An ancient Jewish-Christian sect with heretical views.
The sect seemed to have developed when the Jewish Christian church in Judea was infused by remnants of Qumran disciples that then resulted in a split. Their name derives from the Hebrew word for "the poor" (ha-ebyonim), thought they were also referred to as Nazarenes by other Jews (this latter name later became the term for any Jewish Christian). Tertullian, however, thought that the name came from the sect's hypothetical founder named Elbion.
Their belief was adoptionist, and included the view that Jesus was the son of Joseph and Mary but was not divine. Their Christ was an eternal figure who had appeared at various times since the beginning and was simply a teacher, and though higher than the angels, was not a saviour. They exalted in their observance of the law of Moses but rejects the writings of Paul.
Their demise began when they were badly persecuted during the Second Jewish Revolt because they refused to recognize Bar-Kokhba as the messiah. Their diminished population dwindled into extinction with the Muslim conquest of Palestine in the 6th Cent.
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