[loser]

[1] Who and what were the Pharisees?

One of four Jewish sects prevalent at the time of the Second Temple era, the others being the Sadducees, the Essenes, and the revolutionaries (the Sicarii and the Zealots). Source: Josephus

The Pharisaic sect was re-established as Rabbinic Judaism.

The Pharisees of Jesus' day were akin to our religious leaders today (for the most part, corrupt and self-serving).

[2] What were their religious and political views as opposed to thoe of the Sadducees and other religious and political groups of the time?


Basically, the Sadducees recognized only the Tanakh (the written word) while the Pharisees recognized additional oral traditions/Rabbinic interpretations (the Talmud). It was for these "traditions of men" that Jesus lambasted the Pharisees.

Also, the Pharisees believed in a future bodily resurrection and the Sadducees did not (they were sad, you see).

[3] What was their attitude to Jesus?

He was a thorn in their side and a troublemaker who they feared was going to bring upon them the wrath of Rome and disturb their tenuous (but prosperous) alliance with the Hellenists (Romans).

[4] What was their attitude towards the early Jerusalem Church?

Intolerant and antagonistic, for the most part. However, they were pleased that (during the early years) the Christians received the blunt of the persecution by the Romans.

[5] Who and what was Jesus?

Too complex of an answer in the scope of this response but, shortly, a mediator between God and man who died a physical man but was resurrected a spiritual 'god'; the first-fruit of many more to come and the Savior of mankind. IOW, He is the Way (to eternal life).

[6] Did he really see himself as a saviour who had descended from heaven in order to suffer crucifixion?

Yes, the unique circumstances of His birth (fathered by God) and His unique relationship with God (literal communication with God's extraterrestrial agents) made Him KNOW that He was more than a mere human.

[7] Or did he have entirely different aims, more in accordance with the Jewish thoughts and hopes of his time?

No, like the Zealots, most Jews wanted literal deliverance from their subjugation by Roman rule. A suffering Messiah was not the kind of Messiah they desired...they wanted a 'kick ass and take names' kind of Messiah...He was a disappointment to most.

[8] Was the historical Jesus quite a different person from the Jesus of Paul's ideology, based on Paul's visions and trances?


To some extent, just like all of Jesus' followers. It's hard for the natural (flesh) to understand the supernatural (spirit).

[9] Who and what were the early Church of Jerusalem, the first followers of Jesus?

They were called the People of the Way. Modern Christianity is a counterfeit religion, nothing like the one instituted by Jesus.

[10] Have their views been correctly represented by the later Church?

Absolutely not! The REAL church is a small flock, indeed!

[11] Did James and Peter, the leaders of the Jerusalem Church, agree with Paul's views (as orthodox Christianity claims) or did they oppose him bitterly, regarding him as a heretic and a betrayer of the aims of Jesus?

There were some quite heated contentions between the Jerusalem church and Paul's teachings but Peter explains this best:

2Pe 3:15 Don't forget that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved. This is also what our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom that God had given him.
2Pe 3:16 Paul talks about these same things in all his letters, but part of what he says is hard to understand. Some ignorant and unsteady people even destroy themselves by twisting what he said. They do the same thing with other Scriptures too.

Also, James went into great detail in his book trying to explain what Paul meant by 'FAITH'. This 'license to sin' "saved by faith" dogma preached by modern churches was NOT what Paul or James or Peter or any of the other disciples taught; works are a vital part of the Christian way...i.e, not HEARERS of the word but DOERS!

That should clear that myth up.

[12] Who and what were the Ebionites, whose opinions and writings were suppressed by the orthodox Church?

Who cares and what does it matter? Why not ask, "Who and what were the Nazarenes?" Nevertheless, "the orthodox Church" (the RCC) persecuted all other sects of Christianity, including the faithful and true followers of Christ's teachings.

[13] Why did they denounce Paul?

See Peter's response above (2 Peter 3:15,16)

[14] Why did they combine belief in Jesus with the practice of Judaism?

Because Jesus did not come to abolish the law but, rather, to fulfill it. It is only in the present day perversions of His teachings that the law is said to be 'done away with'.

[15] Why did they believe in Jesus as Messiah, but not as God?

Because Jesus wasn't God but He is the Messiah:

1Ti 2:5 There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us.

[16] Were they a later 'Judaizing' group, or were they, as they claimed to be, the remnants of the authentic followers of Jesus, the church of James and Peter?

I'm sure that they weren't a "later 'Judaizing' group" but there's no way to know if they indeed were "the remnants of the authentic followers of Jesus, the church of James and Peter?"

I know this: what is commonly taught as (and thought to be) Christianity is a counterfeit religion of Satan which he uses to deceive the whole world. Doctrines such as the Trinity and the eternal punishment of sinners (among many more) and the perversion of the Sabbath (from the seventh day to the first day) and the Holy Days (to pagan holidays like Easter and Christmas) are just a few of the abominations that are anathema to God's word.