The Mystery of Nazareth

[Diogenes]

I wrote this article on another site...a site that I do not own, but do participate on. I thought you might be interested in reading it.

Israel's largest Arab City has a very mysterious past.

Nazareth is purported to be where Joseph and Mary lived, according to the Gospel of Luke. However, it is never mentioned in the Old Testament and isn't mentioned in the extant works of Josephus either. Nor is it mentioned in any non-scriptural manuscript until the 2nd Century, and the first non-Christian reference comes from a marble fragment found in 1962, which is dated from the 3rd or 4th Century.
Clearly it's absence from all early Jewish writings suggests that it either did not exist or was too small a village to even bother mentioning. And it's absence from all Roman, Greek, and all other non-Christian writings of the Centuries following Jesus, with the exception being that marble fragment mentioned before, suggests that it either did not exist or it was too small and insignificant to mention.

The Mystery of Nazareth - Broowaha

[Dodds]

Interesting read there. Thank you for that.

[Diogenes]

Thanks Dodds...I actually thought there'd be more interest in this here than one reply. I didn't know this myself until recently, while doing some other research I accidentally came across it, then investigated a few sites to determine how correct the information was, then wrote the article on it.

[Walrus]

I remember reading that members of a branch of the Essene sect were called Nazerits or Nazarenes and that there may be a connection. If you Google it there are a number of sites that relate to this, but I’m not sure how reliable they are.

[RickSp]

Many think that Jesus of Nazareth is a mis-translation and does not refer to town at all, but to a Jewish messianic sect, the Nazarenes.

Nazarene (sect)

The issue of whether Nazarene is derived from Nazareth has been the subject of much scholarly conjecture since the 19th century. "Nazareth", in turn, may be derived from either na·tsar, נָצַר, meaning "to watch," or from ne·tser, נֵ֫צֶר, meaning branch. ...Writers who question the association of Nazareth with the life of Jesus suggest that "Nazorean" was originally a religious title and was later reinterpreted as referring to a town

[Diogenes]

I remember reading that members of a branch of the Essene sect were called Nazerits or Nazarenes

I looked into that as well...and yes there is an association...however I failed to find out when that association was made. Did they understand that association in 3AD? Or was that a much later development, trying to tie Jesus into a sect of Jews that were very messianic?

Many think that Jesus of Nazareth is a mis-translation and does not refer to town at all, but to a Jewish messianic sect, the Nazarenes.

I discovered that too...but I have to ask myself when that came about as a reasoning...possibly to explain away the lack of proof of a hamlet called Nazareth?

.................

What we do know, is that the Jews never mentioned it in the Old Testament, nor in the writings of any Jewish historian of the time...nor is it listed in any ancient listing of towns in Galilee, nor is it mentioned by any non-Christian writing, of any kind, until the third Century.

[RickSp]

I discovered that too...but I have to ask myself when that came about as a reasoning...possibly to explain away the lack of proof of a hamlet called Nazareth?

.................

What we do know, is that the Jews never mentioned it in the Old Testament, nor in the writings of any Jewish historian of the time...nor is it listed in any ancient listing of towns in Galilee, nor is it mentioned by any non-Christian writing, of any kind, until the third Century.

The argument is that Jesus the Nazareen, a member of the Nazareen sect, was misunderstood as a geographic reference when the Bible was finalized around the third century. Jesus couldn't be from Nazareth because Nazareth didn't exist when Jesus was notionally alive.

[Diogenes]

The argument is that Jesus the Nazareen, a member of the Nazareen sect, was misunderstood as a geographic reference when the Bible was finalized around the third century. Jesus couldn't be from Nazareth because Nazareth didn't exist when Jesus was notionally alive.

Only, again, there is no evidence outside of Christian writings to suggest he was a Nazareen.

Jesus had a lot in common with the philosophy of the Essene sect...an almost perfect fit...with the exception that the Essenes were strong adherents to the Jewish Sabbath...Jesus, by contrast, opposed strict restriction to the Sabbath...that would make him not an Essene.

[Jack]

...with the exception that the Essenes were strong adherents to the Jewish Sabbath...Jesus, by contrast, opposed strict restriction to the Sabbath...that would make him not an Essene.

He still may have been one, providing he existed at all. We certainly see examples these days of those who disagree with their adopted church on matters of dogma. Look how many people identify as Catholics despite differing with mother church on a number of issues.

[Diogenes]

True Jack, but with one major difference...we can't compare 2000 years ago with today. Granted it's an assumption on my part but I don't think they were as liberal-minded as modern Catholics.

If he was an Essene, and he openly disagreed with what they believed, I doubt he would remain an Essene.

[Diogenes]

As for him existing...there's no reason to believe he didn't. We don't have to assume he didn't exist to dis-believe in the wild tales about him.

Of the thousands, if not 10's of thousands of charismatic rebels that have existed throughout history only a fraction of them are remembered, and those that are remembered are often exaggerated, and a few become legends...and a handful become gods.

All it takes is time.

It doesn't surprise me that, given time, and the proper motivation, that in our history some people, albeit very few, achieve super-legendary status. It was bound to happen...to someone.

You don't have to look any further than Hollywood to see how man can idolize and go ga-ga over someone whose only difference is that they have a better job that pays them a lot more money.

[Jack]

If he was an Essene, and he openly disagreed with what they believed, I doubt he would remain an Essene.

That was basically my point. Compare him to Martin Luther, then.