[bajj]

The Mosaic Law is the law of Moses. It was basically the commandments that Moses wrote out. They were God's laws, but the people followed Moses' leadership so they are known as the Mosaic law.

[kakuehl]

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were two different groups within Judaism. (Like there are Methodists, Roman Catholics, Baptists, etc. or maybe more like Protestants and Catholics, Evangelical and Pentecostals.) The Pharisees (who believed in resurrection) accepted most of the current Old testament as scripture as well as the writings of the rabbis. The Sadduccees (who didn't believe in resurrection) accepted only the Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Levidicus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) as scripture. The sadduccees worked primarily within the temple and when the temple was destroyed in AD 70, their view of religion lost out to that of the Pharisees. The first 5 Books of the Bible are called the books of the law of Moses or the Torah.

[Withay]

Thank you both for clarifying this for me. Now other things will make a lot more sense.

[bajj]

More than likely, the Pharisees started off very pure and holy. Their name is derived from pharash, which means separate. They considered themselves separate from the wayward people.

Overtime, they lost sight of why they were formed to begin with (like most sects of people, I suppose). They appeared on the outside as perfect and following the law (or so they believed). However, their spirit was not in it and they appeared more concerned with everyone following the letter of the law (Mosaic law) to a "t".

The Sadducees denied that angels and spirits were real. They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Hmmm, life would hardly be worth living, IMHO, if we had nothing to look forward to after death!

The Sadducees were followers of Sadok, a disciple of Antigonus Sochaeus. I believe they were originally a part of the Pharisees (I think).

There was a third sect among the Jews known as the Essenians, but right now, I don't know anything about them. I am studying it, though, so hopefully I will be able to share something about them sometime!

In the Ethiopic version of the text, in verse 7, the word privately is added. Anyone have any thoughts on why they (Pharisees and Sadducees) would come privately? I have some, but will wait and share them later.

[lovemy2boys]

Wow - you guys are so knowledgeable.

(Bit off topic, but) Ani, I know that in addition to reading the bible, you "study" it - what guides or methods do you use? I have been trying to find something that "explains" scripture a little more than just reading it - in my years of Christian education, there were certain things we focused on more than others, and I would actually like a better understanding of the bible as a whole...

Other than the knowledge I am gaining from this group, Any suggestions?

[bajj]

I use commentaries and I also use devotional books.

I'm not all that knowledgable! Oh yeah, and I use my husband as a study guide, too.

The main thing to remember is to always look up the scripture for yourself and do not just take someone else's word for it. I am bad at doing that sometimes. We need to understand what we believe and why we believe it and not just because dh (I'm guilty of this) says it's true.

You can also look up facts in secular history. While I know the Bible is true, for some strange reason it still fascinates me when I find non-Biblical history that proves it even more.

Oh yeah, I use Kathy as a study guide too.

[lovemy2boys]

Originally Posted by bajj

Oh yeah, I use Kathy as a study guide too.

Already at the top of my list - Lol

Thanks for the tips!

[bajj]

I forgot, it helps to have a good Bible concordance and dictionary, too.

[kakuehl]

I agree with what bajj is saying: read the scripture for yourself in several translations, if possible (unless you read Greek and Hebrew, LOL). that will give you more depth of understanding of the original language. After you've read it, then go to a commentary and see what it says.

I have a variety of commentaries, I have Harper's Bible Commentary and Harper's Bible Dictionary which are each one volume. The Interpretation Series is one that I like. There is one volume for each book.

By the way, the belief that there was life after death was not one of the oldest beliefs of Israel. That's why the Sadducees didn't believe in the Resurrection.

[Mrs_Tammy94]

WOW! I just found this thread. Can I join in?
Tammy

[bajj]

Of course!

[kakuehl]

Another point of Bible Study is to get a Study Bible! These have lots of notes that help you understand what is happening. They will also tell you "variant readings" or translations of a particular passage or word. (HINT: always read the foot notes!)

Ani, I can't find a reference to the addition of privately in v.7 which says to me that most translators don't consider it part of the text. There are several places where they do come to Jesus "privately" (Nicodemus in John 3, for example), where they seem drawn to Jesus's message but don't want others (maybe other pharisees?) to know.

The Essenes were a very strict group of Jews who lived simply in the desert. The dead sea scrolls (if I'm remembering correctly) were hidden by this group. John the Baptist was associated with this group.

John came preaching a simple Gospel: the kingdom (rule or reign) of God is at hand (is near). Repent and believe. Matthew does not give us the story of John's birth or tell us that he is Jesus's cousin.

John views the pharisees with disdain (he's really pretty rigid himself!) because they practice the letter of the law and do not reach out to those in need if it would affect their "puriety."

He makes it clear that his baptism (washing) while it was a sign of repentence and forgiveness was different from the baptism of the spirit that would come with Jesus.

All the gospels view John as the forerunner of Jesus, who, in the words of Isaiah, came to prepare the way for the Messiah. John makes it clear that Jesus is the greater of the two and object when Jesus wants John to baptize him. (to be continued...)

[bajj]

Kathy, I will have to share what the commentary I have says about coming privately. It was rather interesting and not something I had really thought of before.

I don't have time right now, so I will try later!

[Mrs_Tammy94]

Last Christmas I got the New Bible that Joyce Meyer (I quess you can say) re - transcripted in layman terms. Layman terms, well that is what I call in easy words to understand. You can get it at your local Christian book store. I just love it and most importantly It makes more sense for me. What a blessing it has been. I think it is from the NIV version.
Tammy

[kakuehl]

The only caution I have about "translations" like Joyce Meyer's or the original Living Bible that are the works of a single individual is that you should compare them with more literal translations like NIV or NASB (or KIng James). That way you get more of a depth of understanding because both Greek and Hebrew are complex languages where one word carries several levels of meaning.