Was Jesus a Pharisee?

[Phidippides]

I didn't realize that there was a question of whether Christ was a Pharisee.  Reasons for this would be that they were centered in Christ's native Galilee, and He is also referred to as "Rabbi", which was a word which Pharisees called those within their ranks who were experts of the law.

Reasons against this come from Christ's departure from the Pharisee understanding of oral law, such as Mark 7:1-8 (in regard to purification laws adopted as oral law in the tradition of the Pharisees).

[Donald Baker]

Jesus had a very negative view of the Sanhedrin including the Pharisees.  He disdained their outward religious vanity and their abhorrent hypocrisies.  The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee before he converted however.

[Phidippides]

Next question that is an actual scholarly issue: was Jesus an Essene?  See if you can answer that one.

[Donald Baker]

Next question that is an actual scholarly issue: was Jesus an Essene?  See if you can answer that one.

I have read the arguments that said Jesus was a part of the Essene group in Qumran.  That he subscribed to Gnosticism etc....I also know that Paul spoke openly against the Gnostic tendencies of the Corinthian church so I think Paul's teachings would have been somewhat contrary to the Essenes and most likely more in line with Christ's.  However, there is just enough circumstantial evidence for some scholars to make (what would be outlandish to me) claims.  I'm also familiar with the proposition that Jesus spent some time in Nepal where he allegedly studied Buddhism and was referred to as "Issa."  Seems to be an agenda to move Jesus out of his little region of Galilee to explain some of the teachings he espoused...as if He were not an original thinker.  So what do you think?  Was Jesus exposed to the Essene way of life?

[Phidippides]

I've been watching a scholarly lecture series on Judaism in the time of Jesus, and this was a question that was presented.  Basically, the evidence strongly suggests that no, He was not an Essene.  The Essenes believed in multiple messiahs, rather than one; and the Essenes apparently believed all members had to follow priestly purity laws, so that would also seem to exclude Christ from consideration as an Essene.