What are we to believe about the Pharisees, the sometimes opponents of Yeshua, the group he so often criticized, the group unfortunately turned into the bogeymen of the Bible by too many careless readers?
Yeshua had a lot of critical words for the Pharisees. Why was this? Who would he criticize if he came in our time? My answer is simple but surprising.
I may feature Pharisees in a several podcasts, perhaps the next several. I have been awed by the writing of E.P. Sanders cutting a swath through the field of research on the history and nature of the party known as the Pharisees. His historical reasoning, use of sources, and answers to existing theories astound me with the rare clarity you find only occasionally. No wonder N.T. Wright thinks so highly of Sanders’ take on first century Judaism.
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Hey Derek.
You comment in the podcast that Paul identifies himself in the present as a Pharisee, referencing Philipians 3.
I’ve heard others say this too, but reading the context, I’m not so sure:
“If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
If we interpret the first paragraph to be Paul speaking in the present tense, then we must admit that Paul was persecuting the church also in the present.
I would very much like to identify Paul as a Pharisee even in his belief in Yeshua. But now I’m unsure whether this is supported in the Scriptures.
Thoughts?
Judah:
You are right and I did make a mistake. I meant to use Acts 23:6, which does have Paul saying, “I am a Pharisee” in the present tense.