Difference between revisions of "Nazaraeans"

 

Nazaraeans <ref name="term_52402" />

<p> is the name of a [[Jewish]] sect mentioned by [[Epiphanius]] (Haer. 18). The name is probably derived from netsir, a branch (Epiphanius also writes it Nasarceans and Nassaraians), and, if we are right in identifying this sect with the Genistse (q.v.), signifies a branch of the true stock. The sect aimed at a patriarchal religion in place of a [[Mosaic]] Judaism. They canonized the patriarchs, andt did not exclude Moses and Joshua from that society. They allowed that a law was given to Moses, but asserted that this law was lost, and that the [[Pentateuch]] is corrupt or supposititious. They practiced circumcision, kept the [[Sabbath]] and the Jewish festivals, rejected the sacrifice of animals, and ate no flesh. It follows from this that they rejected the history of [[Genesis]] as well as the laws of Moses; but whether they professed to found their doctrine on tradition or on a new revelation is not told. They were found in Galaaditis, Basanitis, and other parts beyond Jordan. (See [[Nazarenes]]). </p>

 

== References ==