{{short description|First-century Christian sect}} {{Jewish Christianity|Ancient groups}} The '''Nazarenes''' (or '''Nazoreans'''; {{Langx|el|Ναζωραῖοι|translit=Nazōraioi}})<ref name="strongs">{{Citation | contribution = G3480 | url = https://biblehub.com/greek/strongs_3480.htm | publisher = Strong | title = Lexicon}}.</ref> were an early [[Jewish Christian]] [[sect]] in first-century [[Judaism]]. The first use of the term is found in the [[Acts of the Apostles]] ([[Acts 24]], {{bibleverse|Acts|24:5}}) of the [[New Testament]], where [[Paul the Apostle]] is accused of being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes ("{{lang|grc|πρωτοστάτην τε τῆς τῶν Ναζωραίων αἱρέσεως}}") before the Roman [[Procurator (Ancient Rome)|procurator]] [[Antonius Felix]] at [[Caesarea Maritima]] by [[Tertullus]].<ref>Acts 24:5 "For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes."</ref> At that time, the term simply designated followers of [[Jesus of Nazareth]], as the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] term {{Script/Hebrew|נוֹצְרִי}} (''{{transliteration|he|nôṣrî}}''),<ref>[[wikt: נוצרי|נוצרי (Wiktionary), in singular]]</ref> and the Arabic term {{Lang|ar|نَصْرَانِي}} (''{{transliteration|ar|naṣrānī}}''),<ref>[[wikt:نصراني|نصراني]] (singular). ''Wiktionary''.</ref> still do.
As time passed, the term came to refer to a sect of Jewish Christians who continued to observe the [[Torah]], in contrast to gentiles who eschewed Torah observance.<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> They are described by [[Epiphanius of Salamis]] and are mentioned later by [[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 makes any mention of Nazarenes. They must have been even more considerable in the time of these writers,</ref> The writers made a distinction between the Nazarenes of their time and the "Nazarenes" mentioned in Acts 24:5.<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>
==Nazarenes as a Title== {{main|Nazarene (title)}} The English term ''Nazarene'' is commonly used to translate two related Greek words that appear in the New Testament: ''Nazōraios'' ({{lang|grc|Ναζωραῖος, Ναζαραῖος}}) ("Nazorean") and ''Nazarēnos'' ({{lang|grc|Ναζαρηνός}}) ("Nazarene"). The term ''Nazōraios'' may have a religious significance instead of denoting a place of origin, while ''Nazarēnos'' is 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 ''Nazōraios'' as an adjectival form of ''apo Nazaret'' ("from Nazareth" or "Nazarene"), even though the more acceptable adjective is ''Nazarēnos'' (cf. Bonnard, Brown, Albright and Mann, Soares Prabhu)."</ref>
Because of this, the phrases traditionally rendered as "Jesus of Nazareth" can also be translated as "Jesus the Nazarene" or "Jesus the Nazorean." In the New Testament, the form ''Nazōraios'' or ''Nazaraios'' is more common than ''Nazarēnos'' (meaning "from Nazareth").<ref name="strongs"/>
In Arabic however, Nasrani ({{lang|ar|نصراني}}), the name given to Christians in the [[Quran]] can be interpreted as coming from the root verb [[wiktionary:نصر|n-ṣ-r]], meaning victory, or support. The meaning is defined in Surah [[al Imran]], [https://quran.com/3?startingVerse=52 verse 52] where [[Jesus in Islam|Jesus]] asks who will become his supporters (Ansar-i) for the sake of God; the [[Disciples of Jesus in Islam|Hawariyun]] (Apostles) answer that they will become the Ansar. The same root also refers to the [[Ansar (Islam)|Ansar]], those that sheltered [[Muhammad]] in [[Medina]].
== Nazarene sect of (1st century)== {{See also|Nazarene (title)#"Nazarenes" - a term for the Early Christians|l1=Nazarene|Nazirite#In the New Testament|l2=Nazirite|Book of Acts|l3=Book of Acts|Early Christianity|l4=Early Christianity}}
The Greek epithet ''Nazōraios'' is applied to Jesus 14 times in the New Testament, and is used once in [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] to refer to the sect of Christians of which Paul was a leader.<ref name="strongs"/> It is traditionally translated as "a man from [[Nazareth]]"; the plural ''Nazōraioi'' would mean "men from Nazareth". The title 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 [[Mishnaic Hebrew|Mishnaic]] and [[modern Hebrew]] as ''notzrim'' ({{Script/Hebrew|נוצרים}}), a standard Hebrew term for "Christian". The name also exists in the [[Quran]] and modern [[Arabic]] as {{lang|ar|نَصَارَىٰ}} ''naṣārā'' (plural of {{lang|ar|نَصْرَانِيّ}} ''[[Christians#Arabic terms|naṣrānī]]'' "Christian").
[[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 Iudaei Nazarenos appellant per eum. Nam et sumus iie auibus scriptum est: Nazaraei...}}.</ref> [[Jerome]] too records that, in the synagogues, the word "Nazarenes" was used to describe Christians.<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 Esaiam: ...in blasphemiis et ter per singulos dies in omnibus synagogis sub nomine Nazarenorum anathematizent uocabulum Christianum...}}</ref> [[Eusebius]], around 311 CE, records that the name "Nazarenes" had formerly been used of Christians.<ref>{{Citation | publisher = School of Oriental Studies | title = Bulletin | year = 2002}}.</ref><ref>Epiphanius Panarion 29</ref> The use relating to a specific "sect" of Christians does not occur until [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]] (310/20–403).<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> According to [[Arnold 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 | title = 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 (Syriacist) | 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>
==Nazarenes (4th century)==
According to [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]] in his ''[[Panarion]]'', the 4th-century Nazarenes (Ναζωραῖοι) were originally Jewish converts of the [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostles]]<ref>Panarion 29.5.6</ref> who fled [[Jerusalem]] because of Jesus' prophecy of its [[Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)|coming siege]]. They fled to [[Pella, Jordan|Pella]], [[Perea|Peraea]] (northeast of Jerusalem), and eventually spread outwards to [[Halab|Beroea]] (Aleppo) and [[Bashan|Basanitis]], where they permanently settled (Panarion 29.3.3).<ref>See: Jonathan Bourgel, "[https://www.academia.edu/4909339/The_Jewish_Christians_Move_from_Jerusalem_as_a_Pragmatic_Choice The Jewish Christians’ Move from Jerusalem as a pragmatic choice]", in: [[Dan Jaffé]] (ed), ''Studies in Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity'', Leyden: Brill, 2010, pp. 107–38.</ref>
The Nazarenes were similar to the [[Ebionites]], in that they considered themselves [[Jews]], maintained an adherence to the [[Law of Moses]]. Unlike the Ebionites, they accepted the [[Virgin birth of Jesus|Virgin Birth]].<ref name="Krauss">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Nazarenes |encyclopedia=Jewish Encyclopedia |url=http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=140&letter=N&search=nazarenes |access-date=2007-08-23 |last=Krauss |first=Samuel |author-link=Samuel Krauss}}</ref><ref name="Hegg 2007">{{Citation |last=Hegg |first=Tim |year=2007 |title=The Virgin Birth: An Inquiry into the Biblical Doctrine |url=http://www.torahresource.com/EnglishArticles/VirginBirth.pdf |url-status=dead |publisher=TorahResource |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821045706/http://www.torahresource.com/EnglishArticles/VirginBirth.pdf |archive-date=21 August 2007 |access-date=13 August 2007}}</ref> They seemed to consider Jesus as a prophet, but other attestations from the church fathers might suggest that they also hold on the divinity of Jesus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nazarenes from the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia. |url=https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/N/nazarenes.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031231/https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/N/nazarenes.html |archive-date=2017-12-01 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia Online |language=en}}</ref>
As late as the eleventh century, [[Humbert of Silva Candida|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 |volume=1 |page=660 |year=1874 |location=New York}}</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'' is the chief authority of their history. It is believed that Gregorius of Bergamo, about 1250 CE, also wrote concerning the Nazarenes as the [[Pasagians]].
===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]] 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'' 75, to Augustine, he said:
{{blockquote |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=https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1102075.htm|title=CHURCH FATHERS: Letter 75 (Augustine) or 112 (Jerome)|website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11393-nazarenes|title=NAZARENES - JewishEncyclopedia.com|website=jewishencyclopedia.com}}</ref>}}
[[Jerome]] saw 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 CE) was a bishop who wrote the ''"Book of Diverse Heresies"'' (lived about the time of [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]]). {{Citation |last=Pritz |first=Ray |title=Nazarene Jewish Christianity: from the end of the New Testament period until its disappearance in the fourth century |at=p. 73 ft.12 |quote=The sect of Filaster (Nazorei/Nazarei) derives somehow from the Nazirites and accepts the Law and prophets}}.</ref> His criticism of the Nazarenes is noticeably more direct and critical than that of Epiphanius.
The following creed is from a church at Constantinople at the same period, and condemns practices of the Nazarenes:
{{blockquote |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 |pages=397–98 |year=1974 |place=New York |publisher=Atheneum}}.</ref>}} "Nazarenes" are referenced past the fourth century CE 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'' ([[Jeremiah]] in Latin) 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: {{blockquote|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: {{blockquote|They believe that the [[Messiah]] was born of the Virgin Mary.|Jerome| Letter 75 Jerome to Augustine}}
* Adhering to circumcision and the Law of Moses: {{blockquote|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: {{blockquote|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: {{blockquote|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}}
{{blockquote|And he [[Hegesippus (chronicler)|Hegesippus]] 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]]|''[[Church History (Eusebius)|Church History]]'' 4.22}}
== Nazranis of India == The [[Saint Thomas Christians]] of Kerala, known locally as '''Nasranis''' or '''Nazarenes''', have long been associated with [[Jews|Jewish]] and Hebrew origins. This nomenclature was historically used to describe early [[Jewish Christianity|Jewish Christians]], suggesting that the Nasrani community have roots in Jewish communities of the Near East. Apostle [[Thomas the Apostle|Thomas]], during his missionary endeavours, preached to dispersed Israelite communities in India, aligning with patterns observed in other apostle's missions. Dr. Ray A Pritz, in his thesis ''[[Nazarene (sect)|Nazarene]] Jewish Christianity'' mentions that "Christian" (followers of Christ) was originally used by the non-Christians to designate believers among the [[Gentile|Gentiles]] while the '''Nazarenes''' was already used in Israel to describe Jewish adherents to the new Messianic sect. Further supporting this hypothesis are cultural and linguistic parallels between the Nasranis and Jewish communities in [[Kerala]], such as shared traditions and place names with Hebrew connotations. Also the fact that they enjoyed elite and commercial rights by the Chera king could have been possible since they share with the Jews having received the royal charter engraved on copper plates from [[Cheraman Perumal]] would be only possible if they were ethnically Jews because lower caste converts didn't have this privilege. They had the rights to sit before kings, ride horses, elephants, chariots and wear headgear just like the [[Brahmin|Brahmins]].They were also given lordship over seventeen underprivileged castes. They also practiced and until today practice strict endogamy among themselves; also, conversions are discouraged in the non-Catholic traditional Syrian Christian denominations. Even [[Catholic Church|catholic]] Nazranis do not let converts or non-Nazarenes to participate or involve in their practices and customs and are given separate dioceses/parishes. Until the arrival of the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] they had strict [[Kashrut|dietary customs]], and observed Jewish holidays such as [[Passover]] and [[Yom Kippur]].Till today pesaha is observed and [[Pesaha appam|unleavened bread]] similar to a [[matzah]] is prepared in every Syrian Christian household on [[Maundy Thursday]]. In fact Y-DNA genetic signatures have been reported which indicate clear [[Kohen|Cohen]] ([[Aaron|'''Aaronic''']]) ancestry, '''[[Levite]]''' ancestry and [[Tribe of Judah|'''Judahite''']] ancestry. The Brahmin origin of these Christians are merely namesake which was the term used to denote priests in the Indian languages then is another claim. It is also a fact that the Apostle Thomas came in search for the Jews in India first to preach the gospel.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Hebrew BrahminRootsOfMarThomaNazranees | PDF | Jews | Israelites|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/104810073/Hebrew-BrahminRootsOfMarThomaNazranees}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2026}}<ref>{{Cite book | last1=Vadakkekara | first1=Benedict |title= Origin of Christianity in India: A Historiographical Critique| date=2007 | publisher=Media House | isbn=978-81-7495-258-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7f3YAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>
==Nasoraean Mandaeans== {{Mandaeism}} {{see also|Nazarene (title)#Mandaeans|Mandaean priest}} Those few who are initiated into the secrets of the [[Mandaeism|Mandaean]] religion are called ''Naṣuraiia'' or Nasoraeans/Nasaraeans meaning guardians or possessors of secret rites and knowledge.<ref name=RudolphEI>{{cite web|last=Rudolph|first=Kurt|url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/mandaeans-2-religion |title=MANDAEANS ii. THE MANDAEAN RELIGION |access-date=3 January 2022|website=Encyclopaedia Iranica|date=7 April 2008}}</ref> According to the [[Haran Gawaita]], Nasoraean Mandaeans fled [[Jerusalem]] before its [[Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)|fall in 70 CE]] due to persecution.<ref>Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen(2010). Turning the Tables on Jesus: The Mandaean View. In {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncuQxl5Ate0C&dq=buckley+mandaean+turning+the+table+on+jesus&pg=PA109|title=''Christian Origins''|isbn=9781451416640|last1=Horsley|first1=Richard|date=March 2010|publisher=Fortress Press }}(pp94-11). Minneapolis: Fortress Press</ref> The word ''Naṣuraiia'' may come from the root n-ṣ-r meaning "to keep", since although they reject the [[Law of Moses|Mosaic Law]], they consider themselves to be keepers of [[Gnosis]]. [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]] mentions a group called Nasaraeans (Νασαραίοι, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150906041916/http://www.masseiana.org/panarion_bk1.htm#18 Part 18]}} of the Panarion), distinguished from the "Nazoraioi" ({{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150906041916/http://www.masseiana.org/panarion_bk1.htm#29 Part 29]}}). According to [[Joseph Lightfoot]], [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]] also makes a distinction between the Ossaeans and the Nasaraeans,<ref name="panarion1-19">[[Epiphanius of Salamis]] ({{c.|lk=no|378}}). ''[[Panarion]]''. 1:19.</ref> the two main groups within the [[Essenes]]:<ref name=lightfoot1875>{{Cite book|first=Joseph Barber |last=Lightfoot |author-link=Joseph Barber Lightfoot |chapter=On Some Points Connected with the Essenes |title=St. Paul's epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon: a revised text with introductions, notes, and dissertations |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] |location=London |oclc=6150927 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|The Nasaraeans – they were Jews by nationality – originally from Gileaditis, Bashanitis and the Transjordan ... They acknowledged [[Moses]] and believed that he had received laws – not this law, however, but some other. And so, they were Jews who kept all the Jewish observances, but they would not offer sacrifice or eat meat. They considered it unlawful to eat meat or make sacrifices with it. They claim that these [[Torah|Books]] are fictions, and that none of these customs were instituted by the fathers. This was the difference between the Nasaraeans and the others.|Epiphanius' Panarion 1:18}}
The Nasaraeans may be the same as the [[Mandaeans]] of today. [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]] writes (29:6) that they existed before Christ. That is questioned by some, but others accept the pre-Christian origin of this group.<ref name=Drower1960>{{Cite book | last =Drower | first =Ethel Stephana | author-link =E. S. Drower | date =1960 | title =The secret Adam, a study of Nasoraean gnosis | location =London UK | publisher =Clarendon Press | page =xvi | no-pp =true| url=http://holybooks.lichtenbergpress.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Secret-Adam-A-Study-of-Nasoraen-Gnosis.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306132110/http://holybooks.lichtenbergpress.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Secret-Adam-A-Study-of-Nasoraen-Gnosis.pdf|archive-date=March 6, 2014|url-status=live}}, p. xiv.</ref>
Van Bladel (2017) suggests that the Mandaeans and Nasoraeans were historically separate groups, with the Nasoraeans being a Judeo-Christian priestly baptismal sect from central Mesopotamia that found followers from the indigenous Mandaeans of southern Mesopotamia. According to van Bladel's hypothesis, the original Mandaean laypeople had their Mesopotamian temples decimated due to temple pillaging during the Sasanian period and switched to the Nasoraean priests' religion in order to compensate for the loss of their former religion.<ref name="VanBladel2017">{{cite book|last1=van Bladel|first1=Kevin|year=2017|title=From Sasanian Mandaeans to Ṣābians of the Marshes|location=Leiden|publisher=Brill|doi=10.1163/9789004339460|isbn=978-90-04-33943-9|url=https://brill.com/view/title/34389}}</ref> However, this hypothesis has been criticized by Predrag Bukovec and other scholars.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Bukovec | first=Predrag | title=Van Bladel, Kevin, From Sasanian Mandaeans to Ṣābians of the Marshes (Leiden Studies in Islam and Society—6), Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2017—164 pp. | journal=Iran and the Caucasus | volume=22 | issue=2 | date=2018-06-22 | issn=1609-8498 | doi=10.1163/1573384X-20180210 | pages=211–213}}</ref> [[Bogdan Burtea]] (2008) has also proposed that the Nasoraeans and Mandaeans may have historically been separate groups.<ref>Burtea, Bogdan. "Zur Entstehung der mandäischen Schrift. Iranischer oder aramäischer Ursprung?" In: Rainer Voigt (ed.), ''Und das Leben ist siegreich! Mandäische und samaritanische Literatur'', Wiesbaden, 2008: 47-62.</ref>
In the ''[[Ginza Rabba]]'', the term ''Nasoraean'' is used to refer to righteous Mandaeans, i.e., [[Mandaean priest]]s (comparable to the concept of [[Pneumatic (Gnosticism)|''pneumatikoi'']] in Gnosticism).<ref name="Buckley 2002">{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Jorunn Jacobsen|title=The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people|publisher=Oxford University Press|publication-place=New York|year=2002|isbn=0-19-515385-5|oclc=65198443}}</ref><ref name="Buckley2010">{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Jorunn Jacobsen|title=The great stem of souls: reconstructing Mandaean history|publisher=Gorgias Press|publication-place=Piscataway, N.J|year=2010|isbn=978-1-59333-621-9}}</ref><ref name="GR Gelbert">{{cite book |url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/ginza-rba/ |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9780958034630}}</ref> As Nasoraeans, Mandaeans believe that they constitute the true congregation of ''bnia nhura'' meaning 'Sons of Light'.<ref name=BSN>{{cite web|author=Brikhah S. Nasoraia|title=Sacred Text and Esoteric Praxis in Sabian Mandaean Religion|year=2012|url=http://isamveri.org/pdfdrg/D201813/2012_I/2012_I_NASORAIAB.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|50}}
==Modern "Nazarene" churches==
A number of modern churches use the word "Nazarene" or variants in their name or beliefs: * The [[Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene)]], originating in the Swiss Nazarene Baptist movement; * The [[Church of the Nazarene]], a [[Protestant]] Christian denomination that was born out of the [[Holiness Movement]] of the late 19th and early 20th centuries;
== See also == * [[Early Christianity]] * [[Essenes]] * [[Jewish Christians]] * [[Judaizers]] * [[Mandaeism]] * [[Messianic Judaism]] * [[St Thomas Christians]] * [[Synagogal Judaism]]
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
== Further reading == {{refbegin}} * {{cite book |last=Broadhead |first=E.K. |chapter=Nazarenes |title=Jewish Ways of Following Jesus: Redrawing the Religious Map of Antiquity |publisher=[[Coronet Books]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-3-16-150304-7 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C97_rPZRbuUC&pg=PA163 |page=163ff}} * {{cite book |last1=Davies |first1=W.D. |last2=Finkelstein |first2=L. |last3=Horbury |first3=W. |last4=Sturdy |first4=J. |last5=Katz |first5=S.T. |last6=Hart |first6=M.B. |last7=Michels |first7=T. |title=The Cambridge History of Judaism: The early Roman period |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1984 |isbn=978-0-521-24377-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgehis_xxxx_1984_004_8494287 |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/cambridgehis_xxxx_1984_004_8494287/page/n772 741]-772 <!-- Commentary on Isaiah only: 761,768 --> }} * {{cite book |last=Kruger |first=M.J. |title=The Gospel of the Savior: An Analysis of P. Oxy. 840 and Its Place in the Gospel Traditions of Early Christianity |publisher=Brill |series=Texts And Editions for New Testament Study |year=2005 |isbn=978-90-04-14393-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KZttl7QL8NAC&pg=PA230 |page=230ff}} * {{cite book |last=Pritz |first=R. |title=Nazarene Jewish Christianity: From the End of the New Testament Period Until Its Disappearance in the Fourth Century |publisher=[[Hebrew University of Jerusalem|Hebrew University Magnes Press]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-90-04-08108-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vh84AAAAIAAJ}} {{refend}}
==External links== * [https://nazareneisrael.org/ Nazarene Israel] * [http://netzarifaith.org/ Netzari Faith] * [http://www.natzraya.org Natzraya International - The Sect of the Nazarenes]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * [http://nazarenejudaism.com/ Nazarene Judaism] * [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] * [https://books.google.com/books?id=s9-utOHPLfEC&dq=Panarion&pg=PA112 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] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309040339/http://www.netzarim.info/index.php/The_Term_%22Nazarene%22_Part_1 |date=2013-03-09 }} * [https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/goldenlegend/GoldenLegend-Volume7.asp The Golden Legend, Regarding St. James the Martyr being a Nazarene] * [https://legrandsecretdelislam.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/le-grand-secret-de-lislam-4e-ed-2020.pdf Le Grand Secret de l'Islam]
{{Mandaeism footer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nazarene (Sect)}} [[Category:Christianity and Judaism related controversies]] [[Category:Schisms in Christianity]] [[Category:1st-century Christianity]] [[Category:4th-century Christianity]] [[Category:Early Jewish Christian sects]] [[Category:Former Christian denominations]] [[Category:Heresy in ancient Christianity]] [[Category:Mandaeism]] [[Category:Mandaeans]]