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First Century Jewish Sects and the Second Temple

First Century Jewish Sects and the Second Temple. A continuation of last week. Jewish Sects. Josephus identifies four (4) Jewish sects: Pharisees Sadducees Essenes Zealots. Pharisees (the Formalists). Most popular Very influential among the populace

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First Century Jewish Sects and the Second Temple

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  1. First Century Jewish Sects and the Second Temple A continuation of last week

  2. Jewish Sects • Josephus identifies four (4) Jewish sects: • Pharisees • Sadducees • Essenes • Zealots

  3. Pharisees (the Formalists) • Most popular • Very influential among the populace • Primarily because the Pharisees were not rich, but were common people • Very obedient to the law and lived a simple life • Anti-Roman • Beliefs: • Oral law (Mishna) and written law (Old Testament) • Handed down by Moses (similar to today’s Orthodox Jews) • Resurrection of body and soul • Eternal punishment or reward (an afterlife) • Both free will and predestination

  4. Sadducees (the Free-Thinkers) • Composed of the aristocracy • Pro-Roman • Influential in government • Maintained the Temple (priestly responsibilities) • Beliefs: • NO oral law, ONLY Torah (Pentateuch) • NO Resurrection at all • NO Afterlife • ONLY Free Will, NO Predestination

  5. Essenes (the Puritans) • Lifestyle: • Communal living • Most were celibate • Obsessed with purity (ritual purification) • Opposed to the Temple • Believed it was corrupted • Beliefs: • Soul survives after death • NO Free Will, ONLY Predestination

  6. Zealots (the Rebels) • Founded in 6 AD by Judas of Galilee • In opposition to Census of Quinirius • Wanted a rebellion against Roman Empire • In order to expel them from Judea • Unhappy with way Temple was run • An extremist group named the Sicarii formed. • Sicariimeans “dagger-men”

  7. Other Important Groups • Sanhedrin • A legal assembly that held court and judged religious matters • Composed of Pharisees and Sadducees • With Sadducees having majority of seats • New Prophets/ False Messiahs • Very popular at this time • Examples: New Prophet: Honi the Circle Drawer (died around 60 BC); False Messiahs: Simon of Perea (died 4 BC), Athronges (died 3 AD (?)), and Menahem ben Judah (died before Christ’s death, date unknown)

  8. The Second Temple – Herod’s Temple • Court of the Gentiles – Outermost court where Non-Jews were allowed. • Served as a bazaar where money was changed, sacrificial animals sold, and food and souvenirs were being sold. • Court of the Women • Court of Israel – Jewish men were allowed into this court. • Court of the Priests – Innermost court, only Levite priests were allowed

  9. Herod’s Temple • Holy Place – The area where priests went to offer incense. • In the Holy Place was the Holy of Holies • Holy of Holies – only the High Priest was allowed in and only on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) • It is believed this was God’s dwelling place • Herod’s Temple was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans

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