of the resurrection of the body and future retribution, and (b) denial of the existence of angels and spirits The Pharisees were the religious leaders of the Jews, often identi ed in the New Testament with the scribes They were the most in uential leaders and were very popular with the people The Pharisees taught such sound doctrines as divine providence, immortality of the soul, and a messianic hope But they were rigid legalists, and by Jesus’ day their sect had degenerated into an empty religion (Read Luke 11:37-54.) Below is a comparative summary of the two groups PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES PHARISEES name means “the separated ones” SADDUCEES name may be from a word meaning the “righteous ones” largest and most influential sect the aristocratic minority extreme legalism external legalism little interest in politics a major concern with politics believed in immortality, resurrection, spirits, and angels regarded rabbinic tradition highly denied these doctrines accepted as authoritative only the written Old Testament Exercise: Refer to an exhaustive concordance and compare the frequency of the names Sadducees and Pharisees in the New Testament b Six periods of Jewish history (international politics) The interval between the Old and the New Testaments is a dark period in the history of Israel The life and fortunes of the Jews depended on what nation was the world power at the time That was so because, as Map C shows, the land of Judea was located in the center of the world at that time, and it was all too easily preyed upon by the nation in power The interval is divided into six periods, named according to those in power.10 See Chart CHART 8: SIX PERIODS OF JEWISH HISTORY BEFORE CHRIST Locate on Map C the names shown on Chart (The name Maccabean is not a geographical term.) Highlights of each of the periods, because each of those contributed to the background of the New Testament, will be brie y described below Overall, the four hundred-year interval is the story of the fall of the Persian, Greek, and Egyptian empires, and the rise of the Roman Empire.11 (1) Persian Period 400-334 B.C.12 Palestine was under the rule of the high priests, who were responsible to the governor (satrap) of ... New Testament b Six periods of Jewish history (international politics) The interval between the Old and the New Testaments is a dark period in the history of Israel The life and fortunes of the. .. Highlights of each of the periods, because each of those contributed to the background of the New Testament, will be brie y described below Overall, the four hundred-year interval is the story of the. .. fall of the Persian, Greek, and Egyptian empires, and the rise of the Roman Empire.11 (1) Persian Period 400-334 B.C.12 Palestine was under the rule of the high priests, who were responsible to the