Who were the Nazarenes?

The first believers in Yeshua were a Jewish sect known as "Nazarenes" or in Hebrew "Netzarim" (Acts 11:19; 24:5). The "church father" Jerome (4th Cent.) described these Nazarenes as those "...who accept Messiah in such a way that they do not cease to observe the old Law." (Jerome; On. Is. 8:14). Elswhere he writes:
Today 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 Messiah, the son
of God, was born of the Virgin Miriam, and they hold him to
be the one who suffered under Pontius Pilate and ascended to
heaven, and in whom we also believe."
(Jerome; Letter 75 Jerome to Augustine)

The fourth century "church father" Epiphanius gives a more detailed description:

But these sectarians... did not call themselves Christians--but
"Nazarenes," ... However they are simply complete Jews. They
use not only the New Testament but the Old Testament as well,
as the Jews do... They have no different ideas, but confess
everything exactly as the Law proclaims it and in the Jewish
fashion-- except for their belief in Messiah, if you please! For
they acknowledge both the resurrection of the dead and the
divine creation of all things, and declare that G-d is one, and
that his son is Yeshua the Messiah. They are trained to a nicety
in Hebrew. For among them the entire Law, the Prophets, and
the... Writings... are read in Hebrew, as they surely are by the
Jews. They are different from the Jews, and different from
Christians, only in the following. They disagree with Jews
because they have come to faith in Messiah; but since they are still fettered by the Law--circumcision, the Sabbath, and the
rest-- they are not in accord with Christians.... they are nothing
but Jews.... They have the Goodnews 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; Panarion 29)

Nazarene Judaism maintains a belief in Yeshua as the Messiah. We do not leave the Jewish identity, heritage and culture to "convert" to a new or foreign religion. To some the concept of Jews believing in Yeshua and practicing Judaism to a contradiction in terms. The common wisdom is that on the one side you have Jews and Judaism, and on the other you have Gentiles and Christianity. However in the first century there were literally hundreds of thousands of Jewish followers of Yeshua (Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 6:7; 9:31; 21:20) they were zealous for the Torah (Acts 15:19-21; 21:17-27) and met in synagogues (James 1:1, 2:2). The big question then was, had Yeshua come for the Gentiles as well (Acts 10; Acts 15). The greatest paradox in history eventually occured, for today people question how one can follow Yeshua and remain Jewish.

Today we are seeking to put Yeshua back into the context of first century Judaism. Nazarene Judaism is a spiritual renaissance, a revival, a return to the pure faith of first century Nazarenes. A return to the Tanak and to the root of the olive tree (Rom. 11).
As the prophet Jeremiah tells us:

Thus says YHWH, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the
ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it: And you
shall find rest for your souls...."
(Jer. 6:16)

Nazarenes are Yahwists and do not feel compelled to completely censor the use of the Name (Jer. 23:27). They were in some cases martyred for publicly reciting a drash of Ps.110:1-2 in which the Name was used while connecting Yeshua to the right hand of YHWH.

Nazarenes recognize the seventh day-- Friday evening to Saturday evening-- as being the Sabbath (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; 32:12-17). We still observe the rite of circumcision for Israelites. We observe the Holy Days described in Lev. 23 which are to be "celebrated as a perpetual statute throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places... forever" (Lev. 23:14; 21; 31; 41).

Pls summarized this article..

JOKLEVIZ:
Pls summarized this article..

the Nazarenes are the followers of the way, who are Jews but also believes in the Messiah Yeshua aka Jesus. the early believers were not called Christians but were called Nazarenes. They worshipped in synagogues on Sabbath days and not on Sunday in churches.

kehnton:


the Nazarenes are the followers of the way, who are Jews but also believes in the Messiah Yeshua aka Jesus. the early believers were not called Christians but were called Nazarenes. They worshipped in synagogues on Sabbath days and not on Sunday in churches.

So in essence, you are saying that, the Acts of The Apostles is fraud?

analice107:

So in essence, you are saying that, the Acts of The Apostles is fraud?

the acts of the apostles is the act of the believers, it isnt fraud. It shows the apostles kept the 7th day shabat more than 80times, and not sunday. Apostle Paul was regarded as one of the ringleaders of the Nazarene sect of Judaism in the book of Acts 24:5

kehnton:


the acts of the apostles is the act of the believers, it isnt fraud. It shows the apostles kept the 7th day shabat more than 80times, and not sunday. Apostle Paul was regarded as one of the ringleaders of the Nazarene sect of Judaism in the book of Acts 24:5

Nonsense incarnate.

Did the 'Nazarenes' circumcise?

vooks:


Nonsense incarnate.

Did the 'Nazarenes' circumcise?

The messiah was circumcised. Israelites and their descendanats. Thats the sign of the covenant with Abraham.

kehnton:


the Nazarenes are the followers of the way, who are Jews but also believes in the Messiah Yeshua aka Jesus. the early believers were not called Christians but were called Nazarenes. They worshipped in synagogues on Sabbath days and not on Sunday in churches.

ok, thanks..

kehnton:


The messiah was circumcised. Israelites and their descendanats. Thats the sign of the covenant with Abraham.

Are you circumcised, and do you circumcise?

vooks:

Are you circumcised, and do you circumcise?

I'm a Yoruba.
Yes we do circumcise our males as commanded as a sign of the covenant made with our father Abraham.

kehnton:

I'm a Yoruba.
Yes we do circumcise our males as commanded as a sign of the covenant made with our father Abraham.

James Trimm, is he a Jew?

vooks:

James Trimm, is he a Jew?

who is a Jew?