Paul.lesson.12.political.groups.part.3

1. Lesson 12 Religio-Political Groups Part 3
2/7/2016 1© John R. Wible

2. 2/7/2016 2© John R. Wible
Pre-Second Temple Chronology
• 722 Israel Falls to Assyria
• 612 Babylon takes Assyria
• 586 Babylonian takes Judah
• 539 Persians Capture Babylon
• 333 Alexander Captures
Jerusalem

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B.C. Second Temple Chronology (B.C.)
• 320 Ptolemy (Egyptian/Greek) takes
Jerusalem
• 200 Seleucids (Syrian/Greeks) take
Jerusalem
• 175 Antiochus Epiphanes
• 168 Maccabean Revolt
• 167 Temple Desecrated

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Maccabean Chronology (B.C.)
• 163 Maccabean Rule -Temple Rededication
– Pharisees Rise
– Sadducees Rise
– Essenes Rise
• 64 Rome Conquers Jerusalem
• 40 Herod made “King of the Jews”
– Herodians Rise
6 Jesus is Born

5. Pharisees
Scribes
Sadducees
• Essenes
• Herodians
• Zealots and Sicarii
2/7/2016 5© John R. Wible
Religio-Political Parties

6. • It’s a story – a drama
• God is introducing the characters –
– Setting the stage
• But – It’s a story within a story
1. A Shakespearean Drama starring Israel
2. God’s “Better Story” starring Jesus
– Paul is merely a supporting actor
2/7/2016 6© John R. Wible
So What?

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Essenes at Qumran

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Most Famous for Dead Sea Scrolls

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Was there an Essene Connection with Jesus

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Jesus in the Wilderness

12. • They were in the same small country.
They were Jews.
• They were seriously religious.
• They were deeply conservative.
• They based beliefs on ancient scriptures
not the world as it was.
• They preferred Jews to non-Jews.
• They resented the temple priesthood, the
Sadducees.
2/7/2016 12© John R. Wible
The “Jesus Connection?” –Similarities

13. • They disliked the Pharisees, but saw
some good in some of them.
• They expected God to change the world
and destroy the wicked soon-they were
apocalyptic and eschatological.
• They were disliked by the Romans. Jesus
and many Essenes were killed by them
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The “Jesus Connection?”

14. • No record of “silent years
• Jesus grew up in Galilee not Judea
• Long distance between
• Samaritans between them
• Lack of Biblical record
• Lack of extra-Biblical record
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The “Jesus Connection?” - No

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Was there an Essene Connection with
Jesus or John the Baptizer?

16. • Proximity
• Heritage
• Baptism
• Presentation
• Audience
• Teaching
2/7/2016 16© John R. Wible
John the Baptizer – An Essene?

17. No
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John the Baptizer – An Essene?

18. Sadducees Pharisees Essenes
Social Class Priests, aristocrats Common people [Unknown]
Authority Priests "Disciples of the Wise" "Teacher of Righteousness"
Practices
Emphasis on priestly
obligations
Application of priestly laws
to non-priests
"Inspired Exegesis"
Calendar Luni-solar Luni-solar Solar
Attitude Toward:
Hellenism For Selective Against
Hasmoneans
Opposed usurpation of
priesthood by non-
Zadokites
Opposed usurpation of
monarchy
Personally opposed to
Jonathan
Free will Yes Mostly No
Afterlife None Resurrection Spiritual Survival
Bible Literalist
Sophisticated scholarly
interpretations
"Inspired Exegesis"
Oral Torah No such thing Equal to Written Torah "Inspired Exegesis"
2/7/2016 18© John R. Wible
Summary of the Views of the Four Major Parties
Scribes

19. Let’s Pray About It
2/7/2016 19© John R. Wible© John R. Wible