**Epiphanius of Salamis and the Panarion: The War Against Hebrew Believers**

Epiphanius of Salamis was a Roman-aligned bishop who lived from approximately 310 to 403 AD. He was born in Judea but rose to power in Cyprus as a fierce defender of post-Nicene Roman Christianity. Around 374–377 AD, he wrote a massive work titled *Panarion* — meaning "Medicine Chest" — designed to combat what he called heresies.

In this work, Epiphanius lists 80 groups that he accuses of false teaching. Among those he targets are the Nazarenes and the Ebionites — two groups of Hebrew followers who kept the Torah, observed the Sabbath, rejected Greek philosophy, and still believed Yeshua was the promised one of Yhwh. These were not Gnostics or idolaters; they were Torah-obedient believers who had not accepted the changes being pushed by the Roman bishops.

Epiphanius writes about the **Nazarenes** in Panarion 29. He accuses them of:

* Accepting both the Old and New Testaments
* Observing the Sabbath
* Practicing circumcision
* Keeping all of the Law of Moses
* Believing in Yeshua without accepting the Roman Church’s authority

His words confirm that these early followers never abandoned Yhwh’s Law. Instead, they held to both the written Torah and the teachings of Yeshua — without adopting Roman customs.

In Panarion 30–31, Epiphanius writes about the **Ebionites**, describing them as:

* Believers in Yeshua who completely rejected the letters of Paul
* Users of the original Hebrew Gospel of Matthew (called the Gospel of the Hebrews)
* Strict Torah observers
* Teachers that salvation came through obedience, not blood sacrifice

He condemns the Ebionites for refusing to recognize Paul as a valid teacher. In his words, they called Paul “an apostate from the Law,” and they wanted nothing to do with Greek doctrine or Roman theology.

Epiphanius treated these Torah-keeping communities not as misled brothers, but as dangerous enemies to be eradicated. His *Panarion* was used to justify the destruction of Hebrew scrolls, the silencing of original believers, and the rewriting of what became “orthodox” doctrine. His goal was to purge the faith of everything rooted in the Law of Yhwh and replace it with Roman interpretation.

The *Panarion* is one of the most direct and hostile attacks on the original followers of The Way. It proves beyond question that Sabbath-keeping, Torah-obedient believers existed long after 100 AD, and that they were persecuted not because they sinned — but because they refused to bow to Rome.

What Epiphanius saw as a disease was actually the remnant of Yhwh’s true people, still walking in obedience.

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Epiphanius of Salamis was a bishop in the Roman Church who lived from about 310 to 403 AD. Around 374 to 377 AD, he wrote a large work called the *Panarion*, which means “medicine chest.” In it, he lists and refutes what he called 80 heresies. His goal was to identify and destroy all teachings and groups that did not align with Roman doctrine. Among his main targets were the Nazarenes and the Ebionites—two groups that kept Yhwh’s Law and followed Yeshua without accepting Roman authority or Paul’s writings.

In *Panarion* 29, Epiphanius describes the Nazarenes. He says they used both the Hebrew Scriptures and the so-called New Testament but continued keeping the Sabbath, circumcision, and all of Torah. His exact words were: “They have no different ideas, but confess everything exactly as the Law proclaims... except for their belief in Christ.” He accused them of still observing the entire Law, which in his view was heresy.

In *Panarion* 30, he writes about the Ebionites. He says they only accepted the Gospel of Matthew and rejected Paul completely. He records that they called Paul “an apostate from the Law” and kept all the customs of the Torah—Sabbath, circumcision, and the reading of the Law. He confirms they believed in Yeshua but did not worship Him, and they denied any blood sacrifice for sin.

Epiphanius’s writings confirm that even by the mid to late 4th century, there were still active communities keeping Torah, rejecting Greek doctrine, and not submitting to the Roman bishops. These communities were not confused or lost—they were following the original Way. They obeyed the covenant of Yhwh, walked in the Law, and refused to mix with Rome.

The fact that Epiphanius treated Torah obedience as a disease to be cured shows how far the Roman Church had gone by this point. The war was not just against false doctrine—it had become a war against the Law itself, against the Sabbath, against the clean food laws, against circumcision, and against anyone who did not follow the Greek interpretations.

The *Panarion* is not just a list of heresies—it is proof that the Roman Church used power to silence and erase the Hebrew foundation of the faith. The true followers of Yhwh were still active, still holding the scrolls, still obeying the commandments. And they were targeted precisely because they refused to bow to Rome.

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🧬 Early Life and Monastic Foundations
Born near Eleutheropolis in Palestine, Epiphanius was raised in a Hellenized Jewish environment. He was multilingual, reportedly fluent in Hebrew, Syriac, Egyptian, Greek, and Latin. In his youth, he embraced monasticism, studying in Egypt and later founding a monastery near his hometown, which he led for approximately 30 years. 

🧭 Bishop of Salamis and Ecclesiastical Influence
In 367 AD, Epiphanius was appointed bishop of Salamis (also known as Constantia) in Cyprus, a position he held until his death. As bishop, he became a central figure in the Church of Cyprus, promoting monasticism and engaging in theological disputes. He was known for his unwavering commitment to Nicene orthodoxy and his opposition to Arianism and Origenism.

📚 Major Works
Epiphanius’s most well-known work is the Panarion (“Medicine Chest”), written between 374 and 377 AD. It cataloged and refuted 80 heresies, from early Greek philosophies to contemporary Christian sects. The Panarion remains a key historical source for identifying early Jewish-Christian groups like the Nazarenes and Ebionites, whom Epiphanius viewed as dangerous.

He also wrote the Ancoratus, a catechetical work that addressed theological questions and outlined statements of faith, and On Weights and Measures, which included biblical measurements and historical-geographic data.


⚔️ Theological Controversies and Legacy
Epiphanius was a fierce critic of Origen and took part in multiple theological disputes, even clashing with other church leaders such as John Chrysostom. In 403 AD, he died at sea while returning from Constantinople, where he had been involved in one of these disputes.

Though criticized for his extreme views and harsh tactics, he is recognized as a saint by both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, with his feast day observed on May 12. His works remain valuable for exposing the internal battles within early Christianity and the aggressive suppression of Hebrew-rooted believers.


⚔️ Epiphanius of Salamis: The Bishop Who Helped Erase the Hebrew Faith
Epiphanius wasn’t just a writer or church leader — he was a Roman enforcer. From around 374–403 AD, he played a major role in identifying, targeting, and helping to wipe out the original Hebrew believers who still followed Yhwh’s Law.

He used his power to silence Torah-keepers, labeling them as heretics in his book Panarion. This wasn’t a harmless book — it was used as a blueprint to:

Burn Hebrew scrolls

Ban the Gospel of the Hebrews

Outlaw Sabbath observance

Discredit the Nazarenes and Ebionites

Destroy any group that rejected Paul or refused Roman customs

Epiphanius didn’t just “disagree” with these groups — he treated them like a disease. He claimed they had to be “healed” — by force if needed — and replaced with Roman doctrine.

By the late 4th century, his influence helped turn Roman Christianity into a weapon against the Law of Yhwh. Faithful believers were erased, rewritten, or hunted down.

📜 Conclusion:
Epiphanius was not a guardian of truth. He was a tool of the Roman Church — and a key figure in the destruction of the original Hebrew Way. His legacy is not one of faith, but of persecution, censorship, and the loss of the pure path Yhwh gave His people.
 

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