Nazarene

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Nazarene. Term used in various senses.1 It is an epithet for Jesus, usually understood to mean ‘of Nazareth’ (e.g. Acts 10. 38), but its origin and meaning are obscure.2 ‘Nazarenes’ (or Heb., Noṣerim) appears as a Jewish term for Christians in early times.3 Jewish Christian groups called ‘Nazarenes’, perhaps related to the Ebionites, are mentioned by some 4th-cent. writers.4 The Mandeans are described as ‘Nasoreans’ in some of their early writings.

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