The Origins of Christianity in the Calendar Wars of the Second Century BCE

In the Gospels Jesus is called a ‘Nazarene’ or ‘Nazoraean’. Does this mean he came from Nazareth? Basing himself on Lidzbarski’s analysis of the Hebrew/Aramaic origins of the Greek terms Nazarênos and Nazôraios Dr Osborne proposes that these epithets indicate that Jesus was a nôṣrî, a ‘(Strict) Keeper/Guardian (of the Law)’. This meant he was a follower of the 364-day liturgical calendar known to us from 1 Enoch, Jubilees, and Qumran. An examination of the passages where these terms appear shows that this hypothesis leads to a deeper understanding of the circumstances in which the first Christian communities arose and clarifies greatly the background of Jesus’ crucifixion as Yēšû ha-Nôṣrî.

The book then traces the influence of the nôṣrîm on the history of Israel from their origin in the ‘calendar wars’ that tore apart the Jewish nation from 172-163 BCE. These broke out after the lunisolar calendar was introduced into the temple liturgy by Menelaus the high priest, and only came to an end when the 364-day calendar was reintroduced under his successor, Alcimus. In 151 BCE, however, Jonathan Maccabaeus was appointed high priest and reintroduced the lunisolar calendar. The nôṣrîm were suppressed and forced to emigrate or go underground. They reappear as leaders of Jewish resistance to Roman occupation after Pompey incorporated Judaea into the empire in 63 BCE. Eventually they became the chief instigators of the revolt against Rome that led to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Osborne argues that the nôṣrîm thought to have been included in the Twelfth Benediction of the Amidah at Yavneh around 90 CE are these same ‘(Strict) Keepers/Guardians (of the Law)’.

General Introduction and Summary

Part One

Chapter 1. Introduction: Jesus the Nazarene and Nazoraean

Chapter 2. The Meaning of Nazoraean and Nazarene in the New Testament

Chapter 3. Jesus as a ‘Notsri’ in the Gospels

Chapter 4. The Nazoraeans in Acts

Chapter 5. Conclusion: The Nazarenes and Nazoraeans are Notsrim, ‘Keepers (of the Law)’

Part Two

Chapter 6. Introduction: The Two Calendars and their Characteristics

Chapter 7. Onias III (185? – 175 BCE)

Chapter 8. Jason (175-172 BCE)

Chapter 9. Menelaus (172-163 BCE)

Chapter 10. Alcimus (163-159 BCE)

Chapter 11. The Unnamed High Priest (159-151 BCE)

Chapter 12. Jonathan Maccabeus (152-142 BCE)

Chapter 13. The Story that Could Not Be Told

Part Three

Chapter 14.  Introduction

Chapter 15. The Hasidim as Notsrim

Chapter 16. The ‘Fourth Philosophy’ and the Sicarii

Chapter 17. The Fourth Philosophy and the Notsrim

Chapter 18. Summary and Conclusions

Part Four

Chapter 19. Introduction

Chapter 20. The Notsrim Live on in the Liturgy of the Synagogue

Chapter 21. The Birkat ha-mînîm in Christian Sources

Abbreviations for Editions of Biblical and Non-Biblical Texts, Works of Reference, and Journals

Bibliography