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1st Century Judaism 1

First Century Judaism

Introduction to the New Testament

New Brunswick Theological Seminary

Virginia Wiles

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1st Century Judaism 2

Quick Overview

The Jewish People

Jewish Insitutions

Jewish Expectations

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1st Century Judaism 3

The Jewish People

A Common Heritage

Diverse Expressions

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1st Century Judaism 4

A Common Heritage

Common History

Common Scriptures

Common Rituals

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1st Century Judaism 6

Judaism after the Return

Alexanders Death -- 323 B.C.E.

The Maccabean Revolt -- 168-167 B.C.E.

The Hasmonean Dynasty -- 164-63 B.C.E.

Rome Takes Over -- 63 B.C.E.

Governance of Palestine in the 1st Century

The Destruction of the Temple -- 70 C.E.

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The Maccabean Revolt

175 Antiochus IV Epiphanes eccentric despot

sought to enforce Hellenization

co-opted the High Priest Office (Jason & Menalaus)

167 Abomination of Desolation see 1 Macc. 1:54; Dan. 11:31; 12:11

Judas MaccabeusThe Hammer

see 2 Macc. 9ff.164 Rededication of the Temple

Hannakah

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Roman Palestine

Herod Antipas Galilee and Peraea that fox

Archelaus Judea, Samaria, and Idumea

Removed by Romans in 6C.E.

Thereafter ruled byProcurators (=Pilate)

Philip extreme N and NEbuilt Caesarea Philippi

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The Temple Destroyed

Ruling Procuratorexpropriated Temple treasury

(66 C.E.)

Jewish rebellion ensued

Titus marched on Jerusalemin 70 C.E. and Destroyed the

Temple

Masada, the last Judean

fortress, fell in 73

Other rebellions

115-117 C.E.

132 C.E.

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Common Scriptures

Torah

Tanak

Torah -- LAW

Nebiim -- PROPHETS

Kethubim -- WRITINGS

The Scriptures in Translation

The Septuagint

The Targums

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Other Jewish Writings

The Apocrypha

Greek additions to the Septuagint

Key texts for study of Second Temple Judaism

The Pseudepigrapha

Many apocalypses

Jewish Midrash

A form of story telling among Jewish

thinkers. See, for example, 2 Cor 4

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Common RitualsDay Hebrew Name Purpose Time of Year

Sabbath Shabut Rest and Worship Sundown Friday to

Sundown Saturday

Israelite Festivals

Passover Pesach Exodus from Egypt Spring

Pentecost (Weeks) Shavuoth Fruits of Harvest 50 days after

Passover

Tabernacles (Booths) Succoth Wilderness Fall

Later Jewish Festivals

New Year Rosh Hashanah New Year Fall

Day of Atonement Yom Kippur Forgiveness Fall

Dedication Hannukah Restoration of Temple December

Lots Purim Esther early Spring

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Diverse Expressions

Pharisees

Sadducees

Zealots and Sicarii

Essenes

The Samaritans

The TherapeutaeDiaspora Judaism

Diversity in Literature

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The Pharisees

Social Characteristics

pietist movement composed mostly of laity

mostly tradesmen, craftsmen, merchants, farmers

Views:

Focused on the necessity of adapting Jewish piety

to the changed conditionsof life in the modern

world.

Written and Oral Torah

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The Sadducees

Unclear origins (= Zadokites)

included great majority ofchief priests

great power in Jerusalem during Hasmonean

and Herodian periods

?rejected oral law

?collaborated with Rome

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Chief Priests

Included: captains of the temple, temple treasurersand overseers, directors of weekly courses of priests

High Priest: president and convener of

SanhedrinFactors limiting power and influence

no longer inherited (from Herod the Great on)

held office at pleasure of Romans

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Zealots and Sicarii

Origins unclear

Applies (broadly) to anyone whoparticipated in revolutionary

struggle against Rome

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The Essenes

Mentioned by Josephus (&Philo?)

?Perhaps related to Qumran community?

Origins: Group of priests & levites left

temple in Jerusalem to protest abuses

under Hasmonean high priests

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Qumran

Teacher of Righteousness

Highly structured community with

emphasis on purity

Monastic

Apocalyptic -- Good vs. Evil

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Qumran Discipline

If any man has uttered the Venerable Name even though

frivolously, or as a result of shock, or for any other

reason whatever, while reading the Book or praying, he

shall be dismissed and shall return to the Council of theCommunity no more. If he has spoken in anger against

one of the Priests, he shall do penance for one year

and shall be excluded for his souls sake from the pure

Meal of the Congregation.

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Other Jewish Groups

The Samaritans Claimed to be authentic survivors of exiled Israelite nation

Mt. Gerazim

Samaritan Pentateuch

The Therapeutaementioned by Philo

1st c. Egyptian Jewish

Female monastics

Diaspora Judaism Philo and Paul

Little information

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Diversity in Jewish Literature

The Writings of Rabbinic Judaism

Jewish Mysticism

Jewish Apocalyptic Texts

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The Talmud

Oral Law = Mishnah

Gemara (commentary on Mishnah)

Talmud = Mishnah + Gemara

Palestinian

Bablylonian

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Jewish Institutions

The Temple

The Synagogue

The Sanhedrin

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The Second Temple

Built upon the return from the Exile

Herod the Great began expansion in 20 BCE

Served as the Center of Judaism

Stunning work of architecture

Social Arrangement of the Temple

M d l f th S d T l

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Model of the Second Temple

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Social Arrangement of Temple

Holy of Holies

Holy Place

Court of Israel

Womens Court

Court of the Gentiles

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Jewish Synagogues

Origins uncertain: Egypt? Babylon? Judea? Council house and place of assembly

Place of prayer --proseuche

Central Purpose: The Proclamation and Exposition of

the Law

Oriented toward the laity

Rectangular building facing toward Jerusalem

Board of Directors (3); Archisynagogus; 10 minimum

Service: Shema, prayer, and Torah

Meeting on Monday and Thursday as well as Sabbath

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Synagogue at Capernaum

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Synagogue at Gamla

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The Sanhedrin

sunedrion = seated together

first mentioned ca. 55 BCE; lasts until 70 CE

Chief priests, elders, and scribes

71 Jewish elders, presided over by high priest (=72)

Both legislative and judicial authority = city

council

In Palestine, both civil and religious authority; in

Diaspora, only religious

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Jewish Eschatology

Simple Eschatology

Prophetic Eschatology

FP

FP

Repent

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Apocalyptic Eschatology

FP

Crisis

This evil age The Age to Come

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Summary

Jewish People:

Common Heritage -- Diverse Expressions

Jewish Insitutions:Temple -- Synagogue -- Home

Jewish Expectation: Apocalyptic