Page 20 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook

Calendar Luni-solar Luni-solar Solar

Attitude Toward:

Hellenism For Selective Against

Opposed
usurpation of Opposed Personally
Hasmoneans usurpation of opposed to
priesthood by non- monarchy Jonathan
Zadokites

Free will Yes Mostly No

Afterlife None Resurrection Spiritual Survival

Sophisticated
Bible Literalist scholarly "Inspired Exegesis"
interpretations

Equal to Written
Oral Torah No such thing "Inspired Exegesis"
Torah

(Chart taken from https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/pharisees-sadducees-and-essenes)

Sanhedrin
There were two classes of rabbinical courts called the Sanhedrin, the Great Sanhedrin and the Lesser
Sanhedrin. The Lesser consisted of 23 judges appointed by cities and the Greater consisted of 71 judges,
which among other roles acted as the Supreme Court. This court during the time of Christ was under
Roman authority and was assigned the duties to help govern lesser issues of the Jews. However, they
were not granted death sentencing authority in pronouncing judgment for capital crimes. The
Sanhedrin was composed of Sadducees, Pharisees, Scribes, and aristocratic Jews of prominent families.
They had the power to tax and the authority to rule or intervene on the disposition of taxes raised for
local purposes by local councils. The Sanhedrin chose among themselves a leader called the High Priest,
who acted as ex officio head of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was eventually dissolved by imperial
decree in 358 AD. For many centuries thereafter, the Sanhedrin and the Temple were just memories to a
people who were without a homeland or a central place of worship in Jerusalem.

The Sanhedrin today…
A group of senior rabbis in Israel are now operating the first Sanhedrin court since the rabbinical
organization was dissolved almost 1600 years ago. The Sanhedrin was originally one of the principal
forces in Israel, both in politics and in religion. Their members were involved with governing the people,
functioning as a high court, and in controlling the worship of the Lord upon the Temple mount. Readers
of the New Testament will recall that they were also a primary force in the trial, condemnation, and
crucifixion of Jesus in 33 AD. However, the Sanhedrin lost its authority and function as a result of the
destruction of the Temple in 70 AD and the subsequent scattering of the Jews throughout the world.

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