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Early Judaism Introduction

Early Judaism Introduction. NT301: Introduction to the New Testament New Brunswick Theological Seminary Virginia Wiles. Quick Overview. The Jewish People Jewish Institutions Jewish Expectations. The Jewish People. A Common Heritage Diverse Expressions. A Common Heritage. Common History

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Early Judaism Introduction

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  1. Early JudaismIntroduction NT301: Introduction to the New Testament New Brunswick Theological Seminary Virginia Wiles Early Judaism

  2. Quick Overview • The Jewish People • Jewish Institutions • Jewish Expectations Early Judaism

  3. The Jewish People • A Common Heritage • Diverse Expressions Early Judaism

  4. A Common Heritage • Common History • Common Scriptures • Common Rituals Early Judaism

  5. Sharing a History • Exile • ca. 587 B.C.E. • Monotheism • Return • ca. 540-440 B.C.E. • Apocalypticism • Exodus • ca. 1300 B.C.E. • Moses & Torah • Monarchy • ca. 1000 B.C.E. • David • Divided Kingdom • Prophets Early Judaism

  6. Common Scriptures • Torah • Tanak • Torah -- LAW • Nebi’im -- PROPHETS • Kethubim -- WRITINGS • The Scriptures in Translation • The Septuagint • The Targums Early Judaism

  7. 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 Early Judaism

  8. Common Rituals Early Judaism

  9. Diverse Expressions • Pharisees • Sadducees • Zealots and Sicarii • Essenes • The Samaritans • The Therapeutae • Diaspora Judaism • Diversity in Literature Early Judaism

  10. 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 conditions of life in the “modern” world. • Written and Oral Torah Early Judaism

  11. The Sadducees • Unclear origins (= Zadokites) • included great majority of chief priests • great power in Jerusalem during Hasmonean and Herodian periods • ?rejected oral law • ?collaborated with Rome Early Judaism

  12. Chief Priests • Included: captains of the temple, temple treasurers and overseers, directors of weekly courses of priests • High Priest: president and convener of Sanhedrin • Factors limiting power and influence • no longer inherited (from Herod the Great on) • held office at pleasure of Romans Early Judaism

  13. Zealots and Sicarii • Origins unclear • Applies (broadly) to anyone who participated in revolutionary struggle against Rome Early Judaism

  14. 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 Early Judaism

  15. Qumran • “Teacher of Righteousness” • Highly structured community with emphasis on purity • Monastic • Apocalyptic -- Good vs. Evil Early Judaism

  16. 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 the Community 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 soul’s sake from the pure Meal of the Congregation…. Early Judaism

  17. Other Jewish Groups • The Samaritans • Claimed to be authentic survivors of exiled Israelite nation • Mt. Gerazim • Samaritan Pentateuch • The Therapeutae • mentioned by Philo • 1st c. Egyptian Jewish • Female monastics • Diaspora Judaism • Philo and Paul • Little information Early Judaism

  18. Diversity in Jewish Literature • The Writings of Rabbinic Judaism • Jewish Mysticism • Jewish Apocalyptic Texts Early Judaism

  19. The Talmud • Oral Law = Mishnah • Gemara (commentary on Mishnah) • Talmud = Mishnah + Gemara • Palestinian • Bablylonian Early Judaism

  20. Jewish Institutions • The Temple • The Synagogue • The Sanhedrin Early Judaism

  21. 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 Early Judaism

  22. Model of the Second Temple

  23. Social Arrangement of Temple • Holy of Holies • Holy Place • Court of Israel • Women’s Court • Court of the Gentiles Early Judaism

  24. 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 Early Judaism

  25. Synagogue at Capernaum Early Judaism

  26. Synagogue at Gamla Early Judaism

  27. 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 Early Judaism

  28. Apocalyptic • Simple Eschatology • Prophetic Eschatology • Apocalyptic Eschatology Early Judaism

  29. Summary of Judaism • Jewish People: Common Heritage -- Diverse Expressions • Jewish Insitutions:Temple -- Synagogue -- Home • Jewish Expectation: Apocalyptic Early Judaism

  30. Summary of Key Terms • Common Jewish History • Torah • Tanak • Septuagint • Apocrypha • Pseudepigrapha • Israelite festivals • Sanhedrin Early Judaism

  31. Summary of Terms, cont. • Pharisees • Sadducees • Essenes • Samaritans • Zealots • Talmud • Second Temple • Synagogues • Apocalyptic Eschatology Early Judaism

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