Paul.lesson.10.political.groups.second.temple.judaism

1. Lesson 10 Religio-Political Groups in Second Temple Judaism
1/24/2016 1© John R. Wible

2. 1/24/2016 2© John R. Wible
Review Second Temple Chronology

3. • Pharisees
• Scribes
• Sadducees
• Essenes
• Herodians
• Zealots and Sicarii
1/24/2016 3© John R. Wible
Religio-Political Parties

4. • Joined Maccabean Revolt 165-160 BC
• Helped overthrow Seleucids
• Despised Hellenist pagans
• Dropped out after winning
1/24/2016 4© John R. Wible
Hasadeans
Seleucid Shield

5. • “Separate Ones”
• Originated in Babylon
• Prominent since
Maccabean Revolt
• Successors to Hasadeans
• Scrupulous Law Keepers
1/24/2016 5© John R. Wible
Pharisees (Hebrew: Perushim)

6. • Held to “Oral Law”
• Oral Law given verbally by God
• Along with Written Law
• Moses passed it on
1/24/2016 6© John R. Wible
Pharisees Keep Oral and Written Law

7. • Effect of Oral Law
• Source of Oral Law
• Oral Law “evolves”
• Interpretation kept
the Law “living”
1/24/2016 7© John R. Wible
Theological Difference with Sadducees

8. • Cutting the pattern to fit the cloth
• Did they make it up as they went?
• Built interpretations upon earlier
interpretations by Pharisees
1/24/2016 8© John R. Wible
Unwarranted Expansionism

9. • Pharisee prevailed
• Sadducees lost when
the temple destroyed
• Pharisees still live as
Hasidim
• Now called “Rabbis”
• Wrote Mishna
1/24/2016 9© John R. Wible
Pharisees Won the People

10. 1/24/2016 10© John R. Wible
Fostered Growth of Synagogues

11. • Popular at First
• Started piling laws
upon laws
• Criticized by Jesus
and John the Baptizer
• Mentioned critically
over 80 times (NT)
1/24/2016 11© John R. Wible
Pharisees Become Misguided

12. • First called Soferim
• First duty – to enforce Shema
• Began as such with Ezra and
prophetic cessation
• Copied and interpreted the Law
• Only they could read generally
1/24/2016 12© John R. Wible
Scribes

13. • Attempted to thwart Hellenism
• Preserved the written law
• Began putting “fence” around Law
• Began interpreting Law to advance
social purposes
• Thus, lost the meaning of the Law
1/24/2016 13© John R. Wible
Scribal Flaw

14. • Fences became barriers to life
• Interpretations “strained”
• Compelled people to listen
1/24/2016 14© John R. Wible
New Testament Criticisms

15. 1/24/2016 15© John R. Wible
Greatest Failure – Illustrated by
Story of Life Saving Society

16. 1/24/2016 16© John R. Wible
Failure of Mission

17. Let’s Pray About It
1/24/2016 17© John R. Wible© John R. Wible