The Essenes were an aesthetic and mystical Jewish sect that followed strict rules. They lived in small groups, isolated from the rest of the Jewish world. Scholars believe that the Dead Sea Scrolls were written by this isolationist sect. Some scholars also believe that John the Baptist may have been an Essene and early Christianity was influenced by this sect. The Essenes did not survive after the destruction of the Temple in 70CE. It is believed they had been killed by the Romans.
The Tzedukim (Sadducees) were the priests and elite of the Jews and grew out of the Hellenist ideas of the time. They believed in a strict interpretation of the Written Torah but they did not believe in the Oral Torah (Mishnah). They were religiously conservative and the Temple and its sacrifices were the center of their worship. However, they were socially liberal, taking on the ways of the neighboring Greek culture. The Tzedukim could not survive after the destruction of the Temple in 70CE.
The Pharisees believed that both the Written Torah and Oral Torah were given to Moses directly from G-d. They believed that both the Written and Oral Torah were binding upon all Jews and could be reinterpreted by the rabbis. They were devoted to the study of Torah and the education of all Jews in Torah. The Pharisees were the only sect to survive the destruction of the Temple in 70CE and have become known as “Rabbinic Judaism”.
The Zealots were a Jewish sect that was mainly nationalistic and favored war against Rome. They favored death to living under Roman rule and would commit suicide rather than be captured by the Romans (the most famous example are the Zealots who committed murder/suicide at Masada). The Zealots were killed of in the war with Rome.
During the 1st century CE, a sect known as the Nazarenes came into existence. This sect were the early followers of Jesus. They were later led by John the Baptist and James the Just and incorporated non-Jews into the sect. When Christianity became more uniform in the 3rd and 4th century, the Nazarenes completely split with Judaism and became modern Christianity.
During the 1st century CE, a sect known as the Ebionites came into existence. This sect were the early followers of Jesus. They were later led by John the Baptist and James the Just and incorporated non-Jews into the sect. When Christianity became more uniform in the 3rd and 4th century, the Ebionites completely split with the Nazarenes and remained a non-trinitarian sect.
