Jesus & Other Trajectories in I CE Judaism

Zealots	Sadducees	Essenes	Pharisees	Jesus	Christians
probably a conglomerate of disaffected groups; some may have begun as "lestai" and then developed tighter organization	priestly caste & Temple functionaries; probably date back to era of Ezra-Nehemiah (ca. 444 BCE)	forerunners were hasidîm (an offshoot from the Sadducees); study Law, uproot paganism, promote Jewish rites, meticulous legal observance	forerunners were hasidîm (an offshoot from the Sadducees); study Law, uproot paganism, promote Jewish rites, meticulous legal observance	forerunner was John the Baptizer: repentance, God's return to the people, coming judgment & new Exodus enacted through baptism in Jordan River	folks gathered around the person and teaching of the Jewish preacher, Jesus of Nazareth; baptismal initiation
does Masada give evidence of belief in resurrection and afterlife?	neither resurrection nor afterlife; no immortal soul	no bodily resurrection; immortal soul	resurrection & afterlife; immortal soul; reward & retribution on "last day"	resurrection= "like angels"; implies notion of immortal soul	resurrection of body + immortal soul; reward & retribution on "last day"
God cares enough eventually to rescue Israel from the gentile dogs	God does not care much about human affairs; no divine providence	divine providence construed as fate	God knows what we do; divine providence	God does care about human affairs; divine providence	God does care about human affairs; divine providence
??	marriage assumed (fulfills the divine command)	mostly celibate but could marry	marriage assumed (fulfills the divine command)	can marry or be single; marriage is a divine institution	can marry or be single; itinerant lifestyle probably assumes celibacy
Torah & Prophets as SS (at least, due to idea of messiah)	Torah as SS; no oral tradition of interpretation	Torah & Prophets as SS + oral & other written traditions	Torah & Prophets as SS + oral & other written traditions	Torah & Prophets as SS + oral & other written traditions	Torah & Prophets as SS + oral (Jesus) tradition
emphasized messianic expectations; nationalism; restoration of Davidic-type monarchy	no messianic expectations	emphasized messianic expectations	messianic expectations	messianic expectations?	emphasized realization of messianic expectations
defenders of national life of Jewish people	influential in political & economic life; Jewish aristocracy	rejected authority of Jerusalem priests	came to be the orthodox party within Judaism by ca. 100 CE	challenged the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem	came to be outside the realm of Judaism by ca. 100 CE
Election of Israel	Election of Israel	Election of "True" Israel = Divine pre-destination; responsibility but no free choice	Election of Israel = pre-destination with free choice & responsibility	Election of Israel? free choice & responsibility; association with sinners	Election of "New" Israel plus free choice & responsibility
		scrupulous observance of Mosaic Law	scrupulous observance of Mosaic Law	made some modifications to Mosaic Law; not strict observance	selective observance of Mosaic Law; love is greatest Law
nation of Israel as set apart		ritual purity; set apart	ritual purity; set apart	personal piety; inner worship	personal piety; inner worship
strong opposition to foreign rule; aggressive & relentless political activity; enough money for weapons	priestly class, aristocracy, not party; tremendous wealth and political influence	scribal community (= retainer class); wealthy community (viz. Copper Scroll which lists their treasures)	majority party; force for democra-ization; shift from exclusive influence of priests and scribes	wandering peasant preacher with egalitarian message and praxis; no personal wealth, but seems to have had a common purse	initially most were of the peasant class; later also aristocrats; common fund
"zealous defenders of the law"	emphasis on ritual and prerogatives of priestly class	emphasis on ritual, purity, and study of Torah; revive notion of "New Covenant"	teaching & preaching God's Law	Law is important, but love is the greatest law; not interested in ritual purity	teaching & preaching the word of Jesus = "New Covenant"
	letter of the written Torah (even in spite of reason)	interpret Torah in light of sect and its ideals	read Torah with reason according to its spirit; evolution in decisions	interpretation according to the spirit of the Torah; evolutionary attitude	interpretation of Torah according to the teaching of Jesus
appeal to coercion, violence	artificial rank (inherited due to blood)	communalist sect; natural respect	authority of piety, learning	charismatic authority; prophetic word and example	authority of Divine Word
one God demands exclusive worship and dominion	one God of Israel	one God of community set apart; hates "sons of Darkness"	one God loves all humanity; all equal	one God, "Father" of all humanity; all called	one God, "Father" of all humanity; all called
political dualism	ethnocentric worldview	dualistic worldview; restricted human freedom; God has predestined	ethnocentric worldview; freedom to follow the Law of God	theocentric worldview; relative good and evil, humans decide what to do	Christo-centric
	transcendent God demands exclusive worship		God is transcendent; humans cannot fully understand	God is transcendent, yet "Father;" close relationship	God is transcendent, yet "Father;" Jesus is the Christ and God's "Son"
Jerusalem Temple under Roman control; needs to be liberated for true worship to be possible	established elite who minister in Jerusalem Temple and perform the sacrifices	recognize Jerusalem Temple, but is profaned; thus stressed study and prayer until restoration	God should always be worshipped (=prayer & Torah study), even away from Temple and outside of Jerusalem	God is worshipped in spirit and truth; true worship is enacting social justice	reject Jerusalem Temple worship; God worshipped anywhere (= prayer, study of SS & of Jesus' words)
refused to pay taxes; continually harassed Roman authorities and Jews in complicity with Rome (sicarii)	accepted and benefited from Roman rule; part of the Roman system of authority over Judea	repudiated Jerusalem priestly authorities, Temple worship & sacrifices	accepted Roman rule for the most part	seems to have posed an implied rather than direct challenge to Roman authority (via egalitarian praxis)	continue implied challenge of Jesus' open table praxis; also "Jesus is Lord!" = "Caesar is not!"