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This material has been provided by Asbury Theological Seminary in good faith of following ethical procedures in its production and end use. The Copyright law of the united States (title 17, United States code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyright material. Under certain condition specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to finish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. By using this material, you are consenting to abide by this copyright policy. Any duplication, reproduction, or modification of this material without express written consent from Asbury Theological Seminary and/or the original publisher is prohibited. Contact B.L. Fisher Library Asbury Theological Seminary 204 N. Lexington Ave. Wilmore, KY 40390 B.L. Fisher Library’s Digital Content place.asburyseminary.edu Asbury Theological Seminary 205 North Lexington Avenue 800.2ASBURY Wilmore, Kentucky 40390 asburyseminary.edu SYNCRETISM, GNOSTICISM AND JUDAISM A STUDI IN NETiT TESTAMENT BACKGROUND A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of Ashury Theological Seminary In Partial Pulfillm.ent of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Theology ^y S. B, Alexander February ig6"8 SYNCRETISM, GNOSTICISM AND JUDAISM A STUDI IN NE� TESTAMENT BACKGROUND A Tlie sis- Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary Partial Fulfillment of the Degree Master of Theology Approved : First Reader'^ by S. B. Alexander February 1968 ACKNO^rLEDGMENTS Througfiout the thesis, unless otherwise indicated, English Biblical references are taken from the American Standard Version and Greek references, from the Nestle 's Text. The author wishes to express his deep appreciation to the following persons: To Dr. Dayton for his encouragement and contributions to the writing of this thesis; To Dean Traina for his personal interest; To Mr- Onva Boshears for his advice as to the format; To Mrs. William Cessna for her work on the composition of the material and typing thereof; To World Gospel Mission for the opportunity to be in volved in this research; And most of all to my long suffering wife, Ruth, who hasn't known me when I did not have this thesis to complete. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION 1 The Problem 2 Justification of the Study 5 Definitions 5 Procedure 6 Limitations 8 II. ANCIENT ISRAEL - SYNCRETISTIC PATTERN ESTABLISHED IQ The Standard Established 11 Leadership under Torah 13 Priests 13 Prophets 15 Rulers 15 The Syncretlstic and Oscillatory Pattern of Isra.pl 's Faith l6 False Leadership 24 Priests 24 Prophets 27 Shepherds 31 Summary 32 III. EARLY JUDAISM SYNCRETISTIC PATTERN CONTINUES . 34 Oriental Period 35 Fall of Jerusalem 35 V CHAPTER PAGE Post War Conditions 35 Tfie Return 36 Ezra and Nehemiah - Torah Enthroned 38 The Hellenistic Era 43 The Greek Influx 43 Antlochus IV Epiphanes 45 Maccabees and the Hasmonean. Dynasty 46 The Herods and the Romans 48 Summary 49 IV. HELLENIZATION OF PALESTINE: THE CLIMATE OF SYNCRETISM 5Q Normative Judaism 51 The Rabbinic and Biblical Evidence 53 Jewish Greek Literature 59 Non-Jewish Testimony ... 59 Archaeology 60 Funerary Evidence 61 Synagoglc Evidence '63 Magical Material 65 Summary 67 V. JEWISH SECTARIANISM - MODULATIONS OF JEWISH HELLENISM 69 The Pdur Main Sects 70 The Sadducees 70 vi CHAPTER PAGE Pharisees. 72 Essenes 75 Zealots 78 Baptist Nonconformist Movement 78 Justin's List of Sects 78 Hegesslpus' List of Sects 80 Eplphenlus' List of Sects 82 Synthesis: Clue to Widespread Movement ... 84 Dead Sea Scrolls: Supporting Evidence ... 85 Qumran Covenanters 88 Summary 94 VI. JUDAISM AND GNOSIS: THE ORIGINS OP GNOSTIC SYNCRETISM 96 Evidence of the Church Pathers '96 Pseudo-Clementine Studies 103 Letters of Ignatius IO6 Mandaean Studies 108 Hermetlca II6 Nag Hammadi Gnostic Library 117 Summary 120 VI.I. J,EHSH GNOSTIC .THOUGHT:; PRECURSOR OF THE CHRISTIAN PROBLEM 124 The Interrelationship of Nomlstlc and Apocalyptic Judaism 124 vll. CHAPTER PAGE Apocalyptic Literature 127 Rabbinic Literature 131 Pbllo 139 Thematic Studies l40 Summary l42 VIII. THE CONNECTING LINKS: JUDAISM TO CHRISTIANITY, PALESTINE TO ASIA MINOR l44 The Diaspora and Palestine l44 The Extent of the Diaspora l46 Jewish l46 Samaritan 1^7 Karaites 1^7 Diversity In the Diaspora l48 Egypt 148 Elephantine Colony l48 Leontopolls l49 Therapeutae l49 Greek Jews l49 Dositheans . 150 Babylon . , 150 Rome 151 Diaspora Hellenistic 152 Jews in Asia Minor 152 Syncretlstic Cults 153 vili CHAPTER PAGE Magic 155 Sectaries I55 Geographical Considerations of Gnosticism . I60 Christianity Inherited Jewish Variety I63 Christianity in Asia Minor I66 Meander-Lycus Valley I67 Cerinthus I69 Summary 171 IX. THE NEW STANDARD: CONTINUITY BUT CONFRONTATION . 173 Ministry of Jesus 173 Zealots 174 Herodians 174 .�Sadducees 174 Pharisees 175 The Kingdom is Come I76 Jesus' Warnings 177 The New Standard I80 The Early Confrontations of the Standard . I85 Judaism I85 Nomlstlc Judalzers I87 Galatlans I89 Romans 193 Summary 195 X. JEWISH' GNOSTICISM: THE INITIAL CONFLICT WITH SYNCRETISM 197 ix CHAPTER PAGE The Co>i�sslan Heresy I98 The Problem in the Pastoral Epistles 215 Date 215 The Heresy in the Pastorals 2l8 The Johannine Epistles and False Teaching . 227 Summary 233 XI. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS 235 Summary 235 Conclusions 236 Implications 237 Syncretism 238 Gnosticism 2^3 Further Possible New Testament Studies 246 Epilogue 247 BIBLIOGRAPHY 248 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The forces of ecumenicity are so strong that many have forg'otten that one of the constant problems of the Church is to maintain identity separate from the world and the other religions, and yet to remain in contact with the world. This situation presents the Church with the problem of syncretism - that is, assimilation of or into the culture and local religion. Related to this Is the doctrinal issue of false teaetiiing. False teaching. If allowed to continue, may lead to its acceptance and finally to a loss of nerve in a church or denomination tolerating it. Interest in this study arose out of discussions, first with an ecumenical theologian who had ho answer to the question: "What do the ecumenical theologians do with the New Testament teaching on false doctrine?" and second, with one versed in separationlst doctrine who seemingly had scriptural warranty for his position on the same question. The intention was to determine the New Testament attitude to false teaching. In the actual pursuit of this research, however, the realiza tion of the constant danger of syncretism and the applicability to missions and contemporary theology became the dominant concern. S'yncretism was seen to be the essential problem. 2 I. THE PROBLEM The hypothesis of this study is that false teaching in the form of syncretlstic gnosticism appeared early In the New Testament Churches by assimilation from Judaism rather than purely Hellenistic sources. Therefore, it will be necessary to examine the evidences for the existence of syncretism in Jewish religion which could eventually take the form of an incipient gnosticism in New Testament times. It is hoped that this hypothesis, if it can be sustained, will then present the best explanation for (a) the type of error opposed in certain por tions of the New Testament, and for (b) the early appearance of syncretlstic gnosticism in the Church. If so, Christianity will be shown to have derived from Jewish sources not only its initial revelation, but also some of its major problems. There is a continuity between the Old Covenant and the New; the people of Israel and the Church, which is the New Israel. The God of the Old Testament is the Christian God revealed in Jesus Christ. To a certain extent there is also continuity in the problems faced. It was natural that the Church should in herit the Jewish problem, before facing it in greater measure directly. Revealed religion was always being corrupted by the instinct of man for a closed world view of the senses. The One in cultlc worship tended to become the Many. Two opposite tendencies are to be found in religion: one moves from polytheism to monotheism, the other moves from monotheism to 3 polytheism. "By the hypostatization of qualities and functions a single god can disintegrate into many while by various pro cesses many may give place to one...."-'- The constant tendency within Israel was to provide Jehovah with consorts and in corporate Baal worship into the cult. Later, the problem for Judaism was Its assimilation into Hellenism. The Maccabean Revolt was the conservative reaction to this process. However, Hellenization was so pervasive that under the Hasmoneans, successors to the Maccabees, Judaism was not immune to its influence. One view held by many, is that Judaism was a monolithic structure developed under Ezra and Nehemiah, a force which withstood the onslaught of Hellenistic syncretism, but Increasingly this view is being rejected. Judaism may not have been assimilated into Hellenism, but It received much of Hellenistic culture. Many have said that Judaism was a religion of heterodoxy yet orthopraxy. Now, especially since the Dead Sea discoveries, it is being recognized that Judaism was varied both In dogma and practice. One of the products of the Hellenization process was Gnosticism of the second century A.D. which had many features. %. H. Rowley, From Moses to Qumran (New York: Association Press, 1963), p. ^0 . 4 although scholars cannot agree on its exact composition. There were various types of gnostic groups; some were magical, others were more philosophical.
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