Chapter 4 — The Jewish Religious System Flashcards
In comparing the synagogue with the temple, we see what?
The synagogue focused on reading and studying the law.
The Pharisees were characterized by what?
The Pharisees accepted the entire Old Testament — The books of Moses, the Prophets, and the writings — as authoritative for their lives.
Although the record is not clear, It appears that the Pharisees came from where?
The Hasidim, who purpose to maintain the purity of the Jewish religion and culture against paganism.
Why was oral tradition — which concerns scholars’ interpretation of the law — a problem?
Pharisees gave it the same authority they gave to God’s Law.
How could you describe the typical Pharisee of Christ’s day?
They Pharisees by the strict ceremonial requirements of the law.
How did the Sadducees feel about Hellenism and Roman rule?
The Sadducees felt that both were needed to maintain good business conditions and their position of privilege.
If we compare the Essenes to the Pharisees we find that…
Both groups focused on obeying the law, but the Essenes were more legalistic.
How did zealots differ from other Jewish religious groups?
Zealots were totally committed to direct action to reach their goals.
What was the role of the New Testament Scribes?
The New Testament Scribes acted as copyists, preservers, and interpreters of the Law.
What is the Sanhedrin?
The Sanhedrin is, “The Jewish governing council in Jerusalem and the local judicial system that handled most religious and civil affairs.
What factors motivated the development of the synagogues?
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.
How might we compare the priority of the Temple to that of the Synagogue?
The Synagogue had replaced the Temple as the most important means of maintaining the religious system.
Briefly state the catalyst that promoted the rise of the Pharisees.
Pharisees arose in response to the spread of Hellenism and its paganizing influence.
The Pharisees were originally members of the Hasidim, a Hebrew word that means what?
Pious Ones
Characteristics of a Sadducee
- political concerns
- wealthy aristocratic class
- priestly class
- supported Hellenism
- centered in the Temple
- accepted only written law
- did not seek converts
- unpopular with most Jews
Characteristics of a Pharisee
- religious concerns
- middle class
- laymen
- rejected Hellenism
- centered in the Synagogues
- accepted oral tradition, written law, prophets, and writings
- sought converts
- popular with many Jews
Briefly describe the typical Pharisee.
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.
Why were the Pharisees more popular than the Sadducees?
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.
According to the Essenes, how would God resolve Israel’s problems?
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.
Compare the Essenes with the Pharisees.
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.
What is a primary difference between Zealots and other Jewish groups?
Zealots were primarily different because of their fanatical nationalism.
What impact did the Zealots have upon Jewish life?
Their uprisings against the Romans led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation in AD 70.
Name three main duties of the scribe in the time of Christ.
He was a copier, preserver, and interpreter of the law.
What status did scribes hold in the Jewish religious system?
Scribes were highly respected.
What was the Sanhedrin and what was its purpose?
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.
Describe the first level of the Sanhedrin.
Smaller councils of either seven or twenty-three members, depending on the size of the city were attached to all Synagogues in Palestine.
Describe the great Sanhedrin.
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.
