Aim: Introduction to Chapter 16: The World of the New Testament

Objective: What Jewish Sects and other groups existed during this period of time?

The Pharisees: The Pharisees were a group of prominent scholars who The Pharisees were a group of prominent scholars who

decided that the best way to stay faithful was to decided that the best way to stay faithful was to build a wall around themselves and build a wall around themselves and keep out the Gentiles, non-Jews. keep out the Gentiles, non-Jews.

The term “Pharisee” comes from the Hebrew word The term “Pharisee” comes from the Hebrew word “Perushim” which means “the separated.” “Perushim” which means “the separated.”

For the Pharisees, the only way for Jews to be faithful was to For the Pharisees, the only way for Jews to be faithful was to keep themselves pure. The Law alone was not enough. They keep themselves pure. The Law alone was not enough. They taught that even ordinary Jewish families should imitate the taught that even ordinary Jewish families should imitate the complicated and ritualistic purity of the priests of Jerusalem. complicated and ritualistic purity of the priests of Jerusalem.

They refused to associate with Gentiles. To distinguish They refused to associate with Gentiles. To distinguish themselves from Gentiles, they emphasized and exaggerated themselves from Gentiles, they emphasized and exaggerated their distinctly Jewish customs. their distinctly Jewish customs.

There were good reasons for the Pharisees to feel the way they There were good reasons for the Pharisees to feel the way they did about keeping themselves separated from the pagans. The did about keeping themselves separated from the pagans. The Old Testament shows how anytime the Hebrews got mixed up Old Testament shows how anytime the Hebrews got mixed up with their pagan neighbors, bad things happened. They would with their pagan neighbors, bad things happened. They would adopt pagan ways and violate the Covenant God had made with adopt pagan ways and violate the Covenant God had made with Moses. The result was always ruin and misery for the Jews. Moses. The result was always ruin and misery for the Jews.

The Pharisees made the Law an intolerable burden. The Pharisees made the Law an intolerable burden. To separate themselves from the rest of the pagan To separate themselves from the rest of the pagan society they exaggerated the details of Jewish society they exaggerated the details of Jewish national dress by wearing big phylacteries, boxes national dress by wearing big phylacteries, boxes with Jewish verses of Scripture that pious Jews wore with Jewish verses of Scripture that pious Jews wore on the head when praying, they wore conspicuous on the head when praying, they wore conspicuous fringes, they made sure everyone was keeping the fringes, they made sure everyone was keeping the Sabbath by the strictest possible interpretation, and Sabbath by the strictest possible interpretation, and they enforced a strict observance of the dietary they enforced a strict observance of the dietary laws. laws.

At the same time, they were capable of evading the At the same time, they were capable of evading the Spirit of the Law when it suited them. They invented Spirit of the Law when it suited them. They invented interpretations that helped them cheat the poor or interpretations that helped them cheat the poor or even their own parents.even their own parents.

By the time of Jesus, they were a very powerful sect. By the time of Jesus, they were a very powerful sect. When Jesus came and began to fulfill the promise by When Jesus came and began to fulfill the promise by drawing the Gentiles to God, the Pharisees drawing the Gentiles to God, the Pharisees recognized immediately that he was preaching a recognized immediately that he was preaching a religion that was inclusive, not exclusive and they religion that was inclusive, not exclusive and they resented and hated Jesus for that.resented and hated Jesus for that.

The Pharisees were closely associated The Pharisees were closely associated with the scribes. They stressed the Law with the scribes. They stressed the Law and avoided having contact with the and avoided having contact with the gentiles and the Jews who did not keep gentiles and the Jews who did not keep the Law, whom they called “sinners”. the Law, whom they called “sinners”.

They believed in the idea of resurrection They believed in the idea of resurrection (an afterlife). Rabbis come from this (an afterlife). Rabbis come from this group.group.

They were very proud of themselves and They were very proud of themselves and wore long robes with broad borders, or wore long robes with broad borders, or fringes on them to show their importance. fringes on them to show their importance.

They wanted to get the best seats in the They wanted to get the best seats in the synagogues, the places of worship. synagogues, the places of worship.

They loved for people to call them They loved for people to call them "Rabbi", or teacher, and they would pray "Rabbi", or teacher, and they would pray long prayers out in public just for people long prayers out in public just for people to see them.to see them.

The Sadducees were the heirs of The Sadducees were the heirs of Zadok, Solomon’s priest who were Zadok, Solomon’s priest who were supposed to have been the priests supposed to have been the priests forever in Jerusalem. forever in Jerusalem.

They thought that the best way for They thought that the best way for the Jewish religion to survive was by the Jewish religion to survive was by cooperating with the Gentiles. cooperating with the Gentiles.

Although the Pharisees were revered Although the Pharisees were revered by the Jewish public, the Sadducees by the Jewish public, the Sadducees were the ones with the most power in were the ones with the most power in the government. the government.

The Sadducees had very different The Sadducees had very different ideas of religion from the Pharisees. ideas of religion from the Pharisees. For them, only the books of Moses, For them, only the books of Moses, Genesis Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Genesis Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, were canonical and Deuteronomy, were canonical Scripture. Scripture.

They did not believe in any life after death or They did not believe in any life after death or any kind of resurrection from the dead. any kind of resurrection from the dead.

They did not believe in angels or spirits. They did not believe in angels or spirits. They rejected everything except the Torah. They rejected everything except the Torah. They rejected all of the Pharisees’ traditional They rejected all of the Pharisees’ traditional

interpretations of and additions to the Law.interpretations of and additions to the Law. The Sadducees came from aristocratic The Sadducees came from aristocratic

families who controlled the temple and families who controlled the temple and supported the Roman rule.supported the Roman rule.

They emphasized the Torah, and rejected They emphasized the Torah, and rejected religious ideas such as angels, demons, and religious ideas such as angels, demons, and resurrection. resurrection.

They were Jewish religious leaders who were They were Jewish religious leaders who were from the wealthy families. This group did not from the wealthy families. This group did not believe that people would be resurrected, or believe that people would be resurrected, or raised from the dead. They also did not raised from the dead. They also did not believe angels existed.believe angels existed.

Note: The Sadducees and the

Pharisees were usually mentioned as opponents of Jesus. They frequently challenged Jesus with difficult questions or tried to put him on the spot. They did not approve of the way he sometimes ignored religious customs, like washing hands before eating and inactivity on the Sabbath. Jesus repeatedly denounced these groups, especially the Pharisees, largely because they did not live what they preached and made life difficult for others.

The EssenesThe Essenes: : They believed that the Temple under the They believed that the Temple under the

Sadducees had become hopelessly Sadducees had become hopelessly corrupt, so they moved out of Jerusalem.corrupt, so they moved out of Jerusalem.

They established small communities in They established small communities in the desert beside the Dead Sea. Their the desert beside the Dead Sea. Their writings, the Dead Sea scrolls, discovered writings, the Dead Sea scrolls, discovered in the 1940’s reveal a community that in the 1940’s reveal a community that saw themselves as pure and righteous. To saw themselves as pure and righteous. To keep the Law it was necessary to flee the keep the Law it was necessary to flee the cities and live in the wilderness.cities and live in the wilderness.

Herod was considered to be insane by any standard. He Herod was considered to be insane by any standard. He murdered three of his own sons in a horrible way. murdered three of his own sons in a horrible way.

He knew how to grasp power and keep it. He sent lavish He knew how to grasp power and keep it. He sent lavish gifts to prominent Romans to keep himself in favor with gifts to prominent Romans to keep himself in favor with them. them.

Although he was an Edomite, he spread the story that he Although he was an Edomite, he spread the story that he was actually a Jew that had returned from the Exile. was actually a Jew that had returned from the Exile.

He rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem in a magnificent He rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem in a magnificent scale. Similar to Solomon, he had many wives. He scale. Similar to Solomon, he had many wives. He supplemented the Temple priests generously, which supplemented the Temple priests generously, which meant that most of the influential priests supported him. meant that most of the influential priests supported him.

During his time three factors that contributed to the During his time three factors that contributed to the healthy economy of Israel were: healthy economy of Israel were:

The Roman peace (Pax Romana)The Roman peace (Pax Romana) Worldwide tradeWorldwide trade His ambitious and expensive building programs. His ambitious and expensive building programs.

During his reign, the Temple was more During his reign, the Temple was more glorious than ever, and people from all the glorious than ever, and people from all the nations were coming to see Jerusalem. nations were coming to see Jerusalem.

He was known as “Herod the Great” not He was known as “Herod the Great” not because he was universally admired, but because he was universally admired, but because his reign was so prosperous in because his reign was so prosperous in comparison with that of his successors. comparison with that of his successors.

When he died, the Romans split his When he died, the Romans split his kingdom four ways among his surviving kingdom four ways among his surviving sons. The divided kingdom was called the sons. The divided kingdom was called the “Tetrarchy,” meaning “rule of four.” “Tetrarchy,” meaning “rule of four.” Herod Antipas, one of Herod ’s sons, ruled Herod Antipas, one of Herod ’s sons, ruled over Galilee during the ministry of Jesus.over Galilee during the ministry of Jesus.

Roman religion was very businesslike. Roman religion was very businesslike. If you performed the right ceremonies, for the right If you performed the right ceremonies, for the right

gods, at the right times, with the right words, then gods, at the right times, with the right words, then you expected that the gods would be happy with you. you expected that the gods would be happy with you. If the gods were happy with you, then everything If the gods were happy with you, then everything would go well in your life. would go well in your life.

As long as people kept the peace and followed a few As long as people kept the peace and followed a few simple rules, the Romans allowed them to worship simple rules, the Romans allowed them to worship any gods they liked. any gods they liked.

In fact, the Romans themselves often paid tribute to In fact, the Romans themselves often paid tribute to the local gods of the people they conquered. Many the local gods of the people they conquered. Many philosophers did not believe in the traditional Roman philosophers did not believe in the traditional Roman or Greek gods. Some thought they were gods, but or Greek gods. Some thought they were gods, but they were too far above us to care about human they were too far above us to care about human affairs. affairs.

Many others believed in a single first cause: they Many others believed in a single first cause: they came to monotheism, the belief in only one God, by came to monotheism, the belief in only one God, by pure reason. Without God’s own revelation, they pure reason. Without God’s own revelation, they could never know God, even though they knew he could never know God, even though they knew he existed. existed.

The philosophers helped prepare the way for The philosophers helped prepare the way for God’s revelation when it came through Jesus God’s revelation when it came through Jesus Christ. Christ.

The Roman religion was unable to provide for the The Roman religion was unable to provide for the spiritual needs of its believers. It could not spiritual needs of its believers. It could not answer questions about eternal life, how to know answer questions about eternal life, how to know God personally, or how to be freed from sin. God personally, or how to be freed from sin.

As a result, people turned to other religions, As a result, people turned to other religions, especially to religions from the East. The city of especially to religions from the East. The city of Rome was soon cluttered with temples to foreign Rome was soon cluttered with temples to foreign gods. gods.

Many educated Romans looked down on all these Many educated Romans looked down on all these new religions as superstitious nonsense. Most new religions as superstitious nonsense. Most educated Romans did not believe in the Roman educated Romans did not believe in the Roman gods and had an inborn need to know God.gods and had an inborn need to know God.

Jewish neighborhoods appeared in every town Jewish neighborhoods appeared in every town of the Roman Empire. of the Roman Empire.

The dispersion of the Jews prepared the way for The dispersion of the Jews prepared the way for the coming of Christ. When the Romans took the coming of Christ. When the Romans took over, Jewish merchants continued to settle over, Jewish merchants continued to settle everywhere. The two cities of the ancient world everywhere. The two cities of the ancient world with the greatest Jewish influence were with the greatest Jewish influence were Jerusalem and Alexandria, Egypt. Jerusalem and Alexandria, Egypt.

It is calculated that about seven percent of the It is calculated that about seven percent of the population of the Roman Empire was Jewish. By population of the Roman Empire was Jewish. By the time of Jesus, the complete Old Testament the time of Jesus, the complete Old Testament had been translated into Greek, the language had been translated into Greek, the language almost everyone spoke in the eastern half of almost everyone spoke in the eastern half of the Roman Empire. the Roman Empire.

Synagogues first appeared during the Synagogues first appeared during the Exile, when the faithful people of God Exile, when the faithful people of God could no longer get to the Temple in could no longer get to the Temple in Jerusalem to make their sacrifices. Jerusalem to make their sacrifices.

Synagogues were built as meeting places Synagogues were built as meeting places for the Jews to come and hear the for the Jews to come and hear the readings from the Law and the Prophets. readings from the Law and the Prophets.

Today, Christians have kept the old Today, Christians have kept the old synagogue liturgy, but with the important synagogue liturgy, but with the important difference that we proclaim that the difference that we proclaim that the Messiah has already come. When Jesus Messiah has already come. When Jesus told the congregation at Nazareth that told the congregation at Nazareth that they had seen the Scriptures fulfilled that they had seen the Scriptures fulfilled that day, he marked the change from the Old day, he marked the change from the Old Testament worship to Christian worship.Testament worship to Christian worship.

They were a mixed population who They were a mixed population who worshiped God in a different way from worshiped God in a different way from the Jews.the Jews.

We can tell that Jews didn’t like them.We can tell that Jews didn’t like them. Only the five books of Moses are Only the five books of Moses are

considered Scripture by the considered Scripture by the Samaritans. They didn’t accept any of Samaritans. They didn’t accept any of the historical books, wisdom the historical books, wisdom literature, or prophecy. literature, or prophecy.

Instead of worshiping at the Temple Instead of worshiping at the Temple in Jerusalem, they worship on Mount in Jerusalem, they worship on Mount Gerizim, near the present city of Gerizim, near the present city of Nablus in the Palestinian West Bank.Nablus in the Palestinian West Bank.

To the Jews of Jesus’ time, the To the Jews of Jesus’ time, the Samaritans were hated heretics who Samaritans were hated heretics who defied God’s word as spoken through defied God’s word as spoken through his prophets.his prophets.

Even talking to a Samaritan would Even talking to a Samaritan would taint a proper Jew with the Samaritan taint a proper Jew with the Samaritan heresy. heresy.