Our Canon

The canon we follow as Nazarenes is simple and pure.

We read and revere the same Scriptures that Yeshua the Nazarene and His disciples used—the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh.

Yeshua read the Hebrew Scriptures with a discerning and scrutinizing eye, as did the prophets before Him. Like Jeremiah, we recognize that there were later corruptions introduced by what he called “the pen of the lying scribes” (Jeremiah 8:8). These later insertions promoted violence, animal slaughter, and ritual sacrifice—concepts wholly inconsistent with the nature of an all-loving and compassionate God.

Therefore, while we honor the Hebrew Bible, we interpret it through the lens of Yeshua’s teachings and the spirit of the Way—the original path of peace, mercy, and truth.

The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh):

The Tanakh—the canon of Scripture used by Yeshua and His followers—consists of three parts:

(1) The Torah (The Law) — The Five Books of Moses.

(2) The Nevi’im (The Prophets) — The prophetic writings.

(3) The Ketuvim (The Writings) — The psalms, wisdom texts, and other inspired writings.

We read the Hebrew Bible as our primary canon, favoring manuscripts that preserve its earliest and most authentic form, such as those represented in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Nazarene Texts:

In addition to the Tanakh, we consult a series of ancient writings that illuminate the original faith and understanding of Yeshua and His earliest disciples. These texts, though largely suppressed or misunderstood by later church authorities, preserve gems that reflect the spiritual essence of the Way.

1. The Gospel According to the Hebrews

Known historically as the Gospel of the Hebrews, this text was used by the Nazarenes and Ebionites—the earliest Jewish followers of Yeshua.

It was an early Hebrew or Aramaic version of the Gospel of Matthew, but without the first two chapters. Those chapters—the story of the virgin birth—were later additions.

Because the original Gospel of the Hebrews has been lost, we read the Gospel of Matthew while omitting its first two chapters, aligning ourselves with the earliest followers’ canon.

2. The Gospel of Thomas

The Gospel of Thomas preserves a collection of Yeshua’s sayings and parables—teachings that resonate deeply with Nazarene theology.

It perhaps originated in Syriac or Aramaic and may have drawn from an early collection of sayings used within the Jerusalem Church.

Though some later labeled it “Gnostic,” this is a misnomer; the text itself contains no Gnostic doctrines. Instead, it reflects the wisdom tradition of Yeshua’s earliest followers.

A key verse from the Gospel of Thomas highlights the authority of James the Just, the brother of Yeshua:

“The disciples said to Jesus, ‘We know that you will depart from us. Who is to be great over us?’

Jesus said to them, ‘Wherever you are, you are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being.’” (Gospel of Thomas, Saying 12)

This passage alone demonstrates that the Gospel of Thomas preserves authentic Nazarene lineage and teaching.

3. The Epistle of James

Found within the canonical New Testament, the Epistle of James stands as one of the most authentically Nazarene writings preserved by later Christianity.

It upholds action over faith, discipline over doctrine, and wisdom over belief.

It remains a cornerstone of Nazarene study and practice.

4. The Epistle of Jude

Also preserved within the New Testament, the Book of Jude was written by another brother of Yeshua.

It rebukes false teachers who pervert grace into license and warns against those who distort the original Way.

Its inclusion in our canon connects directly to the Nazarene lineage of James and Jude.

5. The Pseudo-Clementine Homilies and Recognitions

The Pseudo-Clementine literature—comprising the Homilies and Recognitions—is among the most valuable surviving sources of early Nazarene and Ebionite thought.

It presents a portrait of Yeshua’s disciples, particularly James the Just, preserving traditions derived from the original Jerusalem Church.

Even where later editors added material, these texts retain the core theology of the Nazarenes: one God, ethical living, and the rejection of Pauline distortions.

6. The Didache (“The Teaching”)

The Didache—meaning “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles”—is an early Nazarene manual outlining the Two Ways: the Way of Life and the Way of Death.

It details community conduct, the Eucharist, baptism, fasting, and prayer.

It is a direct reflection of the practices Yeshua’s original disciples passed down.

7. The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch)

The Book of Enoch, preserved in the Ethiopian Bible, was a revered text among first-century Jews and early followers of Yeshua.

It was quoted extensively by both Jude (Jude 1:14–15) and early Nazarene teachers, indicating that it formed part of their spiritual canon.

Enoch’s visions of divine justice and heavenly order reflect the mystical worldview of Yeshua and His earliest followers.

Scholarly Approach to All Texts

We study all Scripture—canonical, apocryphal, or non-canonical—with a scholarly and discerning eye, using the disciplines of hermeneutics, exegesis, and textual criticism.

We recognize that truth can be veiled by centuries of editing, translation, and theological bias. Our task is to recover the pure teachings of Yeshua the Nazarene—the original faith of the Jerusalem Church.