The Diverse World of Jesus

Source 105, New TestamentSee, Chapter 5 in Harris The New Testament

Introduction

Remember the core beliefs of JudaismThere 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 JesusMembers of the Jewish upper classes

wealthy landowners controlled the priesthood and temple.

High priest CaiaphasWith 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 teacherProtected 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 90ADDebated 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 DisiplineRules for the community

Included is a description of a sacred meal of bread and wine

Essene hymnalLiturgical blessings

Essenes and NT

No explicit mention of Essenes in NTSome 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 OneRooted 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.