Derived from “Judah” (the southern kingdom of the divided monarchy) the term refers to the religion and culture of the Jews from the time of the exile (586 B.C.) onwards.
The exile and the beginnings of Judaism
The people of Judah become known as Jews
Ezra 4:12; Nehemiah 4:2; Esther 3:6; Jeremiah 32:12; Matthew 2:2; John 2:6
Jewish communities were formed in many places
Jeremiah 44:1; Ezra 2:1 many stayed in Babylon; John 7:35; Acts 2:8–11
Far from the Jerusalem temple, the exiles had difficulty in knowing how to worship
Psalm 137:4 See also Hosea 3:4 This prophecy to Israel also expresses the dilemma of the Jerusalem exiles.
How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?
New forms of religion after the exile, probably beginning in Babylon
Emphasis on the Scriptures
Synagogue worship
Luke 4:16–17 Unable to sacrifice in the temple, the exiles would have focused their worship on the Scriptures, a practice which developed into synagogue worship.
Carefully observing the law
Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem with the express intention of seeing that God's law was observed: Ezra 7:11, Ezra 7:14, Ezra 7:25
The temple and sacrifice
The returning exiles recommence the sacrifices
The temple rebuilt
The temple as a focus for pilgrims
John 12:20; Acts 2:5 They had probably come for Passover and were staying until Pentecost; Acts 8:27
The temple regarded with great reverence
Matthew 26:59–61 parallel Mark 14:57–58; Acts 6:13, Acts 21:27–29
Studying and obeying the law
Studying Scripture
Total obedience essential
Human rules added to God's law
Matthew 23:16–18; Mark 7:1–13 parallel Matthew 15:1–9
High regard for the Sabbath and traditional rules associated with it
Matthew 12:1–2 parallels Mark 2:23–24, Luke 6:1–2
Groups within NT Judaism
Pharisees
Mark 7:3–4 The Pharisees stressed the fulfilment of the law by individuals. See also Luke 11:38, Luke 18:10–12; Acts 26:5
Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially. And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.
Sadducees
Acts 5:17 A powerful minority group, politically astute whilst theologically conservative, they saw temple worship as the chief purpose of the law. See also Matthew 3:7; Mark 12:18 parallels Matthew 22:23, Luke 20:27
Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out
Teachers of the law (scribes)
They preserved, copied, taught and administered the law: Matthew 17:10; Mark 9:14; Luke 2:46; Acts 4:5
Zealots
Luke 6:15 They favoured a “holy war” to drive out the Romans.
Non-Jewish converts
Matthew 23:15; Acts 2:11, Acts 6:5, Acts 13:43
Judaism and Christianity
Conflict between Jesus Christ and the Jewish authorities
Mark 14:1 See also John 11:45–50
Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.
Conflict between the first Christians and Judaism
John 16:2; Acts 4:1–3, Acts 5:17–18; Galatians 1:13–14
Conflict produced by Jewish influence among the first Christians
Acts 15:5 See also Acts 15:1–2; Galatians 2:11–16 Judaism gave birth to Christianity. After an initial uneasy co-existence a total break finally ensued.
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.