TOPICS: People identified by groups, not specific location – all can be saved –
Question: In regards to “of Nazareth,” which is quite hilarious because Nazareth never existed during Jesus’ life. It arrived a couple hundred years after. So it seems to stand that of nazareth is a mistranslation of the Nazarene of the Nazarean. Nazareth never existed on any map of Palestine at that time there is no map of ancient Palestine with Nazareth on it, But there is a Gennesareth.
Answer from ascended master Jesus through Kim Michaels:
Ancient Israel was a turbulent society with groups of people moving in and out and groups of people having a nomadic lifestyle. People often used group affiliation as a means of identification. There were many regions with no clearly defined geographical center. After groups settled down and towns started to grow, a geographic center was formed. The town often became named after the people who were most numerous in the region.
As I have said elsewhere, there are many things in the Bible that should not be taken literally. Certain things were added later, and, unfortunately, some things were taken out.
In this case, I don’t think your point alters the basic message. I grew up amongst a group of people whom many, especially in Jerusalem, considered outcasts. This was done to show that God is no respecter of persons and that all have the opportunity to be saved. This was an important message amongst Jews because many of them believed that they alone were God’s chosen people and that they alone would be saved. Today, many people believe that only Christians will be saved. Again, this is a fallacy.
Copyright © 2004 by Kim Michaels