Eric W. King ~ TSW, "The Shepherds Way": "Jesus the Nazorean." ~ TSW

Ancient Antiochene

Mysteries

Part Thirty-six

“Jesus the Nazorean.”

By presbyter Eric William King (September 10th 2024)

Was Jesus from a location called, “Nazareth” …or was He simply a Nazorean? Many are surprised to find out that during the time of Jesus there was no town called Nazareth. In our Greek and English translations, we read sentences such as, “Jesus from Nazareth” when the accurate translation is “Jesus the Nazorean.” What does all of this mean?

We know from our Ancient Antiochene Records that the title Nazarene appears only once in the Douai version, “Jesus Nazarenus” and is properly translated “Jesus the Nazarene”. We also know from the book of Acts that the Nazoreans were actually a religious sect of which Apostle Paul was a member [Acts 24:5 & vs.14]. Nowhere in the Old Testament is there a place or town called “Nazareth”. Also, Jesus never “returned to Nazareth”, but instead, He “returned to the Nazoreans”.

This Nazorean sect traveled and set up camp at different places near and around Galilee according to climate and weather changes throughout the year. Many of them were fishermen families. They were a small group and they racially were mixed Jews. The Pharisees and Sadducees saw them as “dirty Jews” and cultish. They viewed the Essene sect the same way. The Essenes and Nazoreans had much in common when it came to understanding prophecy. They talked and communed together often. As a matter of fact, one faction of the Essenes was governed by James, the brother of our Lord.

God actually used the Essenes and the Nazoreans to protect the original Davidic blood line of King David through which the Messiah was to come. Jesus called out those fake Jews which comprised many of the Sadducees and Pharisees. These were actually Gentiles who returned long ago after Cyrus freed the original Jews from Babylonian captivity. Some Gentiles had claimed conversion to leave Babylon. They were actually Kenites – Jesus called them, “of the seed of Cain.”

Many of the Nazoreans were also called “Nazarites” due to the fact that some took Nazarite vows to separate themselves from the religious leaders and factions of Jerusalem. Those who took Nazarite vows were seen as not real Jews by the religious authorities and were seen as those who did not adhere to the popular sects. They were seen as “outsiders” who held to different religious, moral, and ethical beliefs – such were those who followed John the Baptist and eventually Jesus Christ. Those in Christ’s church today, the Ancient Antiochene Church of God are seen the same way.

Now, as I promised in a previous message, more insight on the title Nazorean. The fish as a symbol for the followers of Jesus Christ was used early on. The Greek word “fish” is ichthys and became a Christian anagram pointing to; “Jesus Christ, God's Son Savior”. An inverted “V” was also used with a circular dot almost in the middle which pointed to the “life-force surging up”. This was a sort of fish-head pointing up, the dot being the eye. It represented resurrection and new life. It was placed over some of the ancient Christian ossuaries in ancient Jerusalem. It was used way before the cross became a symbol of Christianity. In ancient Aramaic the word Ras meant “head” or “point” and the word Nasrani was a term which meant “lots of fish”. This phrase, Ras Nasrani was used when many followers of Christ were passing through. So, the symbol of the fish has connections with the title Nazorean.

Another connection is, the Hebrew title “Nazorean” comes from the Hebrew root word, Netser – pronounced; nay-tser. It means “shoot” or “branch”. The early Messianic sect was also called this because of the “Branch” prophecies regarding the coming Messiah found in the prophets. The Messiah is referred to as “the Branch”. They also taught the coming of the restored Davidic Kingdom, in this sense they were the first “Branch Davidians”.

To this day the First Church has a Davidian Doctrine regarding the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ. This is based on the Davidic Covenant.

New Light has now been given regarding Jesus the Nazorean.

This is most certainly true.

Eric William King (September 10^th 2024)

Note: Throughout time the title Nazorean has developed many different ways of spelling.