Three of the major parties or sects within Judaism during the time of the Intertestamental Period and the New Testament were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes. The New Testament and other sources use the word hairesis when talking about these groups, meaning “a division, opinion, or discension.” (Scott, J. Julius. Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1995. Pg. 200.) This word would not necessarily be talking about a heresy or a group promoting a heresy. Instead, hairesis was simply taken to mean a party or denomination. Pharisees The Pharisees were the most influential sect of Judaism during the Intertestamental and New Testament periods. They were the largest group in number, had the most favor with the Romans, and were in control of the temple. We know about the Pharisees due to rabbinic writings, Josephus, and the New Testament. The meaning of the name Pharisee is most closely associated with the Hebrew word parash, meaning “one who separates.” (Scott, 202). There would have been several separations involved for the Pharisees, including those who had separated from the commoners of the land, those who had separated from certain political groups, and those who had different interpretations of the law. This was an overall attempt by the Pharisees to separate themselves from impurity in observance of the law. It is interesting to note that there are examples of Pharisees who did things to help Jesus, despite being known generally as opponents of Jesus and the early Christians. These examples included warning Jesus that he life was threatened, protecting Christians, sharing meals, and also believing in Jesus. According to Acts 23:8, the Pharisees believed in resurrection, angels, and spirits. This is noted in contrast to the Sadducees, who did not believe in any of the three. Mark Chapter 7 draws attention to the fact that the Pharisees took care to cleanse themselves and follow the lead of the elders. According to Matthew 23, the Pharisees were considered the authority of the religious community. They showed a desire for honor and recognition, observed the law very specifically, and sought converts diligently. Scott states that “Pharisaic tradition included not only different ceremonial and cultic regulations, but also expansions of beliefs which the Sadducees could not accept.” (Scott, 206) Sadducees The Sadducees are also known from the New Testament, Josephus, and rabbinic writings. While there is no certain of the origin of their name, the Sadducees are linked “with the Old Testament family of Zadok, the Hebrew word for ‘just’ or ‘righteous,’ or ‘court officials’ or ‘judges.’ (Scott, 207). Zadok was “a high priest during the days of David and Solomon.” (Lea, Thomas D. and Black, David Alan. The New Testament: It’s Background and Message. Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2003. Pg 58) As was mentioned before, Acts 23:8 indicates that the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection, or angels, or spirit. The Sadducees had a reputation for being rude and were not a large group, but they had men in high positions. They were even more strict than the Pharisees, but often followed the Pharisees because of the opinions of the people. Sadducees rejected the idea of pre-destination and instead held to free will and choice. The Sadducees were not open to the new traditions of the Pharisees and instead were very conservative in regard to Old Testament law. The biggest conflict that Jesus and the early Christians had with the Sadducees centered around the resurrection, which was proclaimed as reality in by the early Christians. Additionally, Jesus enjoyed more popularity than the Sadducees, which would have been considered a threat to their sect. Jesus also agreed with the Pharisees on some of their views, which added to their distaste for the Sadducees. Essenes The Essenes are not as well-known as the Pharisees and the Sadducees because they are not included in the New Testament writings. Instead, the Essenes are mentioned from Josephus, Philo, and Pliny the Elder. While they did not have a huge influence on Judaism, the Essenes are important for study as an “example of another of the divisions within Intertestamental Judaism, reaction (withdrawal from society) to the crises which molded the distinctive character of the period, and probably relevance to the Dead Sea Scrolls.” (Scott, 216). The Essense were puritanical, ascetic, and monastic, living often in seclusion. Communal life was a big part of the Essene sect, as they shared money and goods from a treasury. The Essenes were largely interested in morals instead of philosophy and held Moses to be of vast importance next to God. The Essenes disagreed with the traditions of the Pharisees and the Sadducees and believed that God controls and pre-determines all. Scott points out that the Essenes “rejected the legitimacy of those controlling the Jerusalem temple; instead they believed only the family of Zadok should have that prerogative.” (Scott, 217). This indicates that the Essenes were in disapproval of the Pharisees’ control over the temple, which further fueled the rejection of their traditions. As a result, the Essense “refused to practice the sacrificial ritual of the Jerusalem temple because they viewed it as captive to a corrupt priesthood.” (Lea, 58). To Agree and Disagree I believe that Scott is right to note that these sects wouldn’t necessarily have meant that they were groups of heresy. I think we are quick to write off each of the groups (and all of the people in them) based on the connotation of the word “hairesis.” Instead, it is important to mention that each of these groups had elements and practices that were in line with Judaism and Christianity. I agree with the Pharisees’ “concept” of separation from the world, separation from the common people, and separation from other methods of treating the law. We are, after all, separated into a group as believers. This was the case with the nation of Israel and it is the case with the church. Exodus 19:5-6 says “5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” It is understandable that the Pharisees would have favored separation in concept. Similarly, I agree with the Sadducees “concept” of their treatment with the Law. They were conservative in regard to Scripture and did not accept the new traditions that the Pharisees implemented. In Mark 7:8, Jesus scolded the Pharisees for these traditions of men, saying “8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” It is clear that the Pharisees had lost sight of the commands of God and began to lean on their own traditions. I love the “concept” of the Essenes living communally where their needs were taken care of by a central treasury. I think it can be helpful to withdraw to commune with God and His church, and I believe that the Acts church intended to live in a way that took care of each other’s needs. Acts 2 says: “42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” At its core, the church is intended to be in community with one another and is to take care of each other’s needs. While there were several things I appreciated the concepts of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes, there are certainly disagreements as well. As Mark 7 stated, it was clear that the Pharisees had lost sight of God and turned their eyes to men and traditions of men. I disagree completely with the Sadducees rejection of resurrection and believe that it is central to an understanding of Christ’s accomplishment and our renewed life. I Thessalonians 4 says, “14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. Our faith is meaningless without the resurrection of Christ and our hope for rising with Him! Lastly, I disagree with the Essenes largely in their reluctance to accept others into their midst and their rejection of marriage. Paul says in I Corinthians 9, “19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” I believe the Essenes were missing out on the active work of the Gospel and sharing it with those in Jerusalem, and Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Total seclusion and withdrawal keeps us away from the very people who need the Messiah. Additionally, I believe that the union of husband and wife is to reflect the union of Christ and his church. There is beauty in this relationship and God uses it as a reflection of the celebration of being found in Him. Ephesians 5 says, “25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himselfas a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” We can learn a lot from the sects of Judaism as to what divides and what separates the people of God. May we be separated unto God, but unified in Christ! Bibliography Lea, Thomas D. and Black, David Alan. The New Testament: It’s Background and Message. Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2003. Scott, J. Julius. Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1995.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 00:58:24 +0000
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