The Ascents of James (Greek: Anabathmoi Iacobou) is the title of a lost work briefly described in a
heresiology known as the
Panarion (30.16.6–9),
[n 1] by
Epiphanius of Salamis; it was used as a source for a
polemic against a
Jewish Christian sect known as the
Ebionites.
[1] The document advocated the abolition of the
Jewish sacrifices, esteemed
James, the brother of Jesus as the leader of the
Jerusalem church, and denigrated
Paul of Tarsus as a
Gentile and an opponent of
Jewish Law.
[2]
A Jewish Christian source document thought to be embedded within the Pseudo-Clementine Recognitions (1.27 or 1.33–71) [n 2] and conventionally referred to by modern scholars as the Ascents of James may be related to the otherwise lost work mentioned by Epiphanius. [n 3] Distinguishing features of the text include an advocacy for the observance of Mosaic Law and the elimination of the Jewish sacrifices. [3] Paul is portrayed as a "certain hostile person" who prevents James from converting the Jewish people to Christianity (1.70.1–8). [4] The text recounts the salvation history of Israel from Abraham to Jesus from a Jewish Christian perspective. Jesus is depicted as the anticipated prophet-like-Moses who was sent by God to complete the work of Moses by abolishing the sacrifices in order to redeem Israel. [5]
The Ascents of James (Greek: Anabathmoi Iacobou) is the title of a lost work briefly described in a
heresiology known as the
Panarion (30.16.6–9),
[n 1] by
Epiphanius of Salamis; it was used as a source for a
polemic against a
Jewish Christian sect known as the
Ebionites.
[1] The document advocated the abolition of the
Jewish sacrifices, esteemed
James, the brother of Jesus as the leader of the
Jerusalem church, and denigrated
Paul of Tarsus as a
Gentile and an opponent of
Jewish Law.
[2]
A Jewish Christian source document thought to be embedded within the Pseudo-Clementine Recognitions (1.27 or 1.33–71) [n 2] and conventionally referred to by modern scholars as the Ascents of James may be related to the otherwise lost work mentioned by Epiphanius. [n 3] Distinguishing features of the text include an advocacy for the observance of Mosaic Law and the elimination of the Jewish sacrifices. [3] Paul is portrayed as a "certain hostile person" who prevents James from converting the Jewish people to Christianity (1.70.1–8). [4] The text recounts the salvation history of Israel from Abraham to Jesus from a Jewish Christian perspective. Jesus is depicted as the anticipated prophet-like-Moses who was sent by God to complete the work of Moses by abolishing the sacrifices in order to redeem Israel. [5]