Nazarene (sect)
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The Nazarenes (Hebrew: Netzarim, נצרים) were a group of early followers of Jesus of Nazareth who, like the Ebionites, were noteworthy for refusing to follow Christianity in its complete break with Judaism. [1]
From Epiphanius' description, given in the Fourth Century CE when Nazarenes had already existed for several hundred years, it can be determined that the Nazarenes were very dependent upon the Jewish world and its traditions, and had a relatively "low" Christology in rejecting antinomianism, the Christian Trinity, and possibly the divinity of Jesus.
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:
- "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 'Nazarenes'; 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." [2]
Jerome apparently had some confusion as to the differences between Nazarenes and Ebionites, a different Jewish sect, and that the Nazarenes probably never positioned themselves as being Christians. His criticism of the Nazarenes is noticeably more direct and critical than that of Epiphanius.
The Roman Emperor Constantine at the Council of Nicea (325 C.E.), declared a formal and complete break from all Jewish practices and interaction with Jews or Judaism. He may have especially been targeting the Nazarenes with this statement, who professed a very high continuity with Judaism and may have had a "low" Christology.
- "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 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." [3]
The mere mention of the Nazarenes after the 4th Century appears very scarce, which points to the possibility that Constantine enforced his proclamation on pain of death.
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[edit] Modern movements
Interestingly, there are many rapidly growing groups of people who are beginning to associate themselves as Nazarenes. Not to be confused with Messianic Judaism, Nazarenes advocate the adherence of the original doctrine taught by Jesus (Yeshua), and the rest of the apostles, which would have included Torah obedience and the rejection of the "traditions of elders". This has happened in continued response of the Hebrew Roots Movement that began in the 20th century.
Such organizations are developing around the world, holding fast to the Hebrew laws and customs, and to the belief in Jesus (Yeshua) as the Messiah. Most modern Nazarenes believe in what's known as the Two-House Doctrine, in which they believe Nazarenes represent the lost Ten Tribes of Israel that were exiled after the days of King Solomon, and seek to restore their identity Israelites through a central leadership. One such group is Nazarene Israel, which is based in the United States and attempts to unify Nazarenes worldwide.
