1.2 the world of the first century and the significance of this context for the life and work of Jesus

Question 1

Who were the main religious groups in 1st century Palestine?

Answer 1

Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, Essenes and Samaritans

Question 2

Who were the Pharisees?

Answer 2

• a political-religious group
• aimed to make sure ordinary Jews followed the religious laws of Judaism + didn’t want Jews to assimilate to Roman culture
• followed the purity laws of Judaism outlined in the Torah
• mostly cooperated politically with the Romans

Question 3

Who were the Sadducees?

Answer 3

• generally upper middle class + ruled the Temple
• many were members of the Sanhedrin
• had considerable social + political power
• many didn’t oppose the Roman rule as they enjoyed the power they received - economically comfortable

Question 4

Who were the Zealots?

Answer 4

• focussed on reactionary resistance against the Romans
• formed in direct reaction to the censuses + taxes
• fought to the death with zeal

Question 5

Who were the Essenes?

Answer 5

• largely focussed on holiness and purity
• lived separate from society in celibate male communities
• awaited a priestly Messiah to restore purity of the Temple

Question 6

Who were the Samaritans?

Answer 6

• were not acceptes as true Jews as they intermarried with the Babylonians
• they didn’t recognise the Temple + only accepted the written law

Question 7

Who were the elders?

Answer 7

• the leaders of the people
• origin is probably from the Exile when the rich, educated families took control when their was no priesthood

Question 8

Who were the High Priests?

Answer 8

• Most eminent person of the nation, represented the people to the Romans in the absence of a King
• authorised to make atonement for the sins of the nation
• only people able to approach the Holy of Holies

Question 9

Who were the Sanhedrin?

Answer 9

• the supreme court/council in Jerusalem
• made up of 71 priests, scribes or elders
• Romans gave them power to pass sentences according to Jewish law but not pass the death sentence

Question 10

Who were the scribes?

Answer 10

• spent a large amount of time focusing on the Hebrew scriptures

Question 11

Who were the followers of John the Baptist?

Answer 11

• were baptised in supposed preparation for the coming of Christ
• didn’t oppose Jesus’ ministry

Question 12

Why did these groups oppose Jesus’ ministry?

Answer 12

Pharisees= didn’t like that Jesus challenged oral law
Sadducees= rejected life after death and therefore wouldn’t agree with Jesus
Zealots= would disagree with Jesus’ teachings of peace
Essenes=
High Priests= opposed Jesus equating himself with God

Question 13

What is hellenism?

Answer 13

hellenism = the cultural effect following the geographical political conquests of Alexander the Great
- Greek culture permeated Jewish Culture

Question 14

What are common beliefs in platonism?

Answer 14

the real world we live in is only a shadow of the true reality of the eternal world - the realm of the forms

Question 15

What are common beliefs in gnosticism?

Answer 15

human spirits had fallen from the upper world and those worthy would receive knowledge and return to the higher spirit world

Question 16

What is a common belief in stoicism?

Answer 16

the world was made and sustained by an all pervading energy

Question 17

How did the Roman occupation influence the world of the first century?

Answer 17

Jewish resentment of Roman rule led to increased messianic expectation -> people believed that the Messiah may come and liberate the Jews from Roman rule
- the Jewish authorities sill had a lot of control BUT during major Jewish festivals e.g. Passover, the prefect would move to Jerusalem

Question 18

How did the Roman occupation impact Jesus’ ministry?

Answer 18

• the construction of Roman roads made the ministry of Jesus easier as he could preach more widely
• crucifixion was characteristically a Roman punishment
• Jesus was perceived as a threat to the Romans as previous leaders of rebellions had come from Galilee

Question 19

Why was there ethical tension between the Roman Empire and the Jewish community?

Answer 19

Romans are polytheistic whereas Jews are monotheistic
- worshipping any other gods is explicitly forbidden in the Ten Commandments
- the resistance of Jews to adopt Roman gods became a source of ethical tension

Question 20

Did Herod Antipas try to hellenise?

Answer 20

• No, there is no indication that he tried to impose the Greek or Roman way of life on the people
• Jews maintained their Jewish way of life e.g. the Gospels refer to Jesus attending synagogues and keeping the pilgrim festivals