Transcript Different Jewish groups

The Diverse World of
Jesus
Source 105, New Testament
See, Chapter 5 in Harris The
New Testament
Introduction
Remember the core beliefs of Judaism
There was also much diversity
politically and religiously.
This is seen in the various groups
Sadducees
Pharisees,
Herodians
Samaritans
Zealots
Sadducees
What we know is from NT and from
Josephus.
Called “The Righteous Ones”
Represented as opponents of Jesus
Members of the Jewish upper classes
wealthy landowners
controlled the priesthood and temple.
High priest Caiaphas
With Pharisees formed council (Sanhedrin)
Sadducees (cont.)
Served as mediators with Romans.
Had the most to lose from revolt.
Opposed Jewish nationalism and anything that
would upset the status quo.
Religiously conservative, read the Torah
literally (as opposed to the Pharisees)
Did not believe in the resurrection,
judgment, angels or demons.
Disappear after destruction of temple.
Pharisees
Presented as opponents of Jesus
(hypocrites)
Antagonism may be part of a later experience
with Pharisees.
devoted to the Mosaic Torah
Name means “The Separate Ones,” spiritual
descendants of the Hasidim.
Sought ritual purity and separation from
Hellenistic influences.
Pharisees (cont.)
Viewed as the authoritative interpreters of
the law. (Rabbi)
Also accepted the oral tradition of the law
(as opposed to the Sadducees)
Mishnah, an extension of the law into every
day life.
The Talmud (Mishnah and another
commentary): guidebook for Jewish life.
Believed in the resurrection etc.
Hillel and Shammai
Pharisaic leaders who wrote
commentaries on the law.
Took different approaches to the law.
Jesus was on good terms with some,
especially those of Hillel’s attitude.
Gamaliel
Disciple of Hillel and Paul’s teacher
Protected early Christians. (See Acts
5:34-42)
Paul was a Pharisee.
Jamnia
Academy of Jamnia gained influence after
the destruction of temple in 70AD.
Yohanan ben Zakkai sought to reestablish
good relations with Rome.
Helped strengthen the synagogue system:
“I require mercy not sacrifice.” (Hos. 6.6)
Council of Jamnia
Held around 90AD
Debated the contents of the Hebrew
Bible; abandoned the Septuagint and
returned to an older version.
Formulated the benediction against
heretics: source of conflict with Christians.
Jewish Christians expelled from
synagogues.
Reflected in John and Matthew.
Samaritans
Distinctive Jewish group between Judea
and Galilee
Regarded as an alien people who
practiced a false form of Judaism.
Worshipped on Mount Gerizim instead of
Jerusalem.
Viewed favorably in NT.
Continue to exist today.
Dead Sea Scrolls
1947, ancient scrolls are found near the
Dead Sea.
Found a religious library, composed
between 150 BC to100 AD
Significant because they were written
during the development of Christianity.
Believed to be connected with the
community of John the Baptist (Essenes)
Essenes
Dead Sea scrolls may have been produced
by Essenes (140BC to 68AD)
Philo Judaeus and Josephus describe their
beliefs. But only with this discovery do we
have any of their writings.
While controversial, some believe that
they embraced the teachings of Jesus.
Valuable because they show the link of
Christianity with Palestinian culture.
Qumran group
The Qumran was a group of Essenes who
pursued a monastic existence,
withdrawing from the world.
May have influenced the early Christian
writers.
This is the group that preserved the dead
sea scrolls.
Contents of Qumran library
Oldest surviving copies of the Hebrew
Bible
A complete scroll of the book of Isaiah
Little difference with the Masoretic Text (MT)
Copies of deuterocanonical and
apocryphal works
Tobit, Enoch, Book of Jubilees.
Essene commentaries on canonical books.
Habakkuk, Isaiah, Hoseah, Micah.
Other Contents
Manual of Disipline
Rules for the community
Included is a description of a sacred meal of
bread and wine
Essene hymnal
Liturgical blessings
Essenes and NT
No explicit mention of Essenes in NT
Some believe Jesus spent his lost years
with Essenes (no proof)
More evidence that John the Baptist was a
member.
Zealots
Nationalists who sought to drive out the
Romans from Palestine.
One of Jesus disciples was a zealot.
Faded as a political force after the Jewish
rebellions.
The Messiah
Important to many Jews was the
expectation of the Messiah.
Sadducees did not believe in a coming
Messiah.
Essenes expected two separate figures.
King and Priest
Jesus did not fulfill expectations
Did not restore the lands of Israel, didn’t free
his people, no universal peace, terrible death.
Messianic interpretation of
OT
Early Christians were able to interpret the
OT in light of the resurrection.
Isaiah 53 (the Suffering Servant)
Origins of Messianic Hope
Messiah: Maschiah--The Annointed One
Rooted in the Davidic covenant.
An unending line of Davidic Kings
Lasted 400 years
David’s line had a historic ending in 587
under Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
Davidic Kingdom not restored when Israel
returned from exile in 538.
Origins (cont.)
The memory of the Davidic covenant
continued.
There was a promise of restoration (see
page 88, Isa. 9:6-7)
Conceived of a prophet-king as Messiah.
The Messiah
Many false claimants. Usually
revolutionaries.
Jesus was a disappointment because he
was not a political leader.
Despite some attempts to associate him with
Zealots.
Jesus’ as Messiah will become clearer
when we study the individual Gospel
accounts.