Bible Question:
What was the significance of Jesus being called a "Nazarene" Matthew 2:23 |
Bible Answer: Greetings, dltlshines; I am taking a short (three classes) study of the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke. The instructor is Dr. Marion Soards who is Professor of New Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Among many insights he has provided is Matthew's understanding of what it means to "fulfill prophecy". I have always thought of fulfillment as simply an example of an event that had previously been foretold actually taking place. But Dr. Soards pointed out that some of the prophesies that Matthew says were fulfilled were not of that kind. Rather, "fulfillment" means that the prophecy was made perfect. For example, in 1:22-23, Matthew refers to Isaiah's prophecy (7:14) of a virgin giving birth. This is not a Messianic prophecy; the virgin birth that Isaiah referred to in this passage is to be a sign to King Ahaz, to be witnessed in his lifetime. Matthew's purpose, according to Dr. Soards, is say that the birth of Jesus is another example of that prophecy coming to pass. But it is not just another example; it is the most perfect possible example. He told us that the word Nazarene is not the proper form to refer to a person from Nazareth. And besides, Jesus' city of birth and his ancestral city was Bethlehem, not Nazareth. "Nazarene" is a word that refers both to Nazareth and to the Old Testament Nazirite - one totally devoted to God (Samson, for example). Jesus is the perfection of that idea, of one totally devoted to God. Made sense to me. I hope it helps you too. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |