Second Temple Judaism

Second Temple Judaism refers broadly to Jewish religious, cultural, political, and interpretive life during the period of the Second Temple.
It provides the immediate historical world of Yeshua and the earliest followers of Messiah.

Major developments include:
• return from Babylonian exile
• rebuilding of the Temple
• Persian rule
• Greek rule
• Maccabean revolt
• Hasmonean period
• Roman rule
• Herodian dynasty
• destruction of the Temple in AD 70

Second Temple Judaism was not monolithic.
Jewish groups included:
• Pharisees
• Sadducees
• Essene-associated communities
• priestly groups
• revolutionaries
• apocalyptic movements
• ordinary synagogue communities

Jewish discussion during this period involved:
• Torah interpretation
• purity
• Temple
• resurrection
• Messiah
• Gentile influence
• divine sovereignty
• Roman occupation
• Israel's restoration

Yeshua's disputes often occur within Jewish theological debates, not between Judaism and an already separate Christianity.
Paul likewise operates within the Jewish scriptural world even while defending Gentile inclusion.

Later rabbinic Judaism should not automatically be projected backward into this period.
Likewise, no single Jewish group should be treated as representing all Yeshua and the early apostolic movement.">first-century Judaism.