Introduction
This
page is an additional resource if you have only recently started readign
the Bible and have no understood the various people and groups you find
in the four Gospels in the new Testament.
There
were a variety of religious and political groups and individuals in
Israel in Jesus' day. We hope the following will help you understand
them:
The
People and Groups
Elders
Senior
figures in the Jewish community. The elders joined the priests and scribes
against Jesus (Matt 27:12)
Essenes
A
religious sect of reportedly 4,000 Jews in Palestine
during the time of Christ, but not mentioned in the NT. The
Essenes lived a simple life of sharing everything in common. They practiced
strict rules of conduct and were mostly unmarried.
Galileans
A
native or resident of Galilee , the most northerly of the three provinces
of Palestine ( Galilee , Samaria , Judea ). Also a political
freedom party who were followers of Judas of Galilee who headed
a rebellion against all foreign domination. Came into collision with
Pilate (Lk 13:1-3) and Jesus’ enemies tried to associate him with them
(Mt 26:69, Mk 14:70, Lk 23:6).
Herod
There
were a number of different Herods, who were rulers as follows:
Herodians
A
semi-political party (Matt 22:16 ; Mark 3:6; 12:13
) who joined with the Pharisees to oppose Jesus. It appears that they
were really neither a religious sect nor a proper political party, but
Jews who supported the dynasty of Herod and therefore the rule of Rome
.
Judeans
The
natives or residents of the southernmost of the three provinces of Palestine
Levites
Descendents
of Levi, of the tribe of Levi. Mentioned only twice in the Gospels –
Lk 10:32 & Jn 1:19 – and were probably helpers in the Temple.
Pharisees
"Pharisee,"
= "the separated ones, separatists," a religious party
who first appeared about 135 B.C. They were also known as
chasidim, meaning "loved of God" or "loyal to
God." According to Josephus, their number at the height of their
popularity was more than 6,000.
They
were exponents and guardians of the oral and written law, and in belief
were traditionalists or conservatives. Their orthodoxy was spiritually
barren and there were therefore opposed by Jesus (Mt 12:1,2 23:1-33,
Lk 6:6,7; 9:37 -54; 12:1)
Priests
Originally
spiritual servers in the Temple , descended from Aaron, of the tribe
of Levi. In Jesus’ time they also had civil powers. The head of the
order was the High Priest or Chief Priest, who in Jesus’ day was a very
powerful spiritual and political figure.
Being
part of the religious establishment, the priests plotted to destroy
Jesus ( Mt 26:3-5,14-15,47,51; Mk 14:10-11,43-47,53-66; 15:1; Lk 22:1-6,50,54,66-71;
23:1-2; Jn 11:47; 19:15-16,18) and were involved in trying and condemning
Jesus (Mt 26:57-68; 27:1-2; Mk 14:53-65; Lk 22:54-71; 23:13-24; Jn 18:15-32).
Proconsul
A
Roman official, generally of praetorian or consular rank, who served
as deputy consul in the Roman provinces. The term of office was one
year, though it could be longer in special instances, but the powers
of the proconsul were unlimited in both the military and civil areas.
Both
Sergius Paulus, Paul's famous convert (Acts 13:7), and Gallio ( 18:12
) were such officials.
Procurator
“Procurator”
= "governor". Pilate, Felix, and Festus were such governors
in Palestine with headquarters in Caesarea . Generally the procurators
were appointed directly by the emperor to govern the Roman provinces
Rulers
Various
officials are indicated by this word. In Jn 2:8,9 it means the governor
of a feast. In Jn 3:1 and 7:26 it refers to members of the ruling council,
the Sanhedrin.
Sadducees
A
religious and political party which exercised comparatively
little influence among the people. The root of the word means "to
be righteous." The Sadducees were largely of the Jewish aristocratic
priesthood. Under the Romans they become the party favorable to the
government.
Since
they were satisfied with the present, they did not look forward to a
future messianic age. The Sadducees had a number of distinctive beliefs,
contrasting strongly with those of the Pharisees:
•
They held only to the written law and rejected the traditions of the
Pharisees. In other words, the Sadducees believed that the Word of
God alone was the seat of religious authority. The Pharisees, on the
contrary, believed that just as binding as the Law itself, was the
supposed oral tradition of the teachings of Moses and the rulings
on the law made by the scribes over the years.
•
They differed from both the Pharisees and the Essenes on the matter
of divine predestination and the freedom of the human will. They threw
aside all ideas of divine interposition in the government of the world.
The
Sadducees are mentioned by name in the NT only about a dozen times (Matt
3:7; 16:1, 6, 11-12; 22:23, 34; Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27; Acts 4:1; 5:17;
23:6-8); but it must be remembered that when mention is made of the
chief priests, practically the same persons are referred to.
Samaritans
The
residents of the central province of Palestine who historically were
mixed race, only part Jewish, and who were therefore despised by the
pure Jews.
Sanhedrin
A
ruling council of the Jews of 70 or 72 members, comprising Chief Priests
or heads of 24 priestly courses, scribes (lawyers), and the elders.
(Included Pharisees and Sadducees). Jesus was taken before this council
(Mt 26:57-68)
Scribes
Originally
they were writers and transcribes of the law. By Jesus’ time they were
also teachers of the Law, or lawyers (Mt 7:29 ; 13:52 ; 17:10 ; 23:2-3).
They tested Jesus with questions, bringing to Jesus a woman taken in
adultery (Jn 8:3).
Some
of them were members of the council (Mt 2:4), and they conspired against
Jesus (Mt 26:3,57; 27:41; Mk 14:1; Lk 22:66). They were reproved by
Jesus for their hypocrisy (Mt 15:20; 9:3; 12:38; 15:1; 16:21; 20:18;
21:15)
Tetrarch
A
Ruler of a fourth part of a region (Mt 14:1; Lk 3:1; 9:7; Acts 13:1)
Zealots
Members
of Jewish patriotic political party started to resist
Roman rule over Israel. with violence and assassination, eventually
provoking the Roman war. Simon the Zealot was distinguished from Simon
Peter by this epithet (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13).
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