Rabban+Gamaliel

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=Rabban Gamaliel=

Gamaliel was a very famous Rabbi during the time of the early church. He was the head of the Sanhedrin and was the first to receive the title “Rabban” or “master”. Though little is known of his early life, he distinguished himself as a wise and zealous teacher of Judaism. He was known for being more tolerant concerning matters of the law- though he followed and taught them, his practices were not as legalistic as other Pharisees of his time. The apostle Paul studied under him for several years. He is mentioned in Acts 5 for moderating the actions of the Sanhedrin against Peter and the apostles while on trial. He left a lasting legacy and many of his descendants became distinguished teachers as well. Outline:

=What is known of Gamaliel’s upbringing=

His influences
Gamaliel was the grandson of Hillel, a famous Jewish rabbi who according to tradition, came from Babylonia. Hillel was one of two major schools of Jewish theological thought in New Testament times; the opposing school was founded by his intellectual adversary Shammai. Hillel held to a more lenient interpretation of Jewish law, based on a deep concern for the welfare of the individual. For example, he made it legal for poor landowners to obtain loans immediately before a sabbatical year, when all loans were cancelled[|[1]]. He was also very receptive to proselytes. Gamaliel was greatly influenced by his grandfather Hillel, and he held to the same lenient interpretation of the law.

Political and religious atmosphere of his youth
There is no specific preserved information about Gamaliel’s early life. Gamaliel lived during a difficult time in the history of the Jewish people: the Roman occupation of Palestine. Tensions ran very high, and the Jews rebelled many times against their oppressors. Among the more recent outrages was the capture of Jerusalem by the Roman General Pompey, when he slaughtered many Jews and entered the Holy of Holies in the temple, in addition to destroying the city’s walls. Palestine suffered much under the scheming and political conniving of various governors and “traitor Jews” appointed to positions of power in return for loyalty to Rome[|[2]]. Gamaliel inherited these issues and concerns as an important religious leader of his day.

=Gamaliel’s teachings=

Religious party/affiliation
Gamaliel was a student of the school of Hillel, one of the two schools of Pharisaism (along with Shammai). The Pharisees supported an oral tradition of the Torah, and they focused on passing down many observances and laws that were not written in the Law of Moses. They also believed in the right of the common people to call into account the actions of the royal or priestly authority. The other faction, the Sadducees, opposed the Pharisaical oral tradition, and politically opposed the movement of lay leaders (instead of traditional priestly authority)[|[3]]. The Pharisees generally had the support of most of the people, while the Sadducees had followers only among the affluent.

Contrast with Paul his student
The Apostle Paul studied under Gamaliel at one time, and though there are no records to compare Paul’s early Pharisaical theology with Gamaliel’s, it is interesting to note their differences in Scripture. When Paul (or Saul) is first mentioned in Acts 7, he was at the stoning of Stephen. In Acts 8 and 9, he was very proactive in carrying out a campaign of persecution against believers all over Palestine. Gamaliel was known for his tolerance and leniency, and Paul’s murderous rage against the church contrasts sharply with this. Gamaliel is mentioned only once in Scripture, in Acts 5 when the apostles were on trial before the Sanhedrin. Gamaliel was a leading member of the Sanhedrin and his words carried much weight; following his advice the apostles were released, for he said, “For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourself fighting God.” This attitude of patience and tolerance is consistent with the other recorded teachings of Gamaliel.

His Legacy
Gamaliel rose to a position of great authority and respect in the Jewish community of his day. According to multiple accounts including the Talmud, he was the first person to receive the honorary title of “Rabban” or “Our Master”, which signified his preeminence among the rabbis and teachers of his day. Only seven rabbis were ever given this title[|[4]]. He also filled the office of “nasi” or “patriarch” as head of the Sanhedrin. However his legacy was not primarily that of an expositor or a teacher; he is not listed in Jewish literature as an important perpetuator of the Pharisaical oral traditions, but as more of an interpreter or mediator of the law. Gamaliel is mentioned with great reverence in the Mishnah, the records of the Pharisaical oral tradition: "Since Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, there has been no more reverence for the law, and purity and piety died out at the same time[|[5]] .” Not many of his specific teachings or sayings have survived; a few are preserved in the Mishnah and rabbinical literature. One of his more famous ones is, “Provide yourself with a teacher and remove yourself from [theological] doubt.[|[6]] ” An obscure classification of his pupils according to different types of fish also survives. Several of Gamaliel’s descendants followed in his footsteps as important rabbis and leaders of the Sanhedrin: his son Simeon, his grandson Gamaliel II, and his great-grandson Simeon Gamaliel II.

[|[1]] Maccoby, Hyam. //Early Rabbinic Writings.// London: Cambridge University Press, 1988; p. 220-221. [|[2]] Mitchell Langbert, Hershey H. Friedman. "Perspectives on Transformational Leadership in the Sanhedrin of Ancient Judaism." //Management Decision: Focus on Management History//, 2003: 199-207. [|[3]] Maccoby, Hyam. //Early Rabbinic Writings.// London: Cambridge University Press, 1988; p. 9-10. [|[4]] Tenney, Merrill C., ed. //The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary.// Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1963; p. 298. [|[5]] Kolatch, Alfred J. //Masters Of The Talmud.// Middle Village, N.Y.: Jonathan David Publishers, Inc., 2003; p. 212-213. [|[6]] "Gamaliel." In //The New Encyclopedia of Judaism//. New York: New York University Press, 1989.

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