Download Misc. Items of Session 4

Pascual
Session 4.A
Questions to address
-What were the different groups of Judaism like (during the time of Jesus)
-Who decides what the beliefs of Catholicism are?

There was no single monolithic and uniform expectation of
the Messiah among first-century Jews.
 N.T. Wright, The New Testament and the People of God, 307.
The Sanhedrin
The Supreme religious authority in Jerusalem.
Governed over issues of religion and secular matters.
Jewish communities dispersed outside Israel (Diaspora)
look to them for guidance.
Sadducees
This party was the Priestly Aristocracy of Jerusalem who
exercised their power through the Sanhedrin.
Theologically conservative, accepted only the Pentateuch
and rejected later ideas:
• angels, demons and resurrection of the dead, all of
which developed in the postexilic period.
The Pharisees
Comprised of both priests and lay people
Seek to extend Temple holiness to everyday life.
Predecessor of Rabbinic Judaism.
More Liberal than Sadducees
• accepted angels and demons, free will, judgment after
death and resurrection of the dead
Note on Pharisess
Highly probable that Jesus engaged in debates with the Pharisees,
though unlikely to have been involved in his arrest or execution.
Played a major role in Judaism after the destruction of the Temple
(70 AD)
Also, Jewish Christians were excommunicated from the
synagogues shortly after.
The Zealots
Fanatical Jewish nationalists
• Used terrorism and assassination against Romans
Interpreted Jewish Messianic Hope politically
Not a major power until 66-70 AD
The Essenes
Jewish version of the Omish
withdrawn to the desert
quasi-monastic life under strict rule
settled at Qumran
“Dead Sea Scrolls” comes from them
Theological View of Essenes
• Highly eschatological if not apocalyptic
• Ritual purity, strict observance of Law
• Study of Scriptures
• Joining sect meant new covenant relationship with God
• Expected for 2 Messiahs
The Samaritans
• Lived in the high country between Judea and Galilee
• Mixed people: survivors of Northern kingdom of Israel
and the Assyrians
• Considered heretical and schismatic by other Jews
• Built their own temple on Mt Garizim, and did not
worship in Jerusalem
• Accepted only the Pentateuch
• Messiah was seen as “The Restorer”
The Jewish Revolt (66-70 A.D.)
The Jewish groups during the destruction of the Temple
Sanhedrin
Sadducees
Pharisees
The Essenes
The Samaritans
“The Way” (followers of Jesus)
Religion Tree/
Timeline
6670AD
132133
Pharisees
RABBINIC JUDAISM
Followers of THE WAY
CHRISTIANITY
TEMPLE JUDAISM
Questions to address
-What were the different groups of Judaism like (during the time of Jesus)
-Who decides what the beliefs of Catholicism are?
Questions to address
-What were the different groups of Judaism like (during the time of Jesus)
-Who decides what the beliefs of Catholicism are?

Known as the juridical view
1) Formal Teaching:
The Magisterium promulgates law and teaches
doctrine
2) Reception
The faithful obediently accept these laws and
doctrines
1a) The Christian
faithful’s
pluriform
expression of its
faith
2a) Episcopal
Reception of
these
Expressions of
Faith
4a) Reception of
Doctrinal
Formulations
3a) Official
Formulation as
Doctrine
The transmission of faith comes through the life of the Church (worship, Scripture, Tradition) protected
by the successors of the Apostles (the bishops).
Most authoritative formulations occur in “ecumenical councils.” See Acts 15.
Catholics see the first ecumenical council to be The Council of Jerusalem (in Acts 15)
Non-Catholic Historians prefer to begin with the Council of Nicea (325 AD)
The latest council is Vatican II (1960-69)
From
http://www.newadvent.org/library/almanac_14388a.htm
How was the New Testament put together?
The Books for the New Testament Canon was decided on two criteria:
-associated with an apostle in some way
- orthodox in doctrine (use in worship)
Interplay of life of the Church and the written Scripture
- living community checked and controlled by the testimony of the apostle
- the written records were checked and controlled by the living community
Finalization of the NT Canon
Early decades of the 2 nd Century, there are evidence of the modern day canon
But not definitively finalized until 380-90AD (in the West)
Significantly later in the East.
Brown E., Raymond. Introduction to the New Testament.
Bokkenkotter, Thomas. A Concise History of the Catholic Church.
Gonzalez L., Justo. The Story of Christianity.
Gaillardetz, Richard. By What Authority? A primer on Scripture, the Magisterium and the Sense of the
Faithful.