Religious Sects of Israel

Question 1

Pharisees

Answer 1

Theology-Staunch Conservatives-upheld the OT and Oral Tradition.

Politics-Legalists and political separatists.

Date-Began in the Intertestamental period.

*Middle Class.

Question 2

Sadducees

Answer 2

Theology-Religious liberals-rejected resurrection and immortality beliefs. Strongly opposed the Pharisees and tradition.

Date-Began in the Intertestamental
*Upper class

Question 3

Scribes

Answer 3

Theology-Professional teachers and interpreters of the law. Concentrated on disputes over minor details.

Date-Began with the return of the Jews from captivity-Ezra.

Question 4

Essenes

Answer 4

Theology-An extreme form of Pharisaism with foreign influences.

Politics-Monastics who sought to escape moral and religious corruption.

Date-Began during the Intertestamental period.

Question 5

Herodians

Answer 5

Politics-Pro-establishment Jews. Sought to keep Herod’s family in power.

Question 6

Zealots

Answer 6

Politics-Opposite of Herodians who used violence against the Romans. Wanted Palestine to return to a theocracy.