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Jesus the Pharisee

This research examines the Christology thesis presented by Falk in Jesus the Pharisee, and describes the book's approach to the questions of Christology, as well as an evaluation of Falk's view.

In the background of any modern discourse of the position of Jesus Christ in the history of religion is the fact of contrast between Judaism and Christianity, with the former perceived as being repudiated, supplanted, and overtaken by the latter in the larger scheme of Western history and symbolized by a certain theological and cultural antipathy between Jews and Christians. Citing historical, scriptural, and rabbinical sources, Falk argues that this perception is misdirected and suggests that the true historical and theological mission and role of Jesus have been obscured by the fact that Christianity as an institution developed a life of its own. The proper way to understand the Christ figure, according to Falk, is from the standpoint of Jewish sectarianism in the first century C.E.

Falk cites the rivalry between two first-century C.E. Pharisee schools of thought named for the wise men heading them, Bet Hillel and Bet Shammai. Bet Hillel is associated with a somewhat progressive and flexible interpretation of Jewish law, and Bet Shammai is associated with strict interpretation of the law. Falk explains that Jesus's adversaries in the New Testament were Bet Shammai Pharisees, whose control of Jewish civil institutions in Judea (e.g., the Sanhendrin) was well established by the first century CE. The Shammai followers' concern was on one hand with Jews and strict observance of the details of Mosaic Law, and on the other with anti-Roman Jewish revolutionary activities, notably in their support of the Zealots.

Falk (8) says that Christian thought developed out of Bet Hillel interpretations of the law, which were in dialogue and contention with Bet Shammai interpretations. Bet Hillel thought was meant to cover the moral and civil behavior...

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Jesus the Pharisee. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 04:43, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1683178.html