Jewish Sects in Roman Times: Beliefs & Conflicts
Ancient Jewish Rituals and Beliefs
Although we often highlight the differences between ancient religions, the rituals were often quite similar: both emphasized animal sacrifices at altars to a god. Jews and Romans would petition a god for the same things: health, rain for their crops, love, and victory over their enemies in war. While Judaism is monotheistic and Greco-Roman religions were polytheistic, the correlation between religion and ethics may be more significant.
Zealots: Resistance Against Roman Rule
The name “Zealot” was first used by Josephus to describe the militant Jews in the War of 66-70. However, the designation has come to be used for all who rebelled against Rome with force. The name itself is not difficult; it describes one who is filled with zeal or passionate intensity to fight for some threatened institution or ideal. The term carries the connotation of a fanatic, one who was ready to resort to extreme violence against Gentile oppressors. Zealots believed that the messiah would be a divine warrior capable of destroying the Roman army and restoring Israel’s autonomy. Zealots demanded autonomy and incited the Jewish war with the Romans. They also kidnapped and tortured Jews who collaborated with the Romans. From the Roman point of view, these people were terrorists.
Sadducees: Temple Priests and Roman Collaborators
The Sadducees, comprised mostly of upper-class Jews, controlled the Temple. The Sadducees rejected any oral tradition and beliefs associated with it, so they accepted only the five books of Moses as authoritative. As a result, they did not believe in life after death, apocalyptic worldviews, or messianic expectations. Sadducees did not emphasize social justice. Instead, they believed that God would be happy if the Jews continued to perform proper sacrifices in the Temple. Consequently, they collaborated with the Romans. They were able to maintain their power in Rome so long as they could control the Jewish community. The Sadducees ceased to exist in A.D. 70. Since this party existed because of their political and priestly ties, when Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70, the Sadducees were also destroyed.
The Pharisees: Middle-Class Businessmen and Religious Leaders
In contrast to the Sadducees, the Pharisees were mostly middle-class businessmen and, therefore, were in contact with the common man. The Pharisees were held in much higher esteem by the common man than the Sadducees. Though they were a minority in the Sanhedrin and held a minority number of positions as priests, they seemed to control the decision-making of the Sanhedrin far more than the Sadducees did, again because they had the support of the people. Religiously, they accepted the written Word as inspired by God. At the time of Christ’s earthly ministry, this would have been what is now our Old Testament. They believed that God controlled all things. They believed in the resurrection of the dead and in the existence of angels and demons. Though the Pharisees were rivals of the Sadducees, they managed to set aside their differences on one occasion—the trial of Christ.
Essenes: A Jewish Mystical Sect
The Essenes were a Jewish mystical sect somewhat resembling the Pharisees. They lived lives of ritual purity and separation. They originated about 100 B.C. and disappeared from history after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The Essenes are not directly mentioned in Scripture. They refused to accommodate to life in the Roman Empire. They thought the Romans and all Jews who collaborated with them would be destroyed by God. They believed in two messiahs: one to lead the war and one to restore the purity of the Temple.