Course 2, Chapter 1: State of the world at the coining of the Messiah

1. What was the state of the world at the coming of the Messiah?

The Roman empire, as foretold by Daniel, had subjected all nations to its sway. The world was in peace, under the reign of Augustus; but all the nations were buried in the darkest idolatry.

2. What is idolatry?

Idolatry is the worship of false deities. The pagans adored not only the sun, moon and the earth, but even the vilest creatures, and attributed to their gods all the passions of men.

3. What was the condition of the Jews?

Truth, which was expiring among pagan nations, bade fair to perish among the Jews also. There were in Judea four principal sects, who were altering the truth, and destroying its influence on the mind.

4. What were these different sects?

The different sects prevailing among the Jews at the coming of the Messiah, were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenians and the Herodians.

Q Who were the Pharisees?

A. The Pharisees were a sect who had added to the law of Moses a number of traditions and superstitions, and ridiculous practices. They were proud, avaricious, ambitious hypocrites, and sworn enemies of Christ.

5. Who were the Sadducees?

The Sadducees were men who rejected the traditions of the ancients, the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the body. Although not so numerous as the Pharisees, they still had a great deal of influence, because they were the first men of the nation.

6. Who were the Essenians?

The Essenians were sectarians who rejected all traditions, and denied the resurrection of the body, and the spirituality of the soul. They lived at a distance from the large cities, and practised great austerities.

7. Who were the Herodians?

The Herodians were men attached to the court of Herod, and professed a very dangerous morality.

8. How was Palestine divided at the coming of the Messiah?

At the coming of the Messiah, Palestine was divided into three parts. The first was Samaria, the in habitants of which were called Samaritans. They were converts to the Jewish religion, with which they had mingled many errors.

9. What were these errors?

1 . Of all the Scriptures they recognized only the five books of Moses; 2, they rejected the traditions of the Jewish doctors; 3, they maintained that God was to be adored on Mount Garazine, and not at Jerusalem. The Jews held them in detestation.

10. Which was the second part of Palestine?

The second part of Palestine was Galilee, the in habitants of which were called Galileans. They were Israelites of the ten tribes, who after their return from captivity at Ninive, had rebuilt some of the cities of the ancient kingdom of Israel. They practised the same religion as the Jews.

11. Which was the third part?

The third part was Judea, of which Jerusalem was the capital. This part of Palestine was occupied by the tribes of Judah arid Benjamin, who on their return from the captivity of Babylon, had rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple.

12. To what nation were the Jews tributary at the birth of the Messiah?

At the birth of the Messiah, the Jews were tril>utary to the Romans, who had imposed a tribute upor. them, and deprived them of the right of putting crimi-

138 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

nals to death. This was a proof that the sovereign power was no longer in their hands, and that the Messiah was at hand.