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Notzrim
The name non-believing Jews gave to Jewish believers (In Jesus the Messiah) was "Notzrim" (singular Notzri) or "Natzratim" ("Nazarenes"), that is, followers of the man from Natzeret ("Nazareth"), the town where Jesus lived most of his life. So they designated Jesus' followers by what they supposed was their leader's name: "For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes who also had gone about profaning the temple" (Acts 24:5-6). The Talmud refers to Jesus as Yeshu HaNotzri "Jesus from Natzeret" (B'rakhot 17b, Sotah 47a). In all likelihood the term "Notzrim" was deprecatory; but in time Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus learned to bear proudly the name that began as an epithet ("Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this account" 1 Peter 4:16). The word in modern Hebrew for 'Christians' remains "Notzrim". |