chapter two
According to this quotation, the Nazarenes fully accepted Paul’s mis-
sion to the Gentiles. Thus, their stance was totally different from the
Ebionites and from the Jewish-Christianity of thePseudo-Clementines.^85
Even though it might be possible to interpret the clause “were freed
from the errors of the Scribes and the Pharisees” so that only the rab-
binic tradition was dismissed by Christ, in the following sentence the
“heavy yoke of Jewish traditions” (grauissimum traditionum Iudaicarum
iugum) is discarded altogether. Notably, the image of the “yoke”—which
in Judaism is often connected to covenant loyalty in general—cannot
be found in those verses of Isaiah that the passage paraphrases (Isa
:, :). It is deliberately brought into the exposition in order to make
it clear that Jesus’ preaching did not comply with the “Jewish tradi-
tions.”
The Nazarenes’ Interpretation of Isa :–: Idol Worship
The total rejection of Jewish traditions can also be seen in the following
passage which equates the following of the traditions with a nation’s
worship of idols:
For the rest the Nazarenes explain the passage [Isaiah :–] in this way:
When the Scribes and the Pharisees tell you to listen to them, men who do
everything for the love of the belly and who hiss during their incantations
in the way of the magicians in order to deceive you, you must answer them
like this. It is no wonder if you follow your traditions since every nation
consults its own idols. We must not, therefore, consult your dead about the
living ones. On the contrary God has given us the Law and the testimonies
of the scriptures. If you are not willing to follow them you shall not have
light, and darkness will always oppress you.
(Comm. Isa. .–; trans. Klijn & Reinink ).The last passage that Jerome quotes also targets the Israelites as whole,
not just the Scribes and the Pharisees as their leaders:^86
The Nazarenes understand this passage [Isaiah :–] in this way: O sons
of Israel who deny the Son of God with the most vicious opinion, turn
to him and his apostles. For if you will do this, you will reject all idols
which to you were a cause of sin in the past and the devil will fall before
you, not because of your powers, but because of the compassion of God.
And his young men who a certain time earlier fought for him, will be the(^85) Cf. Häkkinen and Jones .
(^86) Klijn , – thinks that the Nazarenes’ exposition only attacks the Jewish
leaders but it is hard to find such a distinction in the texts.