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The
Apologetics page is meant to be an interactive page with weekly
articles dealing with difficult issues of the Christian faith and
comparative religion. Included will be weekly writings of Christian
authors and our own pastoral and internship staff. Please use the
"Contact Us" link to the left to ask questions or dialogue on a
particular topic.
%20gif.gif) This
section is also dedicated to the man who personally developed
my interest in giving "a defense for the faith", Dr. Walter Martin.
He is the author of many books and tapes including,
"The Kingdom Of The Cults". We include the link to Dr.
Martin's website as a great resource for apologetic materials. I am
greatly indebted to his mentoring to me and shaping over the years.
Another link we provide for you is to
"Answering Islam", the most
comprehensive and through website dedicated to dialogue with Muslims
and comparing the theology of Islam and Christianity. It is an
outstanding site, please check it out.
Unless we accept what the Scriptures teach about the Resurrection,
the entire Christian message virtually disintegrates. The whole
preaching thrust of the apostolic age was based upon the fact that
one quiet morning in an obscure garden man had vanquished his most
feared enemy, the vaunted dark angel of death. Satan had defeated
the first Adam in a garden ages before, and with his victory there
commenced the reign of sin and death over mankind. But now in God's
appointed time and plan Satan met the last Adam in still another
garden, and death was "swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians
15:54).
Walter
R. Martin
Essential Christianity, page 63
"Synoptic
Gospels"
Pastor Bill Mitchell
3/1/10
“Various Sects”
The Priests
The word is found in the Gospels 12 times, while the phrase “high
priest” or “chief priest” occurs 84 times. The priesthood extended
from the time of Moses through tribe of Levi and their function was
strictly religious. After the return of Babylonian captivity, civil
power passed into their hands, so they obtained the status of
princes as well as ministers of religion. The head of this order was
the high priest. They were consistent enemies of Jesus and delivered
Him to pilate to be crucified (John 18:3,18).
The Levites
Descendants of Levi who had charge of the tabernacle of its
services, and were not numbered with Israel (Numb. 3). Mentioned
just twice in the Gospels (Luke
10:32; John 1:19
The Scribes
Held in high esteem by the people, the Scribes were the students,
interpreters and teachers of the Old Testament. Sharp opponents of
the Lord (Matt. 16:21; 21:15; 23:2; Mark 12:28-40).
The Rulers
Various officials indicated by this term such as governor (John
2:8-9), members of the Sanhedrin (John 3:1; 7:26), chief ruler (John
12:42), magistrate (Luke 12:58) and ruler at least 10 times. This
word is also translated prince 7 times, with 6 of those in reference
to the devil.
The Pharisees
The Pharisees arose in the time of the Maccabees and were called
separatists in mockery by their enemies because they believed in
separation from mainstream politics. Very conservative, the
Pharisees considered themselves the guardian of the written and oral
law. They were quite distinct from the Sadducees. Extremely orthodox
in their religious beliefs. (Matt. 12:1-2; 23:1-33; Luke 6:6-7;
11:37-54)
The Sadducees
The rival of the Pharisees, aristocratic and political party of the
Jews. The name is derived from Zadok, the high priest of Solomon’s
time (1 Kings 2:35). The modernists of the time, denying the
existence of spirits, resurrection and immortality of the soul. Came
into being at the time of the Maccabees and disappeared after the
fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE (Matt. 16:1-12; 22:23-33).
The Herodians
Regarded Jesus as revolutionary and despised any change in the
political climate. A political party that took their name from the
family of Herod and authority from the Roman government (Mark 3:6;
8:15; 12:13-17).
The Galileans
Followers of Judas of Galilee who rebelled against all foreign
domination. From northern Palestine, they were very adamant about
their rights and avowed political rights (Matt. 26:69; Mark 14:70;
Luke 23:6).
The Samaritans
In 722 B.C., Sargon II took captive to Assyria, the Israelites of
the Northern Kingdom. The poor and weak people were left behind.
People from various countries later mixed with these remnant
Israelites, bringing idolatrous forms of worship. This is how the
Samaritans became a mixed race.
The Samaritans offered help to rebuild the temple in 535 B.C. (Ezra
4:1-3), and were rejected. This resulted in the enmity between the
Samaritans and the Jews. Evidence of the feud in Christ’s time can
be viewed in (Matt. 10:5; John 4:9).
The Diaspora
A
term used to describe dispersed or scattered Jews as Moses
prophesied would occur if they abandoned the law (Lev. 26:33-37;
Deut. 4:27-28; 28:64-68). The term is found three times in the NT
(John 7:35; James 1:1; I Peter 1:1). The dispersal first occurred
when the Israelites went into Assyrian captivity in 722 B.C., and
again in the Babylonian exile of 586 B.C. These people did not
return to Palestine but settled in the various cities of the Greek and Roman
empires.
Exile to foreign countries was a method of punishment to criminals,
particularly by Rome, thus adding to the number of dispersed Jews.
The Sanhedrin
A
word occurring 22 times in the NT, 8 which are in the Gospels, and
is always translated council. The origin of this board may be
linked to (2 Chron. 19:8) or to the time of Moses (Numb. 11:16-17).
In the time of the appearing of our Lord, the Sanhedrin consisted
of:
1)
The Chief Priests or
the heads of 24 priestly orders.
2)
The Scribes or
lawyers.
3)
The Elders, who
represented the laity.
The Council consisted of 70-72 members, with the High priest as
President. The positions were held for life. It was this Council
before which Jesus stood in the palace of the High Priest. This act
was highly illegal (Matt. 26:57-68). The Sanhedrin had the power to
pass the sentence of death but not the power to execute it (John
18:31; 19:7). Peter, John and Stephen also stood before this Council
(Acts 4:1-7: 6:12-7:1).
 
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