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'{{About|the 4th Century [[Jewish Christian]] group contemporary with the [[Ebionites]]|alternative etymologies for Nazarene and comparable terms in Hebrew|Nazarene (title)}} {{Other uses|Nazarene (disambiguation)}} The '''Nazarene sect''' (''ἡ τῶν Ναζωραίων αἵρεσις'') is used in two contexts: * Firstly of the [[Apostolic Age|New Testament Church]] where in Acts 24:5 [[Paul the Apostle]] is accused before [[Antonius Felix|Felix]] at [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]] (the capital of [[Roman Judaea]]) by [[Tertullus]] of being "a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes."<ref>Edward Hare ''The principal doctrines of Christianity defended'' 1837 p318 "The Nazarenes of ecclesiastical history adhered to the law of their fathers ; whereas when Tertullus accused Paul as "a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes," he accused him as one who despised the law, and " had gone about to the temple," Acts xxiv, 5, 6. "</ref> * Secondly of a 4th Century Jewish-Christian sect located in [[Transjordan]] called the Nazarenes by [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]],<ref>David C. Sim ''The Gospel of Matthew and Christian Judaism'' 1998 p182 "The Nazarenes are first mentioned by Epiphanius who records that they upheld the Torah, including the practice of circumcision and sabbath observance (Panarion 29:5.4; 7:2, 5; 8:1-7), read the Hebrew scriptures in the original Hebrew"</ref> [[Jerome]] and [[Augustine of Hippo]].<ref>Petri Luomanen "Nazarenes" in ''A companion to second-century Christian "heretics"'' pp279</ref><ref>Memoirs of Dr. Joseph Priestley - Page 670 The term Ebionites occurs in Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, and Eusebius but none of them make any mention of Nazarenes ; and yet it cannot be denied, that they must have been even more considerable in the time of these writers,</ref> ==Nazarene (title)== {{main|Nazarene (title)}} The title "Nazarene" is first found in the Greek texts of the New Testament as an adjective, ''nazarenos,'' used as an adjectival form of the phrase ''apo Nazaret'' "from Nazareth."<ref>Frank Ely Gaebelein, James Dixon Douglas ''The Expositor's Bible commentary: with the New International Version 1984 "Matthew certainly used ''Nazoraios'' as an adjectival form of ''apo Nazaret'' ("from Nazareth" or "Nazarene"), even though the more acceptable adjective is ''Nazarenos'' (cf. Bonnard, Brown, Albright and Mann, Soares Prabhu)."</ref> ==The Sect of the Nazarenes (1st Century)== {{main|Book of Acts|Early Christianity}} The name ''Nazaraios'' is the standard Greek spelling in the New Testament for a man from [[Nazareth]], the plural ''Nazaraioi'' means "men from Nazareth" (see [[Nazarene (title)]]).<ref>{{Citation | contribution = G3480 | url = http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3480&t=KJV | publisher = Strong | title = Lexicon}}.</ref> The title Nazarenes, "men from Nazareth," is first applied to the Christians by [[Tertullus]] ({{Bibleverse ||Acts|24:5}}), though [[Herod Agrippa II]] ({{Bibleverse ||Acts|26:28}}) uses the term "Christians" which had first been used at [[Antioch]] ({{Bibleverse ||Acts|11:26}}). The name used by Tertullus survives into Rabbinical and [[modern Hebrew]] as ''notzrim'' (נוצרים) a standard Hebrew term for "Christian", and also into the [[Quran]] and modern Arabic as ''nasara'' (plural of ''nasrani'' "Christians"). The Arabic word nasara (نَصارى) comes from the Arabic root "n s r" (ن ص ر). However, since "Christian" was the name the Christians accepted themselves, and is in 1 Peter, the term "Nazarene" used by [[Tertullus]] appears to have never been adopted by Christians. [[Tertullian]] (c. 160 – c. 220, {{Citation | title = Against Marcion | at = 4:8}}) records that the Jews called Christians "Nazarenes" from Jesus being a man of Nazareth, though he also makes the connection with [[Nazarites]] in {{Bibleverse ||Lamentations|4:7}}.<ref>{{Citation | title = [[Birkat haMinim]]: Jews and Christians in conflict in the ancient world | page = 52 | first1 = Yaakov Y | last1 = Teppler | first2 = Susan | last2 = Weingarten | year = 2007 | quote = This presumption is strengthened by the statement of Tertullian: The Christ of the Creator had to be called a Nazarene... Unde et ipso nomine nos ludaei Nazarenos appellant per eum. Nam et sumus iie auibus scriptum est: Nazaraei...}}.</ref> [[Jerome]] too records that "Nazarenes" was employed of Christians in the synagogues.<ref>{{Citation | first = Udo | last = Schnelle | title = Antidoketische Christologie im Johannesevangelium | page = 41 | year = 1987 | quote = usquehodiein synagogis suis sub nomine Nazarenorum blasphemant populum christianum... 191; In {{Bibleverse ||Esaiam|5,18–19}}: ...in blasphemiis et ter per singulos dies in omnibus synagogis sub nomine Nazarenorum anathematizent uocabulum Christianum...}}</ref> [[Eusebius]], around 311 AD, records that the name "Nazarenes" had formerly been used of Christians.<ref>{{Citation | publisher = School of Oriental Studies | title = Bulletin | year = 2002}}.</ref> The use relating to a specific "sect" of Christians does not occur until [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]].<ref>{{Citation | title = Memoirs | first = Dr Joseph | last = Priestley | quote = The term Ebionites occurs in Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, and Eusebius but none of them make any mention of Nazarenes}}</ref> Epiphanius (see below) in discussing the 4th Century Nazarene sect claims pre-Christian origins for the sect, but there seems to be no evidence of the term prior to Tertullus, and no evidence for Epiphanius' opinion. According to Ehrhardt, just as [[early centers of Christianity#Antioch|Antioch]] coined the term Christians, so [[Early centers of Christianity#Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] coined the term Nazarenes, from Jesus of Nazareth.<ref>{{Citation | first = Arnold | last = Ehrhardt | titel = The Acts of the Apostles | page = 114 | quote = (John 1 :46) is an apt commentary upon this development, for there seems to be no evidence to support the thesis of a... We only mention it because it has given rise to all sorts of speculations amongst the more imaginative students of Christian origins}}</ref> The terms "sect of the Nazarenes" and "Jesus of Nazareth" both employ the adjective ''nasraya'' (ܕܢܨܪܝܐ) in the Syrian Aramaic [[Peshitta]], from ''Nasrat'' (ܢܨܪܬ) for Nazareth.<ref>{{Citation | first = Bruce Manning | last = Metzger | title = The early versions of the New Testament | page = 86 | year = 1977 | quote = Peshitta Matt, and Luke... nasraya, 'of Nazareth'}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author-link = William Jennings | first = William | last = Jennings | title = Lexicon to the Syriac New Testament | year = 1926 | page = 143}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author-link = Robert Payne Smith | first = Robert Payne | last = Smith | title = Compendious Syriac Dictionary | year = 1903 | page = 349}}.</ref> ==The Nazarenes (4th Century)== According to [[Epiphanius of Salamis| Epiphanius]] in his ''Panarion'' the 4th Century Nazarenes were originally Jewish converts of the [[Apostles]]<ref>Panarion 29.5.6</ref> who fled [[Jerusalem]] because of Jesus' prophesy on its [[Jewish–Roman wars | coming siege]] (during the Great Jewish Revolt in 70 AD). They fled to [[Pella, Jordan|Pella]], Peraea (northeast of Jerusalem), and eventually spread outwards to Beroea and Bashanitis, where they permanently settled.<ref>Panarion 29.3.3.</ref> The Nazarenes were an early [[Jewish Christian]] sect located in and about [[Early centers of Christianity#Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] which proclaimed [[Jesus of Nazareth]] was the promised [[Messiah]] and the [[Son of God]].<ref name="E.A. Livingston p 597&722">{{Citation | editor1-first = FL | editor1-last = Cross | editor2-first = EA | editor2-last = Livingston | year = 1988–92 | title = The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church | publisher = Oxford University Press | pages = 597, 722}}.</ref><ref>({{bibleverse ||Acts|24:5}})</ref><ref>Thayers's Lexicon: Ναζωραῖος (''Nazōraios'').</ref><ref>{{Citation | last = Strong | http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3480&t=KJV | title = G3480 | publisher = Blue Letter Bible}}.</ref><ref name="Krauss">{{Cite document|last = Krauss | first =Samuel| author-link = Samuel Krauss|title=Nazarenes |url= http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=140&letter=N&search=nazarenes | accessdate =2007-08-23 | publisher = Jewish Encyclopedia}}</ref><ref name="Hegg 2007">{{cite journal | author = Hegg, Tim | title = The Virgin Birth – An Inquiry into the Biblical Doctrine | publisher = TorahResource| year = 2007|url = http://www.torahresource.com/EnglishArticles/VirginBirth.pdf | accessdate = 2007-08-13 | format = PDF}}</ref> The Nazarenes were similar to the [[Ebionites]], in that they considered themselves [[Jews]], maintained an adherence to the [[Law of Moses]], and used only the [[Aramaic]] [[Gospel of the Hebrews]], rejecting all the [[Canonical gospels]]. However, unlike half of the Ebionites, they accepted the [[Virgin birth of Jesus|Virgin Birth]].<ref name="Krauss" /><ref name ="Hegg 2007"/> As late as the eleventh century Cardinal Humbert of Mourmoutiers still referred to the Nazarene sect as a [[seventh-day Sabbath|Sabbath]]-keeping Christian body existing at that time<ref>{{Citation | last = Strong | title = Cyclopedia | place = New York | year = 1874 | volume = I | page = 660}}.</ref>. Modern scholars believe it is the Pasagini or [[Pasagians]] who are referenced by Cardinal Humbert suggesting the Nazarene sect existed well into the eleventh century and beyond (the [[Catholic]] writings of Bonacursus entitled "Against the Heretics"). It is believed that Gregorius of Bergamo, about 1250 CE, also wrote concerning the Nazarenes as the "Pasagini". ===Gospel of the Nazarenes=== {{main|Gospel of the Nazarenes}} The Gospel of the Nazarenes is the title given to fragments of one of the lost [[Jewish-Christian Gospels]] of Matthew partially reconstructed from the writings of [[Jerome]]. ===Patristic references to "Nazarenes"=== In the 4th century [[Jerome]] also refers to Nazarenes as those "...who accept Messiah in such a way that they do not cease to observe the old Law." In his ''Epistle'' 79, to Augustine, he said: {{quote |What shall I say of the Ebionites who pretend to be Christians? To-day there still exists among the Jews in all the synagogues of the East a heresy which is called that of the Minæans, and which is still condemned by the Pharisees; [its followers] are ordinarily called 'Nasarenes'; they believe that Christ, the son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, and they hold him to be the one who suffered under Pontius Pilate and ascended to heaven, and in whom we also believe. But while they pretend to be both Jews and Christians, they are neither.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=140&letter=N&search=nazarenes#402 |title=Jewish Encyclopedia | contribution = Jerome's Account}}</ref>}} [[Jerome]] viewed a distinction between Nazarenes and Ebionites, a different Jewish sect, but does not comment on whether Nazarene Jews considered themselves to be "Christian" or not or how they viewed themselves as fitting into the descriptions he uses. He clearly equates them with [[Filaster]]'s Nazarei.<ref>Filaster (ca. 397 AD) was a bishop who wrote the ''"Book of Diverse Heresies"'' (lived about the time of [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]]). {{Citation | quote = The sect of Filaster (Nazorei/Nazarei) derives somehow from the Nazirites and accepts the Law and prophets | at = ft.12 | page = 73 | title = Nazarene Jewish Christianity: from the end of the New Testament period until its disappearance in the fourth century | first = Ray | last = Pritz}}.</ref> His criticism of the Nazarenes is noticeably more direct and critical than that of Epiphanius. This following creed is from a church at Constantinople at the same period: {{quote |I renounce all customs, rites, legalisms, unleavened breads & sacrifices of lambs of the Hebrews, and all other feasts of the Hebrews, sacrifices, prayers, aspersions, purifications, sanctifications and propitiations and fasts, and new moons, and Sabbaths, and superstitions, and hymns and chants and observances and Synagogues, and the food and drink of the Hebrews; in one word, I renounce everything Jewish, every law, rite and custom and if afterwards I shall wish to deny and return to [[Judaizers | Jewish superstition]], or shall be found eating with the Jews, or feasting with them, or secretly conversing and condemning the Christian religion instead of openly confuting them and condemning their vain faith, then let the trembling of Gehazi cleave to me, as well as the legal punishments to which I acknowledge myself liable. And may I be anathema in the world to come, and may my soul be set down with Satan and the devils."<ref>{{Citation | last = Parks | first = James | title = The Conflict of The Church and The Synagogue | publisher = Atheneum | place = New York | year = 1974 | pages = 397–98}}.</ref>}} "Nazarenes" are referenced past the fourth century AD as well. Jacobus de Voragine (1230–98) described James as a "Nazarene" in The Golden Legend, vol 7. Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) quotes Augustine of Hippo, who was given an apocryphal book called Hieremias by a "Hebrew of the Nazarene Sect", in [[Catena (Biblical commentary)|Catena]] Aurea — Gospel of Matthew, chapter 27. So this terminology seems to have remained at least through the 13th century in European discussions. ===Nazarene Beliefs=== The beliefs of the Nazarene sect or sects are described through various church fathers and heresiologists. * in Jesus as Messiah: {{quote|The Nazarenes... accept Messiah in such a way that they do not cease to observe the old Law.|Jerome|On. Is. 8:14}} * in the Virgin Birth: {{quote|They believe that [[Messiah]], the [[Son of God]], was born of the Virgin Mary.|Jerome| Letter 75 Jerome to Augustine}} * in Jesus as the Son of God: {{quote|Matthew, also called Levi, apostle and aforetimes publican, composed a gospel of Christ at first published in Judea in Hebrew for the sake of those of the circumcision who believed, but this was afterwards translated into Greek though by what author is uncertain. The Hebrew itself has been preserved until the present day in the library at Cæsarea which Pamphilus so diligently gathered. I have also had the opportunity of having the volume described to me by the Nazarenes of Beroea, a city of Syria, who use it. In this it is to be noted that wherever the Evangelist, whether on his own account or in the person of our Lord the Saviour quotes the testimony of the Old Testament he does not follow the authority of the translators of the Septuagint but the Hebrew. Wherefore these two forms exist “Out of Egypt have I called my son,” and “for he shall be called a Nazarene.”|Jerome|Lives of Illustrius Men Ch.3}} {{quote|They have no different ideas, but confess everything exactly as the Law proclaims it and in the Jewish fashion – except for their belief in Christ, if you please! For they acknowledge both the resurrection of the dead and the divine creation of all things, and declare that God is one, and that his Son is Jesus Christ.|Epiphanius of Salamis|Panarion 29.7.2}} * Adhering to circumcision and the Law of Moses: {{quote|They disagree with Jews because they have come to faith in Christ; but since they are still fettered by the Law – circumcision, the Sabbath, and the rest – they are not in accord with the Christians.|Epiphanius of Salamis|Panarion 29.7.4}} * Use of Old Testament and New Testament: {{quote|They use not only the New Testament but the Old Testament as well, as the Jews do.|Epiphanius of Salamis|Panarion 29.7.2}} * Use of Hebrew and Aramaic New Testament source texts: {{quote|They have the Gospel according to Matthew in its entirety in Hebrew. For it is clear that they still preserve this, in the Hebrew alphabet, as it was originally written.|Epiphanius of Salamis|Panarion 29.9.4}} {{quote|And he [Heggesippus the Nazarene] quotes some passages from the [[Gospel according to the Hebrews]] and from the Syriac [the Aramaic], and some particulars from the Hebrew tongue, showing that he was a convert from the Hebrews, and he mentions other matters as taken from the oral tradition of the Jews.|Eusebius of Caesarea|Ecclesiastical History 4.22}} Epiphanius confused [[Philo of Alexandria]]'s description of the [[Therapeutae]] with "[[Jessaens]]," (Iessaioi), according, incorrectly, to Epiphanius a Christian group.<ref>"arrived during Passover and observed their customs, and how some of them kept the holy week of Passover (only) after a postponement of it, but others by eating every other day – though others, indeed, ate each evening. Panarion 29.5.1</ref> ==Modern "Nazarene" churches== ===Nazarene churches=== Most churches using the name "Nazarene" use it in relation to Jesus, and not in connection to the 4th Century sect described by Epiphanius. * The Swiss ''Nazarener'' Baptist movement, the ancestor of the [[Apostolic Christian Church]] in America, many branches of which also use the term "Nazarene" or "Nazarean" in their name. * The [[Church of the Nazarene]], a mainstream Christian ([[Protestant]]) denomination that was born out of the [[Holiness Movement]] of the early 20th century. The Church of the Nazarene took its name in order to associate itself with the humbleness of Jesus' town of origin, as they seek to reach the "humble" in society. * The Nazarenes of Mount Carmel, an American modern [[Essene|Nazarean Essene]] church. * The [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]] and [[Knanaya]] "Nazarenes", a Christian group claiming ethnic Jewish descent in [[Kerala]], India. ==See also== * [[Ebionites]] * [[Judeo-Christian]] ==References== <!--This article uses the Cite.php citation mechanism. If you would like more information on how to add references to this article, please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite/Cite.php --> {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvii.html Catena Aurea - Gospel of Matthew Ch. 27] *[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10724b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Nazarene] *[http://books.google.com/books?id=s9-utOHPLfEC&pg=PA112&lpg=PR9&ots=kBG6zOGUNz&dq=Panarion Epiphanius of Salamis' Panarion] *[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf201.iii.ix.xxii.html Eusebius of Caesarea's Ecclesiastical History 4.22] *[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf203.v.iii.v.html Jerome's Lives of Illustrius Men Ch. 3] *[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=140&letter=N&search=nazarenes Jewish Encyclopedia: Nazarenes] *[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1102075.htm Letter 75 Jerome to Augustine] *[http://www.netzarim.info/index.php/The_Term_%22Nazarene%22_Part_1 NetzariPedia: The Term Nazarene Pt1] *[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pgc.asp?page=basis/goldenlegend/goldenlegend-volume7.htm The Golden Legend, Volume 7] *[http://www.2house.org/page.php?page=doctrinal_statement] *[http://thenazareneschool.com/home] *[http://http://www.nazarenemedia.net/] {{DEFAULTSORT:Nazarene (Sect)}} [[Category:Judeo-Christian topics]] [[Category:Judaism-related controversies]] [[Category:Christianity-related controversies]] [[Category:Schisms in Christianity]] [[Category:New Testament history]] [[Category:Ancient Christian denominations]] [[Category:1st-century Christianity]] [[Category:Early Jewish Christian sects]] [[Category:Former Christian denominations]] [[ca:Natzarens]] [[de:Nazarener (Religion)]] [[eo:Nazareo]] [[fr:Nazaréens]] [[id:Nasrani (sekte)]] [[hu:Nazarénus]] [[nl:Nazoreeërs]] [[pl:Nazarejczycy]] [[pt:Nazarenos]] [[ro:Nazarineni]] [[sv:Nasaréerna]]'