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Not All Who Claimed Yeshua (Jesus) Followed YHWH—Or Even Knew Yeshua
From the beginning, people used the name of Yeshua (Jesus)—but they weren’t following the God He served.
Some never met Him. Some rejected YHWH entirely. Some twisted His name for gain.
Paul never walked with Yeshua during His life. Yet for many, Paul’s letters became the only gospel they knew. Raised on the Greek scriptures, not the Hebrew ones, Paul brought in Gentiles with a message that was easy to follow—no Torah, no real relationship with YHWH, just faith in words.
It was like today’s TV preachers:
Believe this, send something, say a prayer—and you’re told you’re saved.
By 300 AD, calling on “Jesus” could mean almost anything.
Gnostic groups sold hidden knowledge.
Prophets claimed new visions.
Bishops built power structures.
Wealth flowed in.
Truth faded out.
What started with a man walking among his people ended in a hundred splinter groups—many of them using his name but ignoring his path.
This is a list of 91 groups that called on Jesus between 30–305 AD.
Some were sincere.
Many were not.
Few truly followed YHWH.
**Torah-Observant Yeshua (Jesus) Movements**
1. Jerusalem Church (led by James, brother of Yeshua (Jesus)
2. Ebionites (strict Jewish law adherence, rejected Paul)
3. Nazarenes (moderate Jewish-Jesus followers)
4. Elkesaites/Elchasaites (apocalyptic baptismal group)
5. Cerinthians (separated Jesus from Christ)
6. Symmachians (Jewish-Christian sect)
7. Sampseaens (Jewish-Christian baptismal group)
**Apostolic Traditions**
8\. Pauline Christians (followers of Paul's teachings)
9\. Johannine Community (associated with John's tradition)
10\. Petrine Christians (communities emphasizing Peter's authority)
11\. Thomasine Christians (associated with Thomas traditions in East)
**Gnostic Groups**
12\. Valentinians (elaborate divine emanation system)
13\. Sethian Gnostics (focused on Seth and secret knowledge)
14\. Basilideans (followers of Basilides)
15\. Carpocratians (believed in reincarnation and freedom)
16\. Ophites/Naassenes (serpent symbolism)
17\. Barbelo-Gnostics (focused on divine feminine figure)
18\. Marcosians (followers of Marcus, used numerology)
19\. Heracleonites (followers of Valentinian teacher Heracleon)
20\. Docetae (specific docetic group in Hippolytus)
21\. Secundians (followers of Secundus)
22\. Ptolemaeans (followers of Ptolemy)
23\. Cainites/Caianites (venerated biblical "villains")
24\. Archontics (focused on evil archons)
25\. Phibionites (libertine Gnostic sect)
26\. Stratiotics (military-themed Gnostic group)
27\. Borborites (libertine Gnostic sect)
28\. Peratics (focused on "crossing over")
29\. Antitactes ("opponents" of the creator)
30\. Adamites (practiced ritual nudity)
31\. Saturnilians (followers of Saturnilus)
**Marcionites and Related Groups**
32\. Marcionites (rejected Hebrew scriptures)
33\. Apelleans (followers of Apelles, former Marcionite)
34\. Lucianists (followers of Lucian of Antioch)
35\. Severians (Encratite group founded by Severus)
**Montanist Groups**
36\. Montanists/Cataphrygians (New Prophecy movement)
37\. Pepuzians (centered in Pepuza)
38\. Quintillianists (led by women prophets)
39\. Proclianites (followers of Proclus)
40\. Aeschines' group (followers of Montanist leader)
41\. Tascodrugites ("peg-noses" during prayer)
42\. Passalorynchites (similar prayer practices)
**Monarchian/Modalist Groups**
43\. Sabellians/Modalists (Father, Son, Spirit as modes)
44\. Patripassianists (Father suffered on cross)
45\. Noetians (followers of Noetus)
46\. Praxeans (followers of Praxeas)
**Adoptionist Groups**
47\. Adoptionists (general movement)
48\. Theodotians (followers of Theodotus the tanner)
49\. Artemonites (related adoptionist group)
50\. Theodotus the Banker's group (later Theodotian branch)
51\. Samosatenians (followers of Paul of Samosata)
52\. Dynamists (emphasized Christ's "power")
**Ascetic Groups**
53\. Encratites (extreme ascetics rejecting marriage)
54\. Apotactics/Apostolics (renounced all property)
55\. Hydroparastatae/Aquarians (water instead of wine in Eucharist)
56\. Valesians (practiced self-castration)
57\. Saccophori (wore sackcloth)
58\. Hieracites (ascetic group founded by Hierax)
59\. Tatianites (followers of Tatian after his break)
**Third Century Schismatic Groups**
60\. Novatianists (rigorist group after Decian persecution)
61\. Melitians (Egyptian schismatic group)
62\. Proto-Donatists (emerging around 305 AD)
63\. Colluthians (Egyptian schismatic group)
64\. Cathari/Puritans (early puritanical movement)
**Other Distinctive Groups**
65\. Manichaeism (syncretic religion founded by Mani)
66\. Origenists (following Origen's speculative theology)
67\. Angelics (angel worshippers)
68\. Melchizedekians (viewed Melchizedek as divine power)
69\. Quartodecimans (celebrated Easter on 14th of Nisan)
70\. Alogi (rejected Johannine literature)
71\. Nicolaitans (mentioned in Revelation)
72\. Simonians (followers of Simon Magus)
73\. Menandrians (followers of Menander)
74\. Bardesanites (followers of Bardaisan of Edessa)
75\. Hermogenians (matter is eternal)
76\. Audians (anthropomorphite sect)
77\. Arabici (souls die until resurrection)
78\. Hypsistarians (syncretic monotheistic group)
79\. Artotyrites (used cheese in Eucharist)
80\. Early Arianism (emerging at end of this period)
81\. Nepos' Millennial Group (Egyptian chiliast movement)
82\. Tropici (allegorical interpreters opposed by Athanasius)
83\. Abelonians (practiced marital continence)
84\. Hydrotheites (water as divine principle)
85\. Hermians (rejected baptism)
86\. Cleobians (followers of Cleobius)
87\. Thebuthis' group (early dissenters)
88\. Dositheians (associated with early Jesus followers)
89\. Blastus' followers (Roman presbyter)
90\. Selucians (distinctive cosmology)
91\. Priscillianists (ascetic with gnostic elements)
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At least 91 distinct groups used Jesus' name during this period, each with their own interpretations, practices, and claims to authentic tradition. Many fought fiercely against each other for dominance and viewed rival groups as heretical distortions of Jesus' true message.