Resources

As you begin to understand the original religion of Jesus the Nazarene and embark upon your own quest of following the Nazarene Way, the following books, documentaries, and podcasts will serve as invaluable companions on your journey.

Each resource listed below offers a unique window into the faith, history, and wisdom of the earliest followers of Yeshua the Nazarene—those who walked “the Way.”

Books Worth Studying:

1. The History of Jewish Christianity — Hugh J. Schonfeld

Hugh J. Schonfeld, best known for his controversial bestseller The Passover Plot, was one of the twentieth century’s most insightful biblical historians.

The History of Jewish Christianity traces the rise, evolution, and suppression of the original Nazarene movement—from its earliest days through modern history.

Schonfeld is often overlooked as a scholar, but this book remains one of the best introductions to understanding how the Nazarenes—the true followers of Jesus—were gradually written out of church history.

Fun fact: When John Lennon famously said, “We’re more popular than Jesus,” he had been reading Schonfeld’s The Passover Plot.

2. Nazarene Jewish Christianity — Ray A. Pritz

Originally written as an academic dissertation, this book offers a rigorous, scholarly treatment of the Nazarenes and Ebionites.

Pritz examines early patristic sources—such as Jerome—and maps how later church historians misunderstood or misrepresented these early Jewish believers.

While some of Pritz’s conclusions (for example, that the Nazarenes accepted the virgin birth) arise from Jerome’s errors, the work remains essential reading for the academically minded seeker.

It is an outstanding next step after Schonfeld’s book for anyone who wants to explore the historical and textual foundations of the Nazarene Way.

3. The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity — James D. Tabor

Dr. James Tabor’s writing combines deep scholarship with engaging storytelling. This book reconstructs the real family of Jesus—James, Mary, and Joseph—and traces how the movement they led evolved into something far removed from its roots.

It reads like a gripping historical narrative and offers an illuminating portrait of Jesus the man, the teacher, and the leader of a royal Davidic line.

4. James the Brother of Jesus: The Key to Unlocking the Secrets of Early Christianity and the Dead Sea Scrolls — Robert Eisenman

A monumental work—over a thousand pages—by one of the most respected Dead Sea Scrolls scholars of our time.

Eisenman painstakingly unpacks every historical, linguistic, and political thread surrounding James the Just, the brother of Jesus.

This is a deep dive—a master’s- or PhD-level study—that reveals how James stood at the center of the original Jerusalem Church and how his legacy was gradually overshadowed by the theology of Paul.

5. Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth — Reza Aslan

Brilliantly written and accessible, Zealot reads almost like a novel.

Aslan paints a vivid picture of first-century Palestine and the turbulent world in which Jesus lived and taught.

While Aslan argues that Jesus was aligned with the Zealot movement, his portrait of the historical Yeshua provides rich cultural and political context for understanding why Jesus’s Nazarene message stood apart—a call not to revolution by the sword, but to transformation through righteousness.

6. The Lost Religion of Jesus: Simple Living and Nonviolence in Early Christianity — Keith Akers

This book is a beautiful synthesis of history, ethics, and spirit.

Akers demonstrates that the earliest followers of Jesus practiced simple living, vegetarianism, and radical nonviolence—a lifestyle in harmony with both Torah and compassion.

If you read only one book from this list, let it be this one. It captures the essence of the Nazarene Way more completely than any other modern work.

A Must-Watch Documentary:

Christspiracy — Created, written, and directed by Kameron Waters and Kip Andersen

Christspiracy is a groundbreaking documentary exploring the hidden connection between faith and compassion.

Filmmaker Kam Waters—a friend and fellow Nazarene—is on a mission to expose how animal sacrifice and meat consumption were later corruptions of God’s true will.

Christspiracy challenges viewers to rediscover the original nonviolent message of Yeshua and the Nazarenes.

Podcasts & Channels:

The Jesus Way Podcast — with Aaron Abke and James Benefico

Hosted by two modern disciples of the Way, this podcast brings deep spiritual truths to a contemporary audience. It combines scholarship, heart, and accessible dialogue—making the message of Yeshua alive again for a new generation.

The Ebionite Mystic YouTube Channel — with Chris Sartain

Chris Sartain is a passionate teacher and modern Nazarene devoted to restoring the original message of Jesus.

His Ebionite Mystic channel offers profound insights, teachings, and reflections drawn directly from the early Nazarene and Ebionite tradition.

David H'Notsari YouTube Channel

Another YouTube channel I highly recommend is the work of David H'Notsari. He is a fellow Nazarene and an independent scholar whose research is both deep and eclectic. His videos cover a remarkably wide range of topics, each explored with insight and rigor. You will learn a tremendous amount from his work.

In Summary:

These resources—books, documentaries, and podcasts—form a roadmap for rediscovering the original faith of Jesus the Nazarene.

Study them. Question deeply. Read with the same discerning eye Yeshua Himself read with. And, above all, walk in the Way.