Sects in first centuryJudaism

Sadducees

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

Wealthy aristocrats

Collaborated with Romans

Controlled office of High Priest

Associated with Temple in Jerusalem

Torah was most important, no interpretation

Fundamentalists

Messiah? Would not be a peasant!

Pharisees

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

“Separated Ones” – stayed away from Romans

Largest sect – 6000 members

Middle class – Artisans & Merchants

Interpreted Torah into all aspects of life

Insisted on perfect obedience to Law

More religious than political

Lay people, not priests – all over country

Essenes

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

Source of Dead Sea Scrolls

Withdrew completely from society

Monastic desert dwellers

John the Baptist might have been one of them

Waited for war between Satan and God’s angels

Saw themselves as recipients of a new covenant

Messiah = supernatural, heavenly figure

Zealots

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

Guerilla Fighters

Small, poorly organized groups

Needed a strong charismatic leader to unite them

Underground activists

Messiah would be a warrior king

Actively worked to overthrow Rome

Peasants, anawim