nazarene

3 definitions found

nazarene - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Nazarene \Naz`a*rene"\, prop. n. [L. Nazarenus, Gr. ?, fr. ?
     Nazareth.]
     1. A native or inhabitant of Nazareth; -- a term of contempt
        applied to Christ and the early Christians.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of Judaizing Christians in the
        first and second centuries, who observed the laws of
        Moses, and held to certain heresies.
        [1913 Webster]

nazarene - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Nazarene
      adj 1: of or relating to the Nazarenes or their religion
      2: of or relating to the town of Nazareth or its inhabitants
      n 1: a member of a group of Jews who (during the early history
           of the Christian Church) accepted Jesus as the Messiah;
           they accepted the Gospel According to Matthew but rejected
           the Epistles of St. Paul and continued to follow Jewish law
           and celebrate Jewish holidays; they were later declared
           heretic by the Church of Rome [syn: Nazarene, Ebionite]
      2: an early name for any Christian
      3: an inhabitant of Nazareth

nazarene - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary :

  Nazarene
  This epithet (Gr. Nazaraios) is applied to Christ only once
  (Matt. 2:23). In all other cases the word is rendered "of
  Nazareth" (Mark 1:24; 10:47; 14:67, etc.). When this Greek
  designation was at first applied to our Lord, it was meant
  simply to denote the place of his residence. In course of time
  the word became a term of reproach. Thus the word "Nazarene"
  carries with it an allusion to those prophecies which speak of
  Christ as "despised of men" (Isa. 53:3). Some, however, think
  that in this name there is an allusion to the Hebrew _netser_,
  which signifies a branch or sprout. It is so applied to the
  Messiah (Isa. 11:1), i.e., he whom the prophets called the
  _Netse_, the "Branch."
  
    The followers of Christ were called "the sect of Nazarenes"
  (Acts 24:5). All over Palestine and Syria this name is still
  given to Christians. (See NAZARETH.)