Jesus of Nazareth is a phrase commonly used to refer to Jesus Christ throughout the New Testament Gospels and the Book of Acts. The name connects Jesus to the city of Nazareth, where he was raised according to the Gospels. Understanding why Jesus is associated with Nazareth can provide insight into Jesus’ upbringing, ministry, and identity as the Messiah.
Nazareth was Jesus’ childhood home
The Gospels record that Jesus was raised in the town of Nazareth in Galilee (Matthew 2:23, Luke 2:39-40). Nazareth was a small, obscure village at the time with a population of only a few hundred people. Several passages indicate that Nazareth was Jesus’ home throughout his childhood and early adulthood years (Luke 4:16-24, Matthew 13:54-57). The name “Jesus of Nazareth” therefore reflects the fact that Nazareth was Jesus’ boyhood home.
Associating Jesus with Nazareth emphasizes his humble, human upbringing. As a northern backwater town looked down upon by Judeans, Nazareth did not have the same prestige as Jerusalem or other southern cities. Calling Jesus “of Nazareth” reminds readers that the Messiah spent his early years not in palaces or prominent cities, but in a modest village setting. This aligns with the Gospel writers portraying Jesus as both fully divine and fully human.
The name distiguished Jesus from other figures
Referring to Jesus as “of Nazareth” distinguished him from other religious teachers and notable figures who shared the common name of Jesus at the time. Just as today someone might distinguish “John Smith of Chicago” from “John Smith of Toledo,” attaching the geographical identifier prevented confusion about which Jesus was being referred to. The Gospels mention other Jewish leaders named Jesus, including Jesus Barabbas (Matthew 27:16-17) and Jesus Justus (Colossians 4:11). Referring to Christ as “Jesus of Nazareth” eliminated ambiguity.
The name also distinguished Jesus from the anticipated Messiah. Many first century Jews expected the Christ to come from Bethlehem, based on Micah’s prophecy (Micah 5:2). Calling Jesus “of Nazareth” clashed with traditional assumptions about the Messiah’s birthplace and forced people to reconsider their beliefs. The name hinted at Jesus’ true identity in an unexpected package – the Christ coming not from a prominent town, but from a humble village in Galilee.
Jesus was known by the name during his ministry
The Gospels indicate that “Jesus of Nazareth” was a label commonly used for Christ during his earthly ministry. When Philip tells Nathanael about finding the Messiah, he refers to “Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ includes the qualifier, “Jesus of Nazareth” (Matthew 16:16, Mark 8:29). And the inscription above Jesus’ cross read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (John 19:19). The name had become widely associated with Jesus throughout his public ministry.
Using the term “Nazareth” helped identify Jesus’ ministry as having originated in Galilee. This provided continuity between Jesus’ roots in Nazareth and the early years of his preaching and miracles in Capernaum and other Galilean cities. The name pointed to Nazareth as the starting place of Jesus’ public work.
“Of Nazareth” appears frequently in Acts
In Acts, Jesus is most often referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth” or “the Nazarene.” Peter’s sermons in Acts 2:22 and 10:38 both use the phrase. Paul’s testimony before Agrippa describes experiencing a vision of “Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9). Stephen accused the Sanhedrin of betraying and murdering “Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 7:52). The name appears more in Acts than any other New Testament book.
The frequent references to “Jesus of Nazareth” in Acts emphasize continuity between the historical Jesus and the risen, glorified Christ being proclaimed in the early church’s preaching. Using the name from Jesus’ earthly ministry helped validate that the apostles were preaching about the same Jesus who had lived and taught in Galilee only a short time earlier. It provided further proof this was not a fictional person or imposter they were promoting.
The name confirms Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecy
A few key Old Testament prophecies connect the Messiah to Nazareth. Isaiah 11:1 predicts the Christ would come from the stem of Jesse and the stump of Jesse’s family tree. Jesse was the father of King David, who Scripture confirms was from Bethlehem (1 Samuel 17:12). However, one ancestral branch of Jesse’s household resettled in Nazareth after the Babylonian exile (see Isaiah 11:1 footnote in the ESV). The name “Jesus of Nazareth” therefore affirms he is descended from Jesse via the Nazareth branch.
The prophecy in Judges 13:5 that Samson would be a Nazirite is rendered Nazarite in Matthew 2:23 and likely forms the basis for Matthew claiming the prophets foretold the Messiah would be “called a Nazarene.” Though Samson was from the tribe of Dan, Matthew seems to connect the Nazirite vow of consecration to the town name Nazareth. Jesus being a native of Nazareth indicates his consecrated life paralleled the dedication of the Nazirite.
So “Jesus of Nazareth” demonstrates that seemingly unlikely, obscure prophecies about the Messiah’s origins were fulfilled in Jesus. The name serves as evidence validating Jesus’ identity and the reliability of Scripture.
The resurrection validates Jesus’ messianic titles
All the Gospel writers identify Jesus as being “of Nazareth” at various points. This appellation persisted both before and after they recognized him as the Messiah. For the title “Christ” to be authentically attached to “Jesus of Nazareth,” God’s definitive validation was required. The resurrection provided this. By raising Jesus from the dead, God authenticated him as the true Messiah, despite his humble geographic origins (Romans 1:4).
Jesus of Nazareth was dead, buried, and then seen resurrected by many witnesses. This proved that even as Jesus of lowly Nazareth, he was indeed the glorified Christ. The resurrection vindicated Nazareth-born Jesus as humanity’s Savior and Lord. No longer could the name “of Nazareth” be wielded as evidence against Jesus’ messianic identity. The resurrection nullified any objection tied to Jesus’ unremarkable hometown roots.
Jesus embraced the title
Crucially, Jesus himself accepted and owned the title “Jesus of Nazareth” as an accurate label for who he was. During his exchange with Saul on the road to Damascus, the resurrected Jesus declared “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 22:8). Jesus chose these same words to identify himself post-resurrection.
This confirms that Jesus consented to be known by this particular name and tied to this specific place, despite its perceived insignificance. Jesus never rejected “of Nazareth” as an unsuitable or inaccurate appellation for the Messiah. To the contrary, by affirming this name after the resurrection, the risen Christ forever connected his messianic identity to his roots in Nazareth.
The name highlights Jesus’ humanity and humility
In summary, the title Jesus of Nazareth underscores Christ’s full humanity, his humble beginnings, his geographic roots, and his identity as the historic Jesus. It also proves Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah’s origins. The name provides continuity between Jesus’ earthly life and ministry and his position as the risen and exalted Lord.
Jesus embraced this title himself, exemplifying his humility in willingly associating himself with a place considered unremarkable and unsuitable for the Christ. For all these reasons, the designation Jesus of Nazareth carries profound theological significance. It deserves to be treasured, not dismissed as a mere geographical aside. The name Jesus of Nazareth reveals as much about Christ’s origins, identity, and mission as any of his other messianic titles.