Baptists/Nazarite

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Expert: - 12/12/2007


Question
Is the Nazarite Vow significant during the New Testament Age and today's age?  Were there any Nazarites in the New Testament?  Was Jesus a Nazarite?

Answer
Hi Gill,

    Yours is a good question.  The Nazarite vow was a special vow made by a Jew in the Old Testament period of dedication to God (Num. 6:2-21; Judges 13:5,7; 16:17; Luke 1:15).   The characteristics of the Nazarite vow:

     This vow was voluntary and could be made by any true Israelite. (Num. 6:2). The one making the vow was not to drink wine and strong drink or alcoholic beverage, or the fruit of the vine.  The Nazarite was not to cut his hair during the period of his vow.  At the end of the period of the vow, the Nazarite was to shave his head at the door of the Tabernacle and burn the hair as peace offering.(Num. 6:18) He was not to touch the dead.  

    It was a vow both men and women could make (Num. 6:2).   The vow was one of total consecration and separation (Num. 6:2,5-8). Dedication to God was to be above all other relationships (Num. 6:7).

     Though the Nazarite was ordinarily a vow voluntarily taken, there were examples of men ordained of God to be Nazarites (Amos 2:11): Samson (Judges 13:5); Samuel (1 Sam. 1:11); John the Baptist (Luke 1:15).

      This was a special vow in Old Testament times for Jews only. In the New Testament Epistles, which were written to the Christians,  there is no mention of a Nazarite vow.    The word "Nazarite" means a person separated from some special service, for a period of time.   There is no notice in the Pentateuch, which gave the Law to Israel, of Nazarites for all their life.  The Law did give regulations for the vow of a Nazarite during the period of the vow.

    Jesus was not a Nararite, but rather a Nararene, being from the town of Nazareth.

    Hope this helps. Thanks for your question.  Christians are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be guided all their lives by the Lord. (Eph. 5:18)  Therefore Christians need not make a vow, but rather at to live a godly life in God's will.
Cooper Abrams
Romans 12:1-2
http://bible-truth.org  

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Cooper P. Abrams III

Expertise

Independent Fundamental Baptist missionary and pastor, ThB, MBS. I began pastoring in 1981, and have taught in churches, a Bible college, and a Bible Institute. I have written numerous articles on various subjects from a biblical perspective and many are posted on my web site Bible Truth ( http://www.bible-truth.org ). Bible Truth receives over sixty thousand visits per month. Since 1998 I have answered Bible related questions via e-mail. My answers are straight forward and biblical. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE -----DO NOT ASK A QUESTION AND THEN NOT READ THE ANSWER! ABOUT FOUR IN TEN QUESTIONS ASKED ARE NEVER READ. I FREELY GIVE MY TIME TO GIVE HELPFUL ANSWERS. OFTEN THE ANSWER WILL REQUIRE AS MUCH AS A HOUR OR MORE TO RESEARCH AND THEN TO FORMULATE THE REPLY. IF YOU SEND A QUESTION PLEASE BE THOUGHTFUL ENOUGH TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT. MOST PEOPLE DO...BUT ALL SHOULD. THANKS

Experience

I have been a pastor since 1981 and a Independent Baptist missionary church planter since 1986. I have seen the Lord establish four Bible believing churches in Utah. My web site Bible Truth ( http:\\bible-truth.org ) continues to grow presently over 60,000 visits per month. The materials on the web site are mostly written by myself and contain sermons, Bible commentaries, articles on various biblical subjects.

Publications
- Appeared on Grizzly Adams DVD documentary "End Times: How Close Are We?" (http://www.grizzlyadams.com/Public/ChristianDVDs/index.cfm?productID=49). - Article "Are Mormons Christians" "O Timothy Magazine" Way of Life Literature (http://www.wayoflife.org/files/9959c77e05b303248173195e72476459-60.html)

Education/Credentials
ThB and MBS from Piedmont Baptist College, Winston-Salem, NC

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