Who were the "Nazarenes" and what can we learn from them?

[Hizikyah]

What was a Nazarene in the times during and after the Messiah's 1st coming?

and what can we learn from them?


"And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." Matthew 2:23

"For we have found this man (Paul) a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" Acts 24:5

Isayah 11:1-2, "There will come forth a Rod out of the stem of Yishai, and a Branch will grow out of his roots. The Spirit of Yahweh will rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverence of Yahweh."

Branch is word H#5342 - netser: a sprout, shoot
Original Word: נֵ֫צֶר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: netser
Phonetic Spelling: (nay'-tser)
Short Definition: branch

A "Netzer" is a type of Branch - a shoot from an olive tree that grows out of its original root system but springs up at a later time from the stump, or somewhat distant from the trunk.

"For we have found this man (Paul) a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" Acts 24:5

("Netzer or Nazarenes" = "Branch/shoot" )

John (Yahchanan) 15:4-6, "Abide in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, produces much fruit; but without Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch, and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."


Deuteronomy 8:3, "so He might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh, does man live."


Acts 2:46

English Standard Version
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts

 

[Sophia]

What was a Nazarene in the times during and after the Messiah's 1st coming?

and what can we learn from them?


"And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." Matthew 2:23

"For we have found this man (Paul) a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" Acts 24:5

Isayah 11:1-2, "There will come forth a Rod out of the stem of Yishai, and a Branch will grow out of his roots. The Spirit of Yahweh will rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverence of Yahweh."

Branch is word H#5342 - netser: a sprout, shoot
Original Word: נֵ֫צֶר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: netser
Phonetic Spelling: (nay'-tser)
Short Definition: branch

A "Netzer" is a type of Branch - a shoot from an olive tree that grows out of its original root system but springs up at a later time from the stump, or somewhat distant from the trunk.

"For we have found this man (Paul) a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" Acts 24:5

("Netzer or Nazarenes" = "Branch/shoot" )

John (Yahchanan) 15:4-6, "Abide in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, produces much fruit; but without Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch, and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."


Deuteronomy 8:3, "so He might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh, does man live."


Acts 2:46

English Standard Version
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts

The name is good, as it means "those who follow the Nazerene" which is Jesus Christ, our Lord.
However, just like all good things, some twisted it, and it became something very different within the first few decades.

Beware of both the Greek philosopher followers, and the Jewish Pharisee followers. Both entered the Church as wolves very early on.

Many of the Pharisees turned to a new form of Judaism in order to seduce Christians,
And many Greek philosophers turned to a new form of philosophy to seduce Chistians.

 

[Jeff_56]

The name is good, as it means "those who follow the Nazerene" which is Jesus Christ, our Lord.
However, just like all good things, some twisted it, and it became something very different within the first few decades.
Beware of both the Greek philosopher followers, and the Jewish Pharisee followers. Both entered the Church as wolves very early on.
Many of the Pharisees turned to a new form of Judaism in order to seduce Christians,
And many Greek philosophers turned to a new form of philosophy to seduce Chistians.

it is safe to remind to test everything - just as ^^^^^^^^^ is true about the heresy of the rcc, and it's "another gospel" (not the one true gospel),

so also I saw another website/ forum/ chat room visited by a group that calls themselves nzrites who do not believe in yahshua hamashiach (Jesus Messiah) nor trust in his blood to pay for their sin.

they stated plainly (that group; maybe a small number or nzrites and others may be 'fine' in line with God's Word) that "living a clean life" was how their sin today is dealt with -- either the clean life, the sinless life, of yahshua, and/ or (either or both) "living a clean life" for them would clean them of their sinfulness and provide the (atonement | forgiveness | right-standing with yahweh(god) ).

distinct from the church of the nazarene, btw - those who presented themselves (at tom's website/forum/ chatroom ) appeared like a mix of sacred name and hebrew roots type study.....
and when questioned,
they did not see Jesus as the Son of God, Messiah born of man, come in the flesh, as our needed Savior. (but as a 'good' man)

test, test, test - there may well be a group with same of similar name that's in line with Scripture,
but
there is definitely a group or groups out there who are not in line with Scripture.

(like the roman heresy,perhaps, it might be seen daily as they will try to infiltrate to gain one convert out of a hundred, then make them
many times worse enemy of Jesus Christ the Messiah than themselves (as spoken by Jesus in the Gospel)).

i.e. it is a daily battle, with daily and serious traps to steal a persons soul, set here on the internet as well as locally in person where we live (even in the "house of God" as it is written somewhere in scripture)......

 

[Zmouth]

"And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." Matthew 2:23

I would be interested in anyone could show where it was written in the prophets that he shall be called a 'Nazarene",

I think it is probably different spelling for those who separate themselves unto the LORD in the OT much the same way Noe is
spelled different in the NT than in the OT.

As most images of Jesus portray him with long hair, In the vow of the "Nazarene" he who vows the vow of the Nazarene seperate themselves unto the LORD are considered to be holy, and he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

Yet it is surprising to see that Paul wrote in 1 Cor 11:14, Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite to separate themselves unto the LORD:
they also separate themselves form alcohol and other items. And thus in the following scripture, For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. Yet that passages isn't speaking of Jesus since he hadn't opened the matrix yet.

Yet it does raise the question of the meaning of John 7:39-42

39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

 

[Hizikyah]

I would be interested in anyone could show where it was written in the prophets that he shall be called a 'Nazarene",

Here in Isayah 11:1-2;

netser

H#5342 - netser

Isayah 11:1-2, "There will come forth a Rod out of the stem of Yishai, and a Branch will grow out of his roots. The Spirit of Yahweh will rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverence of Yahweh."

Branch is word H#5342 - netser: a sprout, shoot
Original Word: נֵ֫צֶר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: netser
Phonetic Spelling: (nay'-tser)
Short Definition: branch

Zecharyah 3:8, "Hear now, O Yahshua the High Priest, you and your companions who sit before you; for they are men wondered at. For behold, I will bring forth My servant the BRANCH."

6780. tsemachStrong's Concordance

tsemach: a sprout, growth​

Original Word: צֶ֫מַח
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tsemach
Phonetic Spelling: (tseh'-makh)
Short Definition: Branch

Zecharyah 6:12-13, "Speak to him, and say; This is what Yahweh of hosts says: Behold, the Man Whose Name is the BRANCH! For He will branch out from His place, and He will build temple of Yahweh! Yes, He will build the temple of Yahweh. He will bear glory, and will sit and rule on His throne. He will be a priest upon His throne; and the counsel of peace will be between them both."

Yeremyah 23:5-6, "Behold, the days come, says Yahweh: that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King will reign and succeed, and will execute judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Yahdah will be saved, and Israyl will dwell safely; and this is the Name that He will proclaim to them-Yahweh Tsidqenu: YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

Isayah 4:2, "In that day will the branch of Yahweh be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth will be excellent and comely for those who are escaped to Israyl."

 

[tribesman]

Until today jews in "the state of Israel" still calls christians "notzarim".

It was some years ago I read about this, my memory might fail me, as for the nazarenes I think they were divided into two parties, one the ebionites who denied the deity of the Messiah and the trinity and another one who affirmed same. It has been argued that the latter was in the succession of the Apostle James.

 

[Hizikyah]

Until today jews in "the state of Israel" still calls christians "notzarim".

It was some years ago I read about this, my memory might fail me, as for the nazarenes I think they were divided into two parties, one the ebionites who denied the deity of the Messiah and the trinity and another one who affirmed same. It has been argued that the latter was in the succession of the Apostle James.

Ok so besides the titles this is new to me, interesting, ty.

 

[Hizikyah]

The name is good, as it means "those who follow the Nazerene" which is Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Until today jews in "the state of Israel" still calls christians "notzarim".

Epiphanius (Fourth century "church father") writes of the ancient Nazarenes: But these sectarians... did not call themselves Christians--but "Nazarenes,”

"For we have found this man (Paul) a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" Acts 24:5

"Minæans" apparently Latinized from Hebrew MINIM (singular is MIN) a word which in modern Hebrew means "apostates" but was originally an acronym for a Hebrew phrase meaning "Believers in Yeshua the Nazarene."

 

[Sophia]

Epiphanius (Fourth century "church father") writes of the ancient Nazarenes: But these sectarians... did not call themselves Christians--but "Nazarenes,”

"For we have found this man (Paul) a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" Acts 24:5

"Minæans" apparently Latinized from Hebrew MINIM (singular is MIN) a word which in modern Hebrew means "apostates" but was originally an acronym for a Hebrew phrase meaning "Believers in Yeshua the Nazarene."

I would be careful though, because the Nazarene writings from the first few centuries blatantly deny the divinity of Christ.
If you were to hold those by that name as the true Branch, then you would have to side with them being right on that issue.

 

[Hizikyah]

I would be careful though, because the Nazarene writings from the first few centuries blatantly deny the divinity of Christ.

I dont know a lot about them, Tribesman said there were 2 differents sects? IDK.

But I follow no man, only YHWH, the reason I asked this question is to see what they believed as the true "Nazerites" were alive when Messiah was and had His teaching first hand. I dont study to follow them but to shed light on the times.

Me personally my entire "doctrine" or IDK how to say, but my basis of seeking the path of Yah is contained in this;

Deuteronomy 18:18-19, "I (YHWH) will raise up for them a Prophet (Yahshua/Jesus) like you from among their brothers, and I will put My words in His mouth, and He will tell them everything I command Him. Whoever will not listen to My words, which He speaks in My Name, I will judge him for it"

"listen" is word #8085 שָׁמַע shama` {shaw-mah'}

Brown-Driver-Briggs (Old Testament Hebrew-English Lexicon)
A primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively to tell, etc.)

Hebrew Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar) - 1) to hear, listen to, obey

no mans teachings can get in the way of that, I am just curious about how the original followers of Messiah thought and walked as I am curious about what the people of today believe, with of course more emphasis of those that were with Messiah in the flesh to hear Him first hand. none the less I thank you for your warning, I know it is well meant and think it a right thing to have in my mind when I study anything.

 

[tribesman]

Free from my memory (sorry I can not give any references or resources, as I have forgotten where I read this years ago, those interested enough will have to use search engines to look for such) the ebionites and the nazarenes were different groups which did not share common beliefs. The nazarenes were earlier and at least from the start held to views affirming the virgin birth and deity of Messiah whereas the ebionites were a bit later in chronology and held to views inclusive of denying the deity of Messiah but held him to be a prophet of the Most High. Later there seems to have been a development of some nazarenes getting closer to ebionite beliefs.

 

[Sophia]

Free from my memory (sorry I can not give any references or resources, as I have forgotten where I read this years ago, those interested enough will have to use search engines to look for such) the ebionites and the nazarenes were different groups which did not share common beliefs. The nazarenes were earlier and at least from the start held to views affirming the virgin birth and deity of Messiah whereas the ebionites were a bit later in chronology and held to views inclusive of denying the deity of Messiah but held him to be a prophet of the Most High. Later there seems to have been a development of some nazarenes getting closer to ebionite beliefs.

I only found Nazarene writings from 250ad and later, most from the 400s.
A lot of doctrinal change can happen to a group in 2-4 hundred years.

 

[tribesman]

I only found Nazarene writings from 250ad and later, most from the 400s.
A lot of doctrinal change can happen to a group in 2-4 hundred years.

Yes. The earliest nazarenes where very early, dating back to the times and lives of St. James "the Just".

 

[Sophia]

Yes. The earliest nazarenes where very early, dating back to the times and lives of St. James "the Just".

Like we're discussing on another thread, their early writing were probably opposed to Constantine and Augustine's doctrines, and were burned. Very few good works survived the violence of those two.
Most of the surviving doctrinal writings from the early centuries only survived because they supported the political Orthodoxy.