Hellenism Sadducees
Pharisees
The international culture that had been brought to Judea by the Greeks and The most influential group who were made up of upper-class
They were the largest of the religious
the Roman Empire. It refers to the spread of Greek culture and ideas into Jews. They were wealthy and privileged members of the
parties who opposed the Sadducees and
society, ie. Polytheism, the human appearance of Greek gods, idolatry and aristocracy, whose views were based on the literal teachings of
were numerous among ordinary people, so
humanism, which were resisted by Jews. New forms of leisure were the Torah, ignoring oral tradition and focusing only on the Law of
lacked the wealthy and political
introduced, including public bathing and sport. They developed a powerful Moses. They maintained the Temple and worked with the Romans
connections. They taught a more personal
philosophical tradition, and stoicism became the belief of the Roman to give themselves status and authority. They did not believe in a
code, with their teachings going beyond
Empire, believing in one deist God. Cynicism was another belief, that the soul, life after death, the coming of the Messiah, the resurrection
the Torah to traditions, prophets and
best life was that which followed nature rather than societal expectations. or miracles, and resisted the influence of Hellenism
philosophising, covering every aspect of
It created cultural relativism, the sense that Judaism was not special and Influence on Jesus
Jewish life. They adopted Hellenic ideas
that their God was no different to other Gods. Jesus came into conflict with them over the issue of life after
including life after death and a spirit world.
Influence on Jesus death, and they were concerned that Jesus would cause the
Influence on Jesus
Jesus grew up in Galilee, where Hellenic ideas mixed with Jewish beliefs. He Romans to close the Temple, causing them to lose their authority
Jesus condemned them for being too
believed in the Hellenic concepts of life after death and personal and influence. Ultimately, it is the High Priest, a member of the
focused on following the rules and
immorality, and John links him to Logos. He spread his message to gentiles, Sadducees, who arrested Jesus.
outward rituals, and not truly loving and
which fits with the Hellenic outlook. Crossan argues that Jesus was a cynic
worshipping God. Jesus may have been a
philosopher, and that Q source reflects cynic ideas.
rogue Pharisee as he agreed with their Scribes
emphasis on life after death and going A sect of the Pharisees who first appeared under King
The World of the First Century beyond the Torah. David. They were a group of lawyers who became the
Jewish legal authorities and acted as archivists and
historians. They made copies of the scriptures, adding their
Sanhedrin Essenes own views onto the law because they saw themselves as
The Jewish council/parliament, They rejected the Temple and animal sacrifice, following the Pharisaic experts. They explained the Torah by translating it and
made up of 70 representatives of laws and living in their own communities in the desert. They believed giving commentary to show the instructions of the law
the Pharisees, Sadducees and some that the Temple cult had led to corruption, emphasising daily baptism were to be lived out in everyday life. Scribes were officials
Scribes. They ruled on whether and looking forward to a priestly Messiah to restore worship and a at all levels of government, ignoring oral tradition.
Jewish laws had been broken and kingly Messiah to free Jews from oppression, awaiting a final day of
legislated all aspects of Jewish crisis.
religious and political life. They Roman Occupation
Influence on Jesus The Roman Empire was based in a Senate in Rome with total
were the only group who could try They believed that they were the sons of light and that their enemies
the king, extend the boundaries of Mediterranean control and dominated the old Hellenistic kingdoms of
were the sons of darkness, so Jesus may have been influenced by their Greece and Asia. The Emperor declared himself the Son of God and was
the Temple and Judaism, and were ideas through his references to being the light of the world.
the ones to whom all questions of worshipped; refusing to do so was blasphemy. Roman occupation was
the law were ultimately put. They distant from many Jews’ daily lives, as Judaism was considered a protected
were the highest court in Judaism Zealots religion, meaning that Romans would work around Jewish restrictions.
which decided on Jewish legal They were a military sect who wanted to free Jews from Roman Interacting with it was difficult as meetings and hearings involved pagan
matters, with the appointed High occupation and awaited a kingly Messiah to lead them into war. They sacrifice, which broke the Jewish amendment of worshipping only one God.
Priest being the ultimate authority. opposed the Pharisees and Sadducees and were not liked by other Pilate was brutal and used crucifixions, bringing pagan symbols into
Influence on Jesus religious groups because of their use of violence, and they were Jerusalem which caused a riot. He worked with the High Priest Caiaphas and
Jesus was taken before the responsible for many Jewish uprisings in Rome. travelled to Jerusalem during Passover, a time for rebellions.
Sanhedrin and charged with Influence on Jesus Influence on Jesus
blasphemy; falsely claiming to be Jesus opposed their violent philosophy but sided with the Zealots Jesus praised the faith of and socialised with publicans, as well as making
the Messiah and the Son of God. when questioned on his attitude towards tax. Simon the Zealot was a converts of them, such as Matthew and Zacchaeus. He praised the faith of
Under Jewish law, they could not disciple, showing the love and forgiveness within the Kingdom of God. the Centurion and announced that gentiles would be rewarded alongside
carry out the death penalty, so had Brandon suggests that Jesus was a Zealot but resisted violent uprisings, Jews. The main role of the Romans in Jesus’ life was during his trial and
to appeal to Pilate. which is why Judas betrayed him. execution
