Statement
But the rabbis never identified themselves as Pharisees or with any other sect. It has been argued that they opposed sectarianism and that the movement absorbed people of various affiliations: Pharisees, priests, Zealots, scribes and perhaps even followers of Jesus (a suspicion raised about Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, who reportedly told Akiba of a teaching heard from 'Yeshua son of Pantera').
References
p. 133
supports · main text · ch. 5
Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.
Section: The Emergence of Rabbinic Culture
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p. 133
reports disagreement · main text · ch. 5
Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.
Section: The Emergence of Rabbinic Culture
Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text
p. 133
supports · main text · ch. 5
Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.
Section: The Emergence of Rabbinic Culture
Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text
Scholarly debate
Were the rabbis heirs of the Pharisees?
2 positions · no single answer · take a seat →
- A
An offshoot of Pharisaism
Scholars who stress the parallels
Predecessors revered by the rabbis, such as Gamliel the Elder, appear in other sources as Pharisees; the rabbis respect an extrascriptural tradition, side with the Pharisees against the Sadducees and share positions such as the balance between fate and free will.
- B
A movement against sectarianism
Some scholars (not named by the authors)
The rabbis never called themselves Pharisees or members of any other sect; they would have reshaped tradition to overcome Second Temple factionalism, and the movement may have absorbed Pharisees, priests, Zealots, scribes and even followers of Jesus.