• The Pharisees

    The Pharisees, who appeared after the Maccabean revolt (165 BC), were an influential religious group of ancient Judaism. Devoted to the written and oral Torah, they believed in the resurrection and remained close to the people. Often in conflict with Jesus in the Gospels, they nevertheless produced figures such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. Their teachings founded rabbinic Judaism after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70.

    Philippians 3.5 (King James Version) :
    Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
    Read more