1.2 the world of the first century and the significance of this context for the life and work of Jesus Flashcards
Who were the main religious groups in 1st century Palestine?
Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, Essenes and Samaritans
Who were the Pharisees?
- a political-religious group
- aimed to make sure ordinary Jews followed the religious laws of Judaism + didn’t want Jews to assimilate to Roman culture
- followed the purity laws of Judaism outlined in the Torah
- mostly cooperated politically with the Romans
Who were the Sadducees?
- generally upper middle class + ruled the Temple
- many were members of the Sanhedrin
- had considerable social + political power
- many didn’t oppose the Roman rule as they enjoyed the power they received - economically comfortable
Who were the Zealots?
- focussed on reactionary resistance against the Romans
- formed in direct reaction to the censuses + taxes
- fought to the death with zeal
Who were the Essenes?
- largely focussed on holiness and purity
- lived separate from society in celibate male communities
- awaited a priestly Messiah to restore purity of the Temple
Who were the Samaritans?
- were not acceptes as true Jews as they intermarried with the Babylonians
- they didn’t recognise the Temple + only accepted the written law
Who were the elders?
- the leaders of the people
- origin is probably from the Exile when the rich, educated families took control when their was no priesthood
Who were the High Priests?
- Most eminent person of the nation, represented the people to the Romans in the absence of a King
- authorised to make atonement for the sins of the nation
- only people able to approach the Holy of Holies
Who were the Sanhedrin?
- the supreme court/council in Jerusalem
- made up of 71 priests, scribes or elders
- Romans gave them power to pass sentences according to Jewish law but not pass the death sentence
Who were the scribes?
- spent a large amount of time focusing on the Hebrew scriptures
Who were the followers of John the Baptist?
- were baptised in supposed preparation for the coming of Christ
- didn’t oppose Jesus’ ministry
Why did these groups oppose Jesus’ ministry?
Pharisees= didn’t like that Jesus challenged oral law
Sadducees= rejected life after death and therefore wouldn’t agree with Jesus
Zealots= would disagree with Jesus’ teachings of peace
Essenes=
High Priests= opposed Jesus equating himself with God
What is hellenism?
hellenism = the cultural effect following the geographical political conquests of Alexander the Great
- Greek culture permeated Jewish Culture
What are common beliefs in platonism?
the real world we live in is only a shadow of the true reality of the eternal world - the realm of the forms
What are common beliefs in gnosticism?
human spirits had fallen from the upper world and those worthy would receive knowledge and return to the higher spirit world
What is a common belief in stoicism?
the world was made and sustained by an all pervading energy
How did the Roman occupation influence the world of the first century?
Jewish resentment of Roman rule led to increased messianic expectation -> people believed that the Messiah may come and liberate the Jews from Roman rule
- the Jewish authorities sill had a lot of control BUT during major Jewish festivals e.g. Passover, the prefect would move to Jerusalem
How did the Roman occupation impact Jesus’ ministry?
- the construction of Roman roads made the ministry of Jesus easier as he could preach more widely
- crucifixion was characteristically a Roman punishment
- Jesus was perceived as a threat to the Romans as previous leaders of rebellions had come from Galilee
Why was there ethical tension between the Roman Empire and the Jewish community?
Romans are polytheistic whereas Jews are monotheistic
- worshipping any other gods is explicitly forbidden in the Ten Commandments
- the resistance of Jews to adopt Roman gods became a source of ethical tension
Did Herod Antipas try to hellenise?
- No, there is no indication that he tried to impose the Greek or Roman way of life on the people
- Jews maintained their Jewish way of life e.g. the Gospels refer to Jesus attending synagogues and keeping the pilgrim festivals
What is the history of Israel?
- jews believed that God chose both the people and the land of Israel.
- The covenant in Genesis promos promised, the Jews, the land of Israel, and many descendants.
- The later revelation of the law to Moses showed the Jews how the covenant was to be kept.
- Through these covenants that unique and divine nature of both the people and the land were established
Dating systems
BC means before Christ
A.D. means Anno Domini a latin phrase for ‘in the year of our Lord’
BCE stands for before the common era
CE stands for common era
What happened in 1020 to 928 BCE?
- in the land of Canaan later called Israel, 12 tribes of Israel ruled by the judges.
during this time David was king. The Davidic Kingship was known as the golden era in Jewish history, David established Jerusalem as the capital and his son Solomon built the first temple.
The exile - 586-539 BCE
- One of the most significant times in Jewish history, the religion transformed from one of a nation centred on the temple to to a religion rooted in every day life.
- The origin of many of the beliefs and practices of Judaism can be attributed to this time. for example, the role of the synagogue and the hope that the kingdom of David would be reestablished.
- in 539 BCE, the Persians conquered Babylonia and allow the Jews to return to Judah and rebuild the temple
