eat;1 whilst of the measure of punishment it is written, And the windows of heaven were opened.2 Yet, in respect of the measure even of punishment it is written, And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me, for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched: and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.3 But if one puts his fingers into the fire in this world, it is immediately burnt!4 — But just as the Holy One, blessed be He, gives the wicked the strength to receive punishment, so does he give the righteous the capacity to receive reward.5

stephan huller · 01-30-2012, 01:05 AM

The earliest exegesis of Proverbs 8:21 I can find in the rabbinic literature - Pirkei Avot 5:

Quote:

22. Whosoever possesses these three qualities belongs to the disciples of Abraham our father: a generous eye, a humble spirit, and a meek soul.
But he who possesses the three opposite qualities--an evil eye, a proud spirit, and a haughty soul--is of the disciples of Balaam the wicked.

How do the disciples of Abraham differ from the disciples of Balaam? The disciples of Abraham enjoy this world and inherit the world to come, as it is written (Proverbs 8:21) "Endowing with yesh those who love me, and filling their treasuries." The disciples of Balaam inherit Gehenna and go down to the pit of destruction, as it is written (Psalm 55:23) "But you, O G-d, will cast them down into the lowest pit; the bloodthirsty and treacherous shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you."

stephan huller · 01-30-2012, 01:16 AM

The mystical interest in Proverbs 8:21 goes at least as far back as the beginning of the third century:

Quote:

R. Joshua ben Levi said:1 In the future the Holy One Blessed is He will give in perpetuity to each and every righteous person three hundred and ten worlds, as the verse says, "That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance,2 And that I may fill their treasuries" (Proverbs 8:21). [Mishnah Ukzin 3:12]

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01-29-2012, 10:50 AM	#33
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	Then why does our earliest reference to him spell his name Hebion?

01-29-2012, 11:09 AM	#34
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	To give another parallel phonetic transliteration, hochmah is spelled with a he (= h) but the Church Fathers call Wisdom “achamoth.”. The h in Hebion is likely a chet.

01-29-2012, 12:40 PM	#35
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	Another passage from Proverbs which must have been viewed as having mystical significance: For surely there is another (life = yesh akherit) and thine expectation shall not be cut off (Prov 23:18) As with Hebion the term akher (= another) became the name of a heretic in Jewish circles. It is the personification of the doctrine of another God.

01-29-2012, 06:41 PM	#37
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	Back to the original topic - Ebion and Elxai: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebionites Hippolytus of Rome (c.230) reports that a Jewish Christian, Alcibiades of Apamea, appeared in Rome teaching from a book which he claimed to be the revelation which a righteous man, Elkesai, had received from an angel. Though Hippolytus suspected that Alcibiades was himself the author.[113] Shortly afterwards Origen records a group, the Elkesaites, with the same beliefs.[114] Epiphanius claimed the Ebionites also used this book as a source for some of their beliefs and practices (Panarion 30.17).[26][115][116] Epiphanius explains the origin of the name Elkesai to be Aramaic El Ksai, meaning "Hidden Power" (Panarion 19.2.1). Scholar Petri Luomanen believes the book to have been written originally in Aramaic as a Jewish apocalypse, probably in Babylonia, in 116-117.[117]

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