Pharisees on Fate and the Afterlife

Now, as for the Pharisees, they live simply and forgo luxurious foods, and they follow conduct directed by doctrine and do what their doctrine prescribes as good for them, and they believe they should earnestly strive to adhere to commandments as instructed to them. They also pay respect to their elders and are not so brash as to contradict them in any matter they propose. And even though they determine that all things are caused by fate, they do not rescind the free will of men to act as they see fit, since their notion is that it was God’s desire to create a synthesis in which His will is done but the will of man can still act with virtue or vice. They also believe that souls have immortal life and that there are rewards and punishments for them under the earth depending on whether they acted virtuously or villainously in this life. The latter are to be detained in an everlasting prison, but the former will have the power to revive and live again. On account of these doctrines, they are greatly able to persuade large numbers of people. And whatever they practice in the way of divine worship, prayers, and sacrifices, they perform according to their law. This is the great affirmation that the cities have given them based on their virtuous conduct, both in the way they conduct their lives and in their discourse.

Translated byWilliam Whiston, adapted bySheila Keiter, in consultation withRalph Marcus.