Chapter 6: Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Divine Revelation FAITH AND REVELATION

1. The Religious and Political Situation How was the time immediately preceding Christ similar to that of King David’s reign? Israel had regained her old borders, Jerusalem was the capital, the Temple was purified and reconsecrated to God, and the king was both the religious and political leader of the nation. \

1. The Religious and Political Situation THE PHARISEES Pharisee comes from the Aramaic word perushim, which means “separated”. How was the practice of Judaism under the Pharisees? Besides refusing to associate with Gentiles, the Pharisees thought everyone should follow the complicated ritualistic regulations they had developed under their interpretation of the Mosaic Law. The Pharisees, who were not priests, basically took the rules and regulations Moses gave to the Levitical priests to follow when they were serving in the Temple and applied them to all Jews in their everyday lives. Why could the Pharisees justifiably claim they were right in separating themselves from the rest of the world? Whenever Israel had allowed herself to be influenced by outside cultures and religions, she had met with disastrous consequences.

1. The Religious and Political Situation THE SADDUCEES Who were the Sadducees? They were priests who claimed to be the spiritual heirs of Zadok, King Solomon’s priest, whose heirs were supposed to be priests in Jerusalem forever. How did the Sadducees answer the question, “How can Jews be faithful to God amid pagans”? They cooperated with Gentile rulers. What were some of the Sadducees’s central beliefs? They believed only the Pentateuch was canonical, denied life after death, and rejected the existence of angels. Why did the Pharisees hate the Sadducees? The Sadducees cooperated with the Romans rather than separate themselves from them. As a consequence, the Sadducees had political power, which was denied to the Pharisees.

1. The Religious and Political Situation How often are the Essenes mentioned in Sacred Scripture? They are never mentioned. What were the basic beliefs of the Essenes? They held the Law of Moses and Jewish customs in high esteem; rejected the animal sacrifices of the Temple; kept the Sabbath; placed much value in ceremonial purity, washing frequently and practicing baptism; and believed in the immortality of the soul. What were some of the laudable moral practices of the Essenes? They cared for the sick, practiced hospitality, treated all men equally, prohibited slavery, held goods in common, and practiced pacifism. Many also lived celibacy.

1. The Religious and Political Situation Guided Exercise Work with a partner to complete the following table about the various Jewish groups in Israel in the time of Christ.

1. The Religious and Political Situation

1. The Religious and Political Situation All of this religious division left Israel weak and divided. As Christ himself would one day note: “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” (Matthew 12:25) Herod – an unscrupolous half Jewish man entered into a plot with the Roman Empire to seize power. As the Romans took occupation of Israel, Herod ascended to the throne. This was the Israel into which Christ was born.

1. The Religious and Political Situation JUDEA AND GALILEE Who were the Zealots? They were Jewish nationalists who sought to overthrow the Roman rulers and reestablish the Kingdom of Israel as a sovereign nation. Eventually, their efforts to throw off the Romans resulted in the complete destruction of Israel.

1. The Religious and Political Situation SETTING THE STAGE FOR CHRIST What was the Pax Romana? It was a centuries-long relative peace the known world enjoyed under the Roman Empire. How did the Pax Romana and Roman rule facilitate the spread of Christianity? There was an extensive network of roads, one currency, one law, no borders to cross, and relative safety when traveling. What was the Roman attitude toward other religions? The Romans generally tolerated any religion as long as its adherents did not cause problems such as rebellion or refusal to pay taxes. Was Rome completely pagan? No. Under the influence of Greek philosophy, some had reasoned their way to a monotheism with God as the First Cause.

1. The Religious and Political Situation What are the proselytes of the Gate? These Gentiles were attracted to Judaism and believed in the one true God. They worshiped in Jewish synagogues and studied the Scriptures yet refrained from converting, which required circumcision and following the dietary laws. They were eager converts to Christianity. What two groups was St. Paul addressing when he began, “Men of Israel, and you that fear God…” (Acts 13:16)? He was referring to Jews and the proselytes of the Gate, respectfully.

1. The Religious and Political Situation KEY IDEAS The Pharisees were zealous and learned laymen who believed in separation from Gentiles and adherence to their interpretation of the Mosaic Law. The Sadducees were politically connected priests who believed in accommodating Gentile rulers. The Essenes withdrew to the desert to live a form of purified Judaism. Herod the Great was a crafty, murderous king who got the Romans to conquer Judea for him and brought prosperity to Israel, rebuilding the Second Temple. The spread of Christianity was aided by: the Pax Romana, the spread of Greek philosophy, the Jewish Diaspora, and the proselytes of the Gate.