Jesus the Nazarene in Early Christian Writings

Acts 2:22 Direct teaching

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Luke 24:19 Direct teaching

And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

Acts 10:38 Direct teaching

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Tertullian, On Modesty Supporting witness

you see what (key): Men of Israel, let what I say sink into your ears: Jesus the Nazarene, a man destined by God for you, and so forth.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

Matthew 21:11 And the multitudes said, This is Jesus, the prophet that is from Nazareth 44 of Galilee.

Matthew 21:11 Direct teaching

And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

John 1:45 Direct teaching

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Acts 22:8 Direct teaching

And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

John 18:5 Direct teaching

They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

When Jesus went out of Jericho with his disciples, a large crowd followed him. There was a blind man sitting by the roadside, begging. His name was Timaeus, the son of Timaeus. He heard the sound of the crowd passing by and asked, "Who is this?" They said to him, "Jesus the Nazarene is passing by." When he heard that it was Jesus, he cried out in a loud voice and said, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Those who were going before Jesus rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he cried out even more and said, "Son of David, have mercy on me." Jesus stopped and commanded them to call him. They called the blind man and said to him, "Take courage and get up. Look, he is calling you." The blind man threw away his garment, stood up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My Lord and Master, that my eyes may be opened, so that I may see you." Jesus had compassion on him, touched his eyes, and said to him, "See, for your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight, followed him, and praised God. And all the people who saw it praised God.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

John 18:15: Simon Cephas and another disciple followed Jesus. The chief priest knew that disciple, and he went in with Jesus into the courtyard. John 18:16: But Simon stood outside at the door. Then that other disciple, whom the chief priest knew, went out and spoke to the woman keeping the door, and she brought Simon in. John 18:17a: When the servant girl who kept the door saw Simon, she looked closely at him and said, “Are you not also one of this man’s disciples, I mean Jesus the Nazarene?” But he denied it and said, “Woman, I do not know Him, and I do not even know what you are saying.” John 18:18a: The servants and the soldiers stood there and made a fire in the middle of the courtyard so that they might warm themselves, because it was cold. Luke 22:55a: And when the fire was burning, they sat down around it. Simon also came and sat down with them to warm himself, so that he might see the outcome of what would happen.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

They answered, 31 Jesus the Nazarene. John 18:8 Jesus said to them, I told you that I am he: and if you seek 32 me, let these go away: that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, John 18:9 Of those 33 [Arabic, p.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

Luke 18:37 They said to him, Jesus the Nazarene 29 passes by.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

On the next day, Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Simon. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about him. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Is it possible that any good thing can come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and said about him, “This is truly a son of Israel in whom there is no deceit.” Nathanael said to him, “From where do you know me?” Jesus said to him, “Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to him, “My Master, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree’? You will see things greater than this.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, from now on you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

and they said again, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I told you I am He;

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

Here is the passage rewritten in modern English: “This is what I mean. Jesus (Joshua), as I have frequently mentioned, who was called Oshea when he was sent to spy out the land of Canaan, was renamed by Moses as Jesus (Joshua). You neither ask why this was done nor do you seem puzzled about it or inquire deeply. Thus, you overlook Christ; and even though you read, you do not understand; and even now, though you hear that Jesus is our Christ, you don't realize that the name was given to Him not without purpose or by accident. Yet you engage in theological discussions as to why one letter was added to Abraham’s first name; and regarding why another letter was added to Sarah’s name, you have similar elaborate debates. But why don’t you similarly investigate the reason why the name of Oshea the son of Nave (Nun), given by his father, was changed to Jesus (Joshua)? Not only was his name changed, but he was also appointed as Moses' successor, being the only one among his peers who came out of Egypt, leading the survivors into the Holy Land; and as he, not Moses, led the people into the Holy Land and distributed it by lot to those who entered with him, in the same way, Jesus the Christ wi

Matthew 2:23 Direct teaching

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

But to Christ the title Nazarene was destined to become a suitable one, from the hiding-place of His infancy, for which He went down and dwelt at Nazareth, to escape from Archelaus the son of Herod.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

The Christ of the Creator had to be called a Nazarene according to prophecy;

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Background

...is disciples follow Him.” Mark 6:1. Therefore we must ask whether, by the phrase “His own country,” Nazareth is meant or Bethlehem—Nazareth, because of the saying, “He shall be called a Nazarene,” Matthew 2:23, or Bethlehem, since He was born there. And I further consider whether the Evangelists could have said, “coming to Bethlehem,” or, “coming to Nazareth.” They did not do so, but called it His country because something is being declared in a mystical sense in the passage about His country—namely, the whole of Judea, in which He was dishonored according to the saying, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country.” Matthew 13:57. And if anyone thinks of Jesus Christ, “a stumbling-block to the Jews,” 1 Corinthians 1:23, among whom He is persecuted even until now, but proclaimed among the Gentiles and believed in—for His word has gone through the whole world—he will see that in His own country Jesus had no honor, but among those who were strangers to the covenants, Ephesians 2:12, that is, the Gentiles, He is held in honor. But the Evangelists have not recorded what things He taught and said in their synagogue. They recorded only that these things were so great and

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Background

But I now say, that as [Scripture] said that the Son of Nave (Nun) by the name Jesus (Joshua) wrought powerful works and exploits which proclaimed beforehand what would be performed by our Lord;

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

For he remembered how that the prophet had prophesied of the Holy One of God, and how that God's name of Jesus was in the son of Nun.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

Moreover, I do also admit that the name of Jesus, by which the the son of Nave (Nun) was called, has inclined me very strongly to adopt this view.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

For that Jesus represented Christ: for when he was at first called Auses, Moses, foreseeing the future, ordered that he should be called Jesus;

Methodius, Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Background

IV. Therefore the prophet brought the virgin from Nazareth, so that she might give birth in Bethlehem to her child who brings salvation, and brought her back again to Nazareth, so that the hope of life might be made known to the world. For this reason the ark of God moved from the inn at Bethlehem. For there He paid to the law that debt of the forty days, due not to justice but to grace, and rested on the mountains of Zion. There, receiving into her pure bosom, as on a lofty throne and one beyond the nature of man, the Monarch of all, she presented Him there to God the Father as the joint-partner of His throne and inseparable from His nature, together with that pure and undefiled flesh which He had assumed from her substance. The holy mother goes up to the temple to show to the law a new and strange wonder, that child long expected, who opened the virgin's womb and yet did not break the barriers of virginity; that child who was above the law and yet fulfilled the law; that child who was at once before the law and yet after it; that child, in short, who was incarnate from her beyond the law of nature. For in other cases, every womb is first opened by union with a man and, being made

John 19:19 Direct teaching

Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Acts 2:36 Direct teaching

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

Peter said, “Men of Israel, listen to my words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man confirmed by God among you through powers, wonders, and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know: Him, delivered by the determined plan and foreknowledge of God, you have killed by the hands of wicked men, affixing [to the cross]: whom God raised up, freeing Him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by them. For David speaks concerning Him, ‘I foresaw the Lord always before me; for He is at my right hand, so that I might not be shaken: therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover, my flesh will rest in hope: because You will not leave my soul in hell, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’” Then he goes on to speak confidently to them about the patriarch David, that he was dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with them to this day. He said, “But since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn an oath to him, that one of his descendants would sit on his throne; foreseeing this, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that He was not left in hell, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus,” he said, “God has rais

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

Matthew 27:37 And there was written upon it thus: This is Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the 32 Jews.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you by powers, and wonders, and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, by the hands of wicked men ye have slain, affixing [to the cross]: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death;

Hippolytus, Against the Heresy of Noetus Supporting witness

This is Jesus of Nazareth, who was invited to the marriage-feast in Cana, and turned the water into wine, and rebuked the sea when agitated by the violence of the winds, and walked on the deep as on dry land, and caused the blind man from birth to see, and raised Lazarus to life after he had been dead four days, and did many mighty works, and forgave sins, and conferred power on the disciples, and had blood and water flowing from His sacred side when pierced with the spear.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

...in this way: "No one, truly, will ever be able to prove himself mightier than the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nor is any name found equal to His, as it is written: 'Therefore God has exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name.' Nor, again, can anyone ever be equal to Him in the matter of testimony. And so I will simply bring forward the testimonies of His own voice in answer to you. "First of all, I do this in order to solve those difficulties you have stated, so that you may not say, as you are used to doing, that these are matters not in harmony with the Person Himself. Now, you maintain that the man who brought the word to Jesus about His mother and His brothers was rebuked by Him, as if he were in error, just as the writer was in error. Well, I affirm that neither was this man rebuked, who brought Him the message about His mother and His brothers, nor was Peter only named blessed above him. Rather, each of these two parties received from Him the answer properly called forth by their several words, as the discussion that follows will show. "When one is a child, he thinks as a child, and speaks as a child. But when he becomes a mature man, those things pro

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

Our teacher of these things is Jesus Christ, who also was born for this purpose, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judæa, in the times of Tiberius Cæsar;

Hippolytus, Against the Jews Supporting witness

Many a time do you boast yourself, in that you condemned Jesus of Nazareth to death, and gave Him vinegar and gall to drink;

Tertullian, Against Praxeas Supporting witness

...per name than Clothed or Shod. It is only something added to a name. Suppose now that by some means Jesus were also called Vestitus, that is, Clothed, just as He is in fact called Christ from the mystery of His anointing. Would you in the same way say that Jesus was the Son of God, and at the same time think that Vestitus was the Father? Now then, concerning Christ, if Christ is the Father, the Father is an Anointed One, and of course receives the anointing from another. But if He receives it from Himself, then you must prove that to us. But we learn no such thing from the Acts of the Apostles, in that cry of the church to God: "Truly, Lord, against Your holy child Jesus, whom You have anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together." Acts 4:27 These words testify both that Jesus was the Son of God, and that, being the Son, He was anointed by the Father. Christ therefore must be the same as Jesus who was anointed by the Father, and not the Father, who anointed the Son. To the same effect are the words of Peter: "Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both L

Hippolytus, Against the Heresy of Noetus Supporting witness

For His sake the sun is darkened, the day has no light, the rocks are shattered, the veil is rent, the foundations of the earth are shaken, the graves are opened, and the dead are raised, and the rulers are ashamed when they see the Director of the universe upon the cross closing His eye and giving up the ghost.

Acts 4:10 Supporting witness

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Acts 17:3 Direct teaching

Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

...arvelous things. For it is true that not all people show themselves worthy of belief, and not all clearly show that they are telling people nothing but fictions and fables. Moreover, about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we say this: it is not at all surprising if, on such an occasion, one or two angels appeared to announce that Jesus had risen from the dead, and to provide for the safety of those who believed in this event, to the advantage of their souls. Nor does it seem at all unreasonable to me that those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus, and who show, as a fruit of their faith that should not be lightly valued, that they possess a virtuous life and have turned away from the flood of evils, should not be unattended by angels who lend their help in accomplishing their conversion to God.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

...essage that was spread throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism John preached—Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him. We are witnesses of everything He did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they killed, hanging Him on a beam of wood. God raised Him on the third day and showed Him openly; not to all the people, but to us, witnesses chosen by God, who ate and drank with Him after His resurrection. He commanded us to preach to the people and testify that He is the one ordained by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. To Him, all the prophets bear witness, that through His name, everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." The apostles preached the Son of God, whom people were unaware of, and His coming to those already instructed about God. They did not introduce another god. If Peter had known such a thing, he would have preached to the Gentiles that the God of the Jews was one but the God of the Christians was another. And everyone, amazed by the vision of the angel, would have believed wh

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness

...ht at once to begin their festival joy and gladness. But in what you wrote to me, you showed very clearly, and with an intelligent understanding of the Holy Scriptures, that they do not seem to give any exact statement of the hour when He rose. For the Evangelists describe differently the people who came one after another to the tomb, and all declare that they found the Lord already risen. Matthew says it was at the end of the Sabbath. John writes that it was early, while it was still dark. Luke says it was very early in the morning. Mark tells us it was very early in the morning, at the rising of the sun. So no one has shown us clearly the exact time when He rose. It is admitted, however, that those who came to the tomb at the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, found that He was no longer lying in it. And let us not suppose that the Evangelists disagree or contradict one another. Even if there seems to be some small difficulty in the matter we are asking about, they all agree that the Light of the world, our Lord, rose on that one night, though they differ about the hour. So we may rightly try, with a wise and faithful mind, to bring their

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

because His death had so offended them that they thought that He had not risen again, who they had believed ought not to have died, because contrary to their belief He had died once.

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness

For that our Lord was born, and that He was the Christ, appeared by many reasons to be believed, not unjustly, by His disciples, because He had been born of the tribe of Judah, of the family of David, and in the city of Bethlehem;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and Herod, and died, and rose again from the dead, and will come again at the end of the world with power and great glory, and will raise the dead, and put an end to this world, and distribute to every one according to his deserts: to Him that has given us Himself for an earnest of the resurrection;

Polycarp, Connection to Acts 17:3 Supporting witness

who for our sins suffered even unto death, but whom God raised from the dead.