Chili

Forced by nature because there is only on heaven on earth.

Doug Shaver

Nazareth, if he really existed, which I don't think he did.

If he existed, then the only information we have about him is what the gospels say. They say he was from Nazareth.

spamandham

They also say he was from Capernaum. In the earliest Gospel, Mark, Nazareth is never stated to be Jesus' home town, and in the only two times he is referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth", it's by people who do not know him.

But Mark also says "A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home."

...hence the poll.

elevator

Of course, as already asserted by others; the poll is useful only if you accept that Jesus was a historical figure. But assuming that he was: Luke mentions both Nazareth and Capernaum in the same chapter (Luke 4:31-34):
To me it seems unreasonable that the citizens of Capernaum would have called him Jesus of Nazareth if Capernaum was his home town. But I recognize that there are other quotes that may indicate otherwise. Luke, however, is, as far as I know, the only one that mentions both places together.

Chili

I could be Capurnaum by day to work out his salvation and Nazareth by night to gain inspiration for the next day.

elevator

Jesus travelled all over Galilee and beyond. Just because he spent time there for whatever reason doesn't mean that we should consider any of those places his "home town". Admittedly, Capernaum is mentioned in such a capacity several places in the bible that one may be led to conclude that if Jesus indeed existed, that Capernaum had some kind of importance in his life. However, the fact that he is often referred to as Jesus of Nazareth and never as Jesus of Capernaum, is, in my mind, a greater indication that Nazareth rather than Capernaum was his home town.

Chili

Sure, but to be a Nazarite in Judaism equals being a Jesuit in Catholicism and if there is no such city of town in Christendom the meaning of the word Nazarite has nothing to do with where Jesus once lived.

Cesc

Isn't it based on some OT prophecy to the effect that "he will be from Nazareth" or something, and so in order to claim scriptural authority for the Jesus character they made him come from Nazareth?

Toto

Matthew says that there was a prophecy that the Messiah would be a Nazirite, but no one has located this prophecy.

elevator

Sure, that's one interpretation. Try to tell that to the many pilgrims who travel there every year! :Cheeky:

That said; Luke 2:4 says that Joseph lived in a city called Nazareth (he also lived other places of course), and in Luke 1:26-27 we learn that Joseph and Mary lived in "Nazareth, a town in Galilee" when they were visited by the angel Gabriel, who foretold the birth of Jesus.

So if one believes the account of Luke, it would be safe to assume that Jesus' parents lived in a town called Nazareth before Jesus was born, that this town existed before the time of Jesus (although some historians disagree), and that a title that bears strinking similarity to the name of this city was suffixed to Jesus' name (regardless of the original translation).

So yes, you're right, there is a chance we're not talking about a reference to a city, but is the opposite not just as much a possibility?