![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dr-Marko-Marina-Staff-Writer.png\" "\\"Dr")
<\/span><\/p>\nWritten by Marko Marina, Ph.D.<\/a><\/p>\n Author | Historian | BE Contributor<\/p>\n Verified! See our guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n Verified! See our editorial guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n \nDate written: July 15th, 2024<\/p>\n\nDate written: July 15th, 2024\n Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. – Dr. Bart D. Ehrman<\/p>\n In my classroom, students often ask whether the Jews of antiquity shared common beliefs. This question strikes me as peculiar, like asking if all Americans believe in the same things. Just as contemporary American society is diverse, ancient Judaism was far from monolithic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Historical sources reveal that Judaism in antiquity consisted of various streams and schools of thought<\/strong>, each with distinct views on God, salvation, and the role of Scripture. Among these diverse groups were the Pharisees<\/strong>, a significant and influential sect.<\/p>\n The Pharisees in the Bible often appear in discussions and narratives, but understanding who they truly were requires looking beyond the scriptures. These individuals were deeply committed to the Torah and its interpretation, emphasizing piety, ritual purity, and adherence to traditions. <\/p>\n Throughout this article, we will explore the Pharisees’ beliefs, teachings, and their complex relationship with Jesus. We will also examine historical sources that mention them and discuss the controversial questions regarding their identities and roles.<\/p>\n By the end, we aim to provide a comprehensive scholarly perspective on who the Pharisees were and their significance not only for ancient Judaism but also for the historical Jesus<\/a> and the origins of Christianity.<\/p>\n For a deeper dive into the historical context of the Gospels and an exploration of the distinction between history and myth in these narratives, consider enrolling in Dr. Bart D. Ehrman’s online course<\/strong> \u201cThe Unknown Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John<\/a>.\u201d You won’t be disappointed! <\/p>\n The Pharisees are most familiar from the pages of the Gospels<\/strong>. In these texts, they frequently appear as opponents of Jesus<\/strong>, criticized for their excessive concern with legal technicalities and minor points of ritual law (e.g. Matthew 23:23\u201328; Luke 11:37\u201344). <\/p>\n The Gospels particularly emphasize their hypocrisy<\/strong>, depicting them as individuals who seek admiration from others while failing to adhere to the burdensome laws they impose on their fellow Jews (e.g. Matthew 23:4). This portrayal, however, reflects the theological and narrative aims of the<\/strong>Gospel writers<\/a> and must be understood within that context.<\/p>\n Another valuable source of information about the Pharisees comes from the Jewish historian <\/strong>Josephus<\/a>. He frequently discusses the Pharisees, noting their distinctive beliefs and actions. According to him, the Pharisees had a reputation for their interpretation of traditional laws not explicitly found in the books of Moses.<\/p>\n He also highlights their attempts to gain political power<\/strong> in Judea and Galilee, though he suggests they were not particularly successful in this endeavor. <\/p>\n Josephus\u2019 accounts are important but must be approached critically<\/strong>, as his writings often serve apologetic purposes. To put it more bluntly, Josephus is known as a historian who often tried to present Judaism and the Jews in a positive light to a Roman audience, hoping to reduce tensions and animosities.<\/p>\n A third source of information comes from Rabbinic literature, such as the Mishnah<\/strong>. However, these sources are late, dating from the 3rd to the 5th centuries, and there is significant debate about whether they accurately reflect the Pharisees\u2019 position before the Jewish revolts in 70 and 135 C.E. <\/p>\n In other words, the Rabbinic texts are valuable for understanding the development of Jewish thought and practice, but the historical context in which they were written<\/strong> may have influenced their portrayal of the Pharisees <\/p>\n Examining these sources, it becomes evident that our understanding of the Pharisees is fraught with challenges. <\/p>\n The Rabbinic documents post-date the times of Jesus and Paul, the synoptic Gospels<\/a> depict Pharisees as negative foils, and Josephus\u2019 writings contain apologetic elements. Moreover, the only undisputed Pharisee from whom we have any written records is the apostle Paul<\/a> (we\u2019ll discuss this later in the article). <\/p>\n As Joseph Sievers noted in an article<\/a>: \u201cAfter over two decades of research, there is at least one assured result: we know considerably less about the Pharisees than an earlier generation knew.\u201d This caution is necessary, but it doesn\u2019t render our efforts futile<\/strong>. (Affiliate Disclaimer: We may earn commissions on products you purchase through this page at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!<\/em>)<\/p>\n The name \u201cPharisee\u201d likely derives from the Hebrew root \u201cP-R-Sh,\u201d meaning \u201cto separate<\/strong>.\u201d Others probably gave them this name, as the Pharisees themselves referred to their group using different terms, such as scribe or sage, which later evolved into the term rabbi (see: \u201cDid you Know?\u201d section). <\/p>\n The Pharisaic movement was unique in that it wasn\u2019t inherited like the roles of priests or village elders. This characteristic allowed it to transcend class boundaries to some extent. Pharisees were primarily householders from the \u201cmiddle class,\u201d<\/strong> including tradespeople and professionals. Their professions varied widely \u2014 they included tent-makers such as Paul and educators such as Nicodemus<\/a>.<\/p>\n Thus, one wasn\u2019t a Pharisee by profession but rather by a commitment to the group’s beliefs and practices.<\/p>\n Josephus, a key historical source, describes four major Jewish sects<\/strong>: Pharisees, Sadducees<\/a>, Essenes, and the “Fourth Philosophy,” which is comparable to the Zealots. He places the origins of the Pharisees<\/strong> around the time of Jonathan the high priest (c. 145 B.C.E.<\/strong>). <\/p>\n According to Josephus, the Pharisees played significant roles in Hasmonean politics. They opposed King Janneaus but later allied with his wife, Queen Salome Alexandra. Their influence fluctuated under her son Aristobolus, and later under Herod, who favored them partly because the Pharisee Pollion advised the people to accept his rule. <\/p>\n However, despite their earlier involvement in politics, the Pharisees of Jesus\u2019 time were a voluntary association with limited influence<\/strong>. Josephus estimated their number at around 6,000 in an empire with over 4 million Jews.<\/p>\n In the New Testament: A Historical Introduction<\/a>, Bart Ehrman rightly points out: \u201cMost Jews in Palestine did not belong to any of these groups\u2026 Pharisees claimed six thousand members, and Essenes claimed four thousand. The Sadducees probably had far fewer.\u201d<\/p>\n TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE of the Historical Jesus!<\/p>\n Think you know the Jesus of the Bible? Uncover the historical figure behind the texts!<\/p>\n __CONFIG_colors_palette__{“active_palette”:0,”config”:{“colors”:{“10c55”:{“name”:”Main Accent”,”parent”:-1}},”gradients”:[]},”palettes”:[{“name”:”Default”,”value”:{“colors”:{“10c55”:{“val”:”rgb(255, 133, 34)”}},”gradients”:[]},”original”:{“colors”:{“10c55”:{“val”:”rgb(19, 114, 211)”,”hsl”:{“h”:210,”s”:0.83,”l”:0.45,”a”:1}}},”gradients”:[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__ <\/span> sTART QUIZ<\/strong><\/span><\/span> <\/a> <\/p>\n It’s free!<\/em><\/p>\n The Pharisees\u2019 beliefs eventually became central to Rabbinic Judaism after 70 C.E. They upheld a synthesis of free will and determinism and strongly believed in the sanctity of the oral law.<\/p>\n Moreover, Pharisees believed in angels, spirits, and bodily resurrection<\/strong>. Josephus notes, \u201cThey also believe that souls have an immortal vigor in them. And that under the Earth, there will be rewards or punishments according as they have lived virtuously or viciously in this life.\u201d<\/p>\n The Acts of the Apostles<\/a> 23:8 corroborate this, stating: \u201cFor the Sadducees hold that there is no resurrection and that there are no angels or spirits, while the Pharisees believe in all three.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, their belief in free will was nuanced<\/strong>. Josephus explains: <\/p>\n \u201cAnd when they determine that all things are done by fate, they do not take away the freedom of men acting as they see fit. Since their notion is that it has pleased God to make a temperament whereby what he wills is done, but so that the will of men can act virtuously or viciously.\u201d Rabbi Akiva (c. 50-135 C.E.), a Pharisee, succinctly summarized this belief: \u201cAll is foreseen, but free will is given.\u201d (Antiquities of the Jews, 18.13)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Lester L. Grabbe, in his Introduction to Second Temple Judaism<\/a>, emphasizes the Pharisees\u2019 attempt to replicate the temple cult in their own homes. He notes: <\/p>\n \u201cThe Pharisees claimed to have traditions from the fathers which were not written in the Hebrew Bible… The best estimate about the content of these traditions is that they represented an attempt by a group to reproduce the temple cult in their own home. That is, the laws seemed to turn primarily on eating ordinary food in a state of cultic purity (normally required in the temple but not necessarily in the home) and thus involved questions of ritual purity, eating, tithing<\/strong> (since only properly tithed food could be eaten), the Sabbath, and festivals<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Additionally, Ludovic Nobel<\/a> summarizes the Pharisees’ basic features<\/strong>: \u201cAttaching great importance to the Law (written and oral), they were legalists and strictly observed the Sabbath, circumcision, and annual festivals. Many Pharisaic teachings were integrated into rabbinic tradition.\u201d (my translation)<\/p>\n To further clarify the distinctions among Jewish groups, the table below compares the beliefs and practices<\/strong> of the Essenes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.<\/p>\n![\"Pharisees\"](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pharisees.png\" "\\"Pharisees\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\nPharisees: What Sources Do We Have?<\/h2>\n
Pharisees: A Look at Their Origins and Teachings<\/h2>\n
What Did Pharisees Believe?<\/h3>\n
![\"Pharisees](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pharisees-and-Sadducees.png\" "\\"Pharisees")
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