01-10-2008, 01:45 PM
Shlama,
The term "minim" has also been used to refer to "heretics" in general and I don't think this was one particular "sect" they had in mind. They were cursing all those who were outside of their own particular system of beliefs.
When I was in Israel in 2006 I picked up a book called "Jewish Sects in the Time of Jesus" by Marcel Simon. I think it's an English translation of an original French.
Anyway, there's an interesting note in the book on this word minim: "rabbinical writers utilize the term minim to designate all, including the Christians, who deviated from the norms of the Pharasaic synagogue in matters of belief or ritual. Consequently, we are dealing with a very general term, the English equivalent of which would be 'heretics.' We are not in the presence here of a particular sect, as Justin believed."
The term "minim" has also been used to refer to "heretics" in general and I don't think this was one particular "sect" they had in mind. They were cursing all those who were outside of their own particular system of beliefs.
When I was in Israel in 2006 I picked up a book called "Jewish Sects in the Time of Jesus" by Marcel Simon. I think it's an English translation of an original French.
Anyway, there's an interesting note in the book on this word minim: "rabbinical writers utilize the term minim to designate all, including the Christians, who deviated from the norms of the Pharasaic synagogue in matters of belief or ritual. Consequently, we are dealing with a very general term, the English equivalent of which would be 'heretics.' We are not in the presence here of a particular sect, as Justin believed."