Chapter 4 — The Jewish Religious System

Question 1

In comparing the synagogue with the temple, we see what?

Answer 1

The synagogue focused on reading and studying the law.

Question 2

The Pharisees were characterized by what?

Answer 2

The Pharisees accepted the entire Old Testament — The books of Moses, the Prophets, and the writings — as authoritative for their lives.

Question 3

Although the record is not clear, It appears that the Pharisees came from where?

Answer 3

The Hasidim, who purpose to maintain the purity of the Jewish religion and culture against paganism.

Question 4

Why was oral tradition — which concerns scholars’ interpretation of the law — a problem?

Answer 4

Pharisees gave it the same authority they gave to God’s Law.

Question 4

How could you describe the typical Pharisee of Christ’s day?

Answer 4

They Pharisees by the strict ceremonial requirements of the law.

Question 5

How did the Sadducees feel about Hellenism and Roman rule?

Answer 5

The Sadducees felt that both were needed to maintain good business conditions and their position of privilege.

Question 6

If we compare the Essenes to the Pharisees we find that…

Answer 6

Both groups focused on obeying the law, but the Essenes were more legalistic.

Question 7

How did zealots differ from other Jewish religious groups?

Answer 7

Zealots were totally committed to direct action to reach their goals.

Question 8

What was the role of the New Testament Scribes?

Answer 8

The New Testament Scribes acted as copyists, preservers, and interpreters of the Law.

Question 9

What is the Sanhedrin?

Answer 9

The Sanhedrin is, “The Jewish governing council in Jerusalem and the local judicial system that handled most religious and civil affairs.

Question 10

What factors motivated the development of the synagogues?

Answer 10

Synagogues arose because…
1. The Temple was destroyed and most of the Jewish people were exiled.
2. Devout Jews needed to assemble to encourage each other to remain devoted to the religion of their fathers.

Question 11

How might we compare the priority of the Temple to that of the Synagogue?

Answer 11

The Synagogue had replaced the Temple as the most important means of maintaining the religious system.

Question 12

Briefly state the catalyst that promoted the rise of the Pharisees.

Answer 12

Pharisees arose in response to the spread of Hellenism and its paganizing influence.

Question 13

The Pharisees were originally members of the Hasidim, a Hebrew word that means what?

Answer 13

Pious Ones

Question 14

Characteristics of a Sadducee

Answer 14

1. political concerns
2. wealthy aristocratic class
3. priestly class
4. supported Hellenism
5. centered in the Temple
6. accepted only written law
7. did not seek converts
8. unpopular with most Jews

Question 15

Characteristics of a Pharisee

Answer 15

1. religious concerns
2. middle class
3. laymen
4. rejected Hellenism
5. centered in the Synagogues
6. accepted oral tradition, written law, prophets, and writings
7. sought converts
8. popular with many Jews

Question 16

Briefly describe the typical Pharisee.

Answer 16

The typical Pharisee was a layman from the Jewish middle class. One became a Pharisee after he proved by his lifestyle that he was worthy by strictly adhering to the strict ceremonial law and tradition. The Pharisees whose lives revolved around the synagogue were involved in all aspects of Jewish religious life.

Question 17

Why were the Pharisees more popular than the Sadducees?

Answer 17

Sadducees were men of a closed upper class of wealth and security. By contrast, Pharisees were middle-class working men who purpose to maintain their spiritual heritage by obeying God’s law.

Question 18

According to the Essenes, how would God resolve Israel’s problems?

Answer 18

According to the Essenes, God would resolve the problems Israel faced by breaking in on the evil world system, granting them victory over the wicked, and setting up His righteous kingdom.

Question 19

Compare the Essenes with the Pharisees.

Answer 19

Like the Pharisees, the Essenes probably evolved from the Hasidim and were determined to obey the law of Moses. They were more legalistic, however, and tended to withdraw from society.

Question 20

What is a primary difference between Zealots and other Jewish groups?

Answer 20

Zealots were primarily different because of their fanatical nationalism.

Question 21

What impact did the Zealots have upon Jewish life?

Answer 21

Their uprisings against the Romans led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation in AD 70.

Question 22

Name three main duties of the scribe in the time of Christ.

Answer 22

He was a copier, preserver, and interpreter of the law.

Question 23

What status did scribes hold in the Jewish religious system?

Answer 23

Scribes were highly respected.

Question 24

What was the Sanhedrin and what was its purpose?

Answer 24

The Sanhedrin was the Jewish governing council and local court system, which may have been patterned after Moses’ seventy helpers in Numbers 11:16-24. It developed during the intertestamental period and handled a wide range of religious and civil matters of the Jews. Local government was chiefly a religious concern.

Question 25

Describe the first level of the Sanhedrin.

Answer 25

Smaller councils of either seven or twenty-three members, depending on the size of the city were attached to all Synagogues in Palestine.

Question 26

Describe the great Sanhedrin.

Answer 26

The great Sanhedrin was the supreme court, which had seventy-1 members and was attached to the temple in Jerusalem. Its members included Sadducees, Pharisees, scribes, elders, and its leader was the high priest. It functioned with Rome’s approval.