Pharisaioi

The Pharisaioi, commonly rendered as the Pharisees, were a prominent Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, roughly from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE. The name derives from Hebrew parashim, often translated as "the separated ones" or "the interpreters." They emerged as a reformist current within Judaism that emphasized both the written Torah and an oral tradition that interpreted and applied its laws.

Pharisaic belief centered on the idea that the Torah exists in two complementary forms: the written law and an oral law that had been transmitted through generations. They stressed study, debate, and the practical application of law in daily life, including rules of purity, Sabbath observance, and ritual practice. They are traditionally associated with beliefs in the resurrection of the dead, and in the existence of angels and spirits, anticipating an afterlife and divine providence.

Social role and influence: The Pharisees were influential among laypeople and local communities, promoting synagogues as centers of study and worship and cultivating extensive networks of teachers and scholars. They stood in contrast to the Sadducees, who accepted only the written Torah and rejected the oral tradition. After the destruction of the Second Temple, Pharisaic interpretations formed the core framework of Rabbinic Judaism, guiding Jewish law and practice through the later authorities and the compilations of the Mishna and Talmud.

In literature, the Pharisees appear frequently in the New Testament as opponents of Jesus in several passages, though some interactions suggest more nuanced portrayals. Over time, the term has come to symbolize a strict, legalistic approach in some contexts, but modern scholarship views the Pharisees as a diverse movement with varied beliefs and practices, a major school within Judaism of their era rather than a monolithic group.