By Tyson Thorne

October 1, 2014
 
 

NazirineVow large

Yesterday we read that just before departing Corinth for home Paul shaved his head. Luke cryptically tells us that this was due to a vow. Just what vow was taken, and why would it involve shaving one’s head? It is best to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture whenever possible, and this is a case where it may be possible.

According to the book of Numbers (Numbers 6.1-.21) any Jew or convert to Judaism may take the Nazirite Vow. The purpose of the vow is to set oneself apart to God for special service. The terms of the vow are three-fold:

  1. The avowed may not drink wine or anything made from grapes or eat grapes or any part of a grape (except on the Sabbath and during the Feasts of the Lord).
  2. The avowed may not cut his hair.
  3. The avowed may not touch a dead body under any circumstance.

The duration of the vow may be variable. In some cases it was a life-long commitment (as in the case of Sampson) or may be as short as an hour (according to Jewish religious texts). The usual time frame was 30 days, but Queen Helena made the vow for 14 years. At the vows conclusion, the avowed is to shave their head and offer the hair as a sacrifice along with animal and grain sacrifices.

Some scholars have suggested that when Paul cut off his hair in Acts 18.18 it was because he had taken the Nazirite Vow, and this is indeed likely. While Paul may have made this vow at any point in time, it may be that he made it just before setting out on his second missionary journey, the vow ending once he began the journey home to Antioch. Certainly the timing of cutting his hair off coincides with his return, but what evidence is there of Paul’s having taken the vow before leaving Antioch?

Very little, but perhaps the clue is there for those who are looking to find it. In Acts 15.40 we are told that the church of Antioch commended Paul “to the grace of the Lord”. There is certainly nothing here to indicate that this might be something special, until one notices that Barnabas and Mark (who left at the same time for the same purpose but taking a southern route) and Silas who was traveling with Paul did not receive this commendation. Why did Paul receive this special treatment? Possibly because he had taken the Nazirite Vow.

Other explanations have been offered for the churches commendation, including that it may be evidence of the church siding with Paul in his dispute with Barnabas regarding Mark. But such a dispute seems like a paltry circumstance for the elevated attention Paul received.

The purpose of the vow and the purpose of Paul’s journey also mesh nicely. Paul was going to persuade people to follow God’s Messiah, which is a special time of service to God. I am convinced this is the case.

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia this tradition of the Nazirite vow existed in the time of Paul and for a few centuries after, though there are no known Nazarites during the Middle Ages. It appears the tradition of the vow was lost to the asceticism and mysticism of the times.

May one take the vow today? Certainly, but not without modification. According to Numbers chapter six the vow concludes with an animal sacrifice. Followers of the Messiah of course no longer have need to sacrifice since Jesus became our sacrifice once for all. This may explain why Luke does not record Paul offering a sacrifice at the conclusion of his vow. Some Christians argue that the terms of the vow ought to change to include prohibition from any strong drink, and that an alternative to not cutting one’s hair should be found as long hair on a man is no longer considered shameful as it was to early Jews. However, since the vow was normally taken for 30 days it is unlikely that one’s hair would grow very long anyway, so clearly the shame incurred from growing long hair did not apply to the “temporary Nazarine”. Instead it was a symbol of the time of the avowed separation to special service.

If a follower of Jesus wishes to take the vow I see no reason not to. Conversely, if one does not feel led to do so it is not a sign of spiritual maturity or immaturity. One should follow their conscience on such matters.

 
 
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