Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #532517 in Books
• Published on: 1997-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 266 pages

Customer Reviews

how sad
When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued, since I was aware of the Ebionites, a Palestinian Jewish sect in the second-century that had their own written gospel, were vegetarians, and followed the Torah (Jewish Law). The question of the rabbinic context of Jesus' teachings has been a source of interest for me as of late (for those interesed, see Lachs' _A Rabbinic Commentary on the New Testament_).

Unfortunately, this is not a "rediscovery" of this text or the equally obscure "Gospel of the Hebrews" but a compilation of the authors' (who are these people, anyway?) favorite quotes from already existing canonical and noncanonical Christian texts. Most of what's in here I have read in other noncanonical texts, like the Gospel of Thomas (an admittedly early text). The unfortunate reviewers below, however, are largely unaware of these facts, and think this is an authentic "translation" or "restoration."

Given that this is allegedly the "original" Gospel, the result of the "reconstruction" is to produce a surpisingly NON-JEWISH Jesus. Most striking is the inclusion of Gnostic, in this case dualistic theology (two becoming one), which is decidedly GREEK and not JEWISH, and the exclusion of everything that make Jesus a believeable JEWISH rabbi (e.g. discussion of sin). Ironically, people who love this book love just those de-Judaizing elements. They speak of the evil "Church" theology but the specific things they attack are actually JEWISH theology. You could even say it's subtle anti-Semitism.

There are some amusing and obviously modern additions by the "editors," too, e.g. the excessively inclusive language. We hear not only about the "Son" (a reference to the "Son of Man" in the JEWISH book of Daniel) but also the "Daughter," not only to the Father but to the Mother (but not as Holy Spirit, as in Gnosticism!).

The funny thing about this sort of thing is that someone "finds" a "very old manuscript" which they somehow manage to date, despite having no training in papyrology, and to translate, despite not knowing the language, and then, somehow, manage to lose the original manuscript! Oops! And surprise surprise, this "new text" agrees with everything we believe now!

This book, let is be said again, is not a translation of an Aramaic text. Surely critical biblical scholarship, papyrologists, and archaeologists would have known about this find. But this book is nowhere mentioned in the literature on this subject. The only conclusion a reasonable observer can come to is that this alleged "Gospel of the Nazirenes" is simply an excursus through canonical and noncanonical texts available to us now, altered here and there to soften Jesus into just what many twentieth-century Americans want: a New Age Christ (and it is in fact popular among New Agers). Isn't is a little unlikely that Jesus would have espoused views completely consonant with today's values, much less that he would have broken with his Jewish heritage so radically and embraced tenets of religious Platonism and modern New Age ideas? Or that these distinguished "translators" would have, perhaps from pure obscurantism, rendered this valuable text in ELIZABETHAN ENGLISH?

In their ignorance and prejudice against Jesus' rabbinical teachings (this is supposed to be a JEWISH gospel, after all), these "translators" have largely excised the "real" Jesus. How sad that seekers like the previous reviewers have been so badly misled by it.

The Truth and the Gospel
Once you read this, you will know in your heart that this is the true story of the perfect life of Jesus Christ. Gospel of the Nazirenes devotes a large chunk of the book to painstaking documentation of the authenticity of these ancient texts, which pre-date the biblical New Testament. Learn to love the real Jesus. He was a gentle and compassionate soul, with great love for all living creatures. The Truth is here, finally coming to light just as Jesus predicted in these ancient texts. It is already well-documented that the biblical New Testament was heavily edited, and changed for political reasons! If you are familiar with the bible text, as I am, you will be fascinated to spot where texts were ommitted, or in other cases actually added to the telling of the Gospel in the New Testament! These TWISTED Truths will no longer have power over your life once you read this earlier, purer Gospel. Wouldn't you be fascinated to know that Jesus was really a vegetarian, or that as a child flowers would spring up in places where he walked, or that he really fed the masses with bread and fruit, not loaves and fishes. Learn about the Light Workers who accompanied the 12 Disciples. These ancient texts depict a Jesus who was New Age before the New Age. How can we explain that? Perhaps it is time to open our minds and hear the message Jesus really gave us. In my heart I have loved Jesus. Now, my heart is full to bursting with love for this beautiful person who so loved the world.

Fantastic book!
This is a truly beautiful rendition of the Gospels. Havn't you ever wondered how much of the Gospels was a re-telling to suit the needs of a particular age or political agenda? Well here is a gospel that presents a truly peaceful and non-violent Jesus. One who loved animals as well as humans. It's the Jesus you always knew was really there.