judaism summary

8/14/2019 Judaism Summary

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Early JudaismIntroduction

NT301: Introduction to the New TestamentNew 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 Common Scriptures Common Rituals

Sharing a History Exodus ca. 1300 B.C.E. Moses & Torah

Monarchy ca. 1000 B.C.E. David Divided Kingdom Prophets

Exile ca. 587 B.C.E. Monotheism

Return ca. 540-(440) B.C.E. Apocalypticism


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Common Scriptures Torah

Tanak

Torah -- LAW (canonized ca. 540 BCE) Nebiim -- PROPHETS (canonized ca. 200 BCE) Kethubim -- WRITINGS (canonized ca. 90 CE)

Torah -- canonized ca. 440 BCEProphets -- canonized ca 2-3 c. BCE

These 2 categories --the Law and the Prophets --

were Scripture during Jesus and Pauls lives.

Writings -- canonized at Yavneh, ca. 90 CEexcludes Greek writings (in LXX)

The Scriptures in Translation The Septuagint The Targums

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 and scriptural interpretation amongJewish thinkers. See, for example, 2 Cor 4


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Common Rituals

Diverse Expressions Pharisees Sadducees Zealots and Sicarii Essenes The Samaritans The Therapeutae

Diaspora Judaism Diversity in Literature

Day Hebrew Name Purpose Time of Year

Sabbath Shabut Rest and Worship Sundown Friday toSundown 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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The Pharisees Social Characteristics pietist movement composed mostly of laity mostly tradesmen, craftsmen, merchants, farmers

Views: Focused on the necessity of adapting Jewish piety tothe changed conditions of life in the modern world. Written and Oral Torah

The Sadducees Unclear origins (= Zadokites) included great majority of chief priests great power in Jerusalem during Hasmonean andHerodian periods ?rejected oral law ?collaborated with Rome

Chief Priests Included: captains of the temple, temple treasurers andoverseers, 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

Zealots and Sicarii Origins unclear Applies (broadly) to anyone who participated in

revolutionary struggle against Rome

The Essenes Mentioned by Josephus (&Philo?) ?Perhaps related to Qumran community? Origins: Group of priests & levites left temple in


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Jerusalem to protest abuses under Hasmonean highpriests

Qumran Teacher of Righteousness Highly structured community with emphasis onpurity Monastic Apocalyptic -- Good vs. Evil

Qumran DisciplineIf 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 theCouncil of the Community no more. If he has spoken in angeragainst one of the Priests, he shall do penance for one year andshall be excluded for his souls sake from the pure Meal of theCongregation.

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

Diversity in Jewish Literature The Writings of Rabbinic Judaism Jewish Mysticism Jewish Apocalyptic Texts

The Talmud Oral Law = Mishnah Gemara (commentary on Mishnah)


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Talmud = Mishnah + Gemara Palestinian Bablylonian


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Jewish Institutions The Temple The Synagogue The Sanhedrin

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

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

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

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; inDiaspora, only religious

Apocalyptic Simple Eschatology Prophetic Eschatology Apocalyptic Eschatology


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Summary of Judaism Jewish People:Common Heritage -- Diverse Expressions Jewish Insitutions:

Temple -- Synagogue -- Home Jewish Expectation: Apocalyptic

Summary of Key Terms Common Jewish History Torah Tanak Septuagint Apocrypha Pseudepigrapha Israelite festivals Sanhedrin Pharisees Sadducees Essenes Samaritans Zealots Talmud

Second Temple Synagogues Apocalyptic Eschatology

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