SPECIAL TOPIC: SYNAGOGUE

The synagogue (from the Greek word "to gather") was a Jewish institution which developed during the Babylonian exile (i.e., destruction of temple and exile in 586 B.C.) for the purpose of

1. training children (i.e., in Torah and Hebrew language)
2. worship (i.e., prayer and reading of Scripture)
3. ministering to the Jewish community (i.e., apply Torah to daily life; Oral Law)
4. retaining the Jews' unique culture while in exile by emphasizing study of the Law and the traditions of the fathers caused the rise of scribes and later rabbis as a way to have the Torah interpreted and applied.

These local centers of edcation and worship continued even when some Jews returned to Judah under Cyrus II's edict in 538 B.C. The temple functioned for major feast days but the synagogue for Sabbath worship. There developed many synagogues in every major city of the Roman Empire (only ten males were required, cf. Sanhedrin 1:6). It was the major place for the education of Jewish young men.

1. Surely Jesus went to synagogue school in Nazareth. He regularly attended local Sabbath worship at synagogues throughout Palestine.
2. Pual used local synagogue worship as a place to share the gospel with those who knew Torah.
3. The early church based their worship service on the synagogue pattern of
   1. prayer
   2. reading of Scripture
   3. homily
   4. weekly offering
   5. music/psalms

Copyright © 2020 Bible Lessons International