Chapter 5 The Diverse World of First Century

Chapter 5 The Diverse World of First. Century Judaisms ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

Key Topics/Themes • The diversity of first-century Judaism • Common beliefs of first-century Jews ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

First-century Jewish Diversity ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

The Sadducees • Origins of the Sadducees • The Sadducees and the Romans • Characteristic beliefs of the Sadducees ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

The Pharisees • Antagonism toward the Pharisees in the Gospels • Strict Torah observance • Hillel and Shammai • Relationship between the views of Jesus and the Pharisees • Gamaliel ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

The Academy of Jamnia • The leadership of Yohanan ben Zakkai • The development of Judaism at Jamnia ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

The Samaritans • The origin of the Samaritans • Hostility between Samaritans and Jews • Relationships between Samaritans and early Christianity ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls • Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls • The Essenes ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

The Qumran Community • Origins of the Qumran community • Beliefs of the Qumran Essenes ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

Qumran Community (cont’d. ) • Contents of the Qumran library (Dead Sea Scrolls) – Books of the Hebrew Bible – Pseudepigraphical books – Commentaries on biblical books – Community documents • Essenes and the New Testament ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

The Zealots • Origins of the Zealot movement • The role of the Zealots in the Jewish Revolt of 66 C. E. ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

The Messiah: First-century Expectations • Jesus’ failure to meet Jewish messianic expectations • Early Christian attempts to counter Jewish skepticism about Jesus’ messiahship ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

Messiah (cont’d. ) • The Royal Covenant of King David – Origins of Messiah theology in reigns of Davidic kings – Historical end of the Davidic dynasty • Israel’s hopes for a new Davidic king – Scriptural promises of a new dynasty – The Messiah as political leader ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

Messianic Claimants Before and After Jesus • • Judas the Galilean The Zealots and the Sicarii Simon bar Giora Simon bar Kochba ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

Portrayal of the Messiah in Psalm of Solomon 17 See, Lord, and raise up for them [Israel] their king, the son of David [italics added] to rule over your servant Israel in the time known to you, O God. . There will be no unrighteousness among them in his days, for all shall be holy, and their king shall be the Lord Messiah [italics added]. ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

A Revisionist View of the Messiah • The incompleteness of Jesus’ earthly mission • The necessity of Jesus’ return as supernatural king ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education

Summary • The New Testament Jesus explained using variety of Jewish traditions: – Anointed monarch in tradition of David – Lawgiver and prophet like Moses – Suffering servant – Heavenly sacrifice and eternal priest – Image of the invisible God – Christ (mashiah) as Jesus’ name, not a title only ©Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education