The original Gospel of the Nazarenes was written in Hebrew or Aramaic,
by the Torah-keeping followers of Yeshua, not Paul. These Hebrew believers used
the name "YESHUA" and maintained strict Torah observance.
Burning Hebrew Scrolls
By the 4th century, the Roman Church systematically destroyed
Hebrew manuscripts and Nazarene writings.
Banning Nazarene Writings
Hebrew texts were branded as heretical and banned from
official church use and preservation.
Forcing Greek Versions
Greek gospels with doctrines the Hebrew believers rejected
were forced into the official canon.
No original Hebrew/Aramaic manuscripts survive because of this systematic persecution.
📖 Key Surviving Fragments
📖 The only reason we know anything about this gospel is because enemies of the Nazarenes —
like Epiphanius and Jerome — quoted small pieces of it, often just to argue against it.
Matthew 6:11 – Prayer for the Kingdom's Bread
Our bread for tomorrow, give us this day.
Source: Jerome, Commentary on Matthew 6.11
Hebrew/Aramaic Connection:
This phrasing echoes the Hebrew idiom lechem machar (לחם מחר), meaning "bread of the age to come."
It reflects a Kingdom-focused mindset, not mere daily survival, aligning with Nazarene hope in YHWH's future reign.
Significance:
Emphasizes trust in YHWH's provision and eschatological promise, rooted in Hebrew thought.
Matthew 12:10 – Healing with Humility
I was a mason. I beg you, restore my strength, so I won't have to beg for food.
Source: Jerome, Commentary on Matthew 12.13
Hebrew/Aramaic Connection:
The focus on practical labor (masonry) and avoiding poverty reflects a grounded Hebrew cultural context,
emphasizing mercy and restoration over spectacle. Jerome cites this from the Nazarene Hebrew gospel.
Significance:
Shows Yeshua's compassion in a relatable, human framework, consistent with Torah values.
Matthew 7:5 – Obedience Over Proximity
If you are in my bosom but do not the will of My Father in heaven, I will cast you away.
Source: Haimo of Auxerre
Hebrew/Aramaic Connection:
This stresses strict obedience to YHWH's will, a hallmark of Torah-centric Hebrew theology,
rather than salvation through belief alone. The teaching aligns with Nazarene emphasis on doing YHWH's commandments.
Significance:
Rejects easy salvation, prioritizing action and fidelity to YHWH's law.
Matthew 27:51 – The Temple Lintel, Not the Curtain
The Temple lintel broke, not the curtain.
Source: Jerome and Jewish traditions (e.g., Talmud, Yoma 39b)
Hebrew/Aramaic Connection:
Unlike the Greek Matthew's symbolic veil-tearing, this fragment describes a physical breaking of the Temple lintel,
matching Jewish accounts of Temple portents (e.g., cracking doors). Jerome attributes this to the Nazarene Hebrew gospel.
Significance:
Grounds the event in historical and Jewish context, avoiding Greek theological symbolism.
No Virgin Birth – Yeshua as a Chosen Man
The Nazarenes taught Yeshua was born naturally, a man chosen by YHWH, not divinely conceived.
Source: Epiphanius, Panarion 30
Hebrew/Aramaic Connection:
This rejection of a virgin birth aligns with strict Hebrew monotheism, emphasizing Yeshua's humanity and prophetic role
over Greek-style divine conception myths. Epiphanius records this as core Nazarene belief.
Significance:
Affirms Yeshua as YHWH's servant, not a god, consistent with Torah.
The Hebrew Nazarenes vs. Greek "Christianity"
✅ Hebrew Nazarene Beliefs
Torah-observant and Sabbath-keeping
Viewed Yeshua as prophet and servant of YHWH
Rejected Paul's teachings completely
Spoke Hebrew or Aramaic
No virgin birth - natural human birth
Emphasized obedience to YHWH's will
Strict Hebrew monotheism
Focus on Torah and covenant obedience
❌ Greek "Christian" Beliefs
Abandoned Torah observance
Divine conception narratives
Trinity doctrine and Greek philosophy
Paul's letters as central authority
Virgin birth mythology
Salvation by belief alone
Hellenistic theological concepts
Roman imperial integration
Why It Matters
The Gospel of the Nazarenes offers a glimpse into the faith of Yeshua's earliest Hebrew followers,
who upheld Torah and Sabbath observance, saw Yeshua as a human prophet (not a god), rejected
Hellenistic ideas like the virgin birth or divinity of Yeshua, and focused on obedience to YHWH's will,
not salvation by belief alone.
These fragments make it a vital witness to the original Hebrew movement before Roman suppression.
The Nazarene gospel aligns with Torah, YHWH's voice, and a monotheistic view of Yeshua as a servant,
contrasting sharply with the Greek Gospels canonized by Rome.