Summary REL 1310JEWISH MOVEMENTS.fall07. FIRST-CENTURY JUDAISM(S)

• “The Jews, from the most ancient times, had three philosophies pertaining to their traditions, that of the Essenes, that of the Sadducees, and, thirdly, that of the group called the Pharisees.” Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, 18.11PRE-70 JEWISH MOVEMENTS IN JUDEA • II. PHARISEES – A. Sources » 1. Josephus » 2. NT » 3. rabbinic literature, esp. MishnahI. PRE-70 JEWISH MOVEMENTS IN JUDEA • II. Pharisees – B. Origin and Growth – “Moses received the Law from Sinai and committed it to Joshua, and Joshua to the elders and the elders to the Prophets, and the Prophets committed it to the men of the Great Synagogue. They said three things: be deliberate in judgment, raise up many disciples, and make a fence around the law”(P. Aboth 1.1)– C. Teachings: Ritual Purity in the Home » 1. Food Laws• 1. Food Laws • For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders, and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots and bronze kettles. So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him [Jesus]: “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” (Mark 7:2-3)