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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Sects</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/s/sects.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/1_corinthians/11-19.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/s/sects.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Sects</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/s/sector.htm" title="Sector">◄</a> Sects <a href="/topical/s/secu.htm" title="Secu">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#grk" title="Strong's Greek Concordance">Greek</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>In the context of biblical history and theology, the term "sects" refers to distinct groups or factions within the broader religious community, often characterized by specific beliefs, practices, or interpretations of Scripture. The Bible provides several examples of sects, particularly within Judaism during the time of Jesus and the early church.<br><br><b>Pharisees and Sadducees</b><br><br>Two of the most prominent sects during the New Testament period were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the Law and the traditions of the elders. They believed in the resurrection of the dead, angels, and spirits. Jesus often engaged with the Pharisees, challenging their legalism and hypocrisy. In <a href="/matthew/23-27.htm">Matthew 23:27</a>, Jesus says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity."<br><br>The Sadducees, on the other hand, were a more aristocratic sect, closely associated with the temple priesthood. They rejected the oral traditions upheld by the Pharisees and did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or spirits. In <a href="/acts/23-8.htm">Acts 23:8</a>, it is noted, "The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all."<br><br><b>Essenes</b><br><br>Another Jewish sect, not mentioned directly in the Bible but known from historical sources like the writings of Josephus and the Dead Sea Scrolls, is the Essenes. They were a monastic group that lived in communal settings, emphasizing purity and separation from what they saw as the corruption of the temple and society.<br><br><b>Zealots</b><br><br>The Zealots were a political movement rather than a religious sect, but they were driven by religious zeal. They sought to overthrow Roman rule in Judea and were known for their militant opposition to Roman occupation. One of Jesus' disciples, Simon, was called the Zealot (<a href="/luke/6-15.htm">Luke 6:15</a>).<br><br><b>Early Christian Sects</b><br><br>In the early Christian church, sects began to form as well. The Apostle Paul addresses divisions and false teachings in several of his epistles. In <a href="/1_corinthians/1-12.htm">1 Corinthians 1:12-13</a>, Paul writes, "What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, 'I follow Paul,' 'I follow Apollos,' 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?"<br><br>The early church also faced challenges from groups like the Judaizers, who insisted that Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish law, including circumcision. Paul strongly opposed this teaching, emphasizing salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone (<a href="/galatians/2-16.htm">Galatians 2:16</a>).<br><br><b>Gnosticism</b><br><br>Another significant early Christian sect was Gnosticism, which emerged in the second century. Gnostics claimed to possess secret knowledge (gnosis) and often held dualistic views, seeing the material world as evil and the spiritual realm as good. The Apostle John addresses early forms of Gnostic thought in his epistles, emphasizing the true humanity and divinity of Christ (1 <a href="/john/4-2.htm">John 4:2-3</a>).<br><br><b>Conclusion</b><br><br>Throughout biblical history, sects have arisen as groups sought to interpret and live out their faith in distinct ways. While some sects contributed to the rich tapestry of religious thought, others posed challenges to the unity and doctrinal purity of the faith community. The New Testament encourages believers to hold fast to sound doctrine and to be wary of teachings that deviate from the gospel of Christ.<a name="grk" id="grk"></a><div class="vheading2">Greek</div><a href="/greek/139.htm"><span class="l">139. hairesis -- choice, opinion</span></a> <br><b>...</b> a () . 139 ("a strong, distinctive opinion") is used in the NT of individual<br> "parties (<b>sects</b>)" that operated within Judaism. The <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/139.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 7k</font><p><a href="/greek/141.htm"><span class="l">141. hairetikos -- causing division</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Adjective Transliteration: hairetikos Phonetic Spelling: (hahee-ret-ee-kos') Short<br> Definition: factious Definition: disposed to form <b>sects</b>, sectarian, heretical <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/141.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 7k</font><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/hippolytus/the_refutation_of_all_heresies/chapter_xiii_the_jewish_sects.htm"><span class="l">The Jewish <b>Sects</b>.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Book IX. Chapter XIII."The Jewish <b>Sects</b>. Originally there prevailed but<br> one usage [1024] among the Jews; for one teacher was given <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xiii the jewish sects.htm</font><p><a href="/library/lactantius/the_divine_institutes/chap_xxxii_of_the_sects_of.htm"><span class="l">Of the <b>Sects</b> of Philosophers, and their Disagreement.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> The Epitome of the Divine Institutes. Addressed to His Brother Pentadius. Chap.<br> XXXII."Of the <b>Sects</b> of Philosophers, and Their Disagreement. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxxii of the sects of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/roberston/sketches_of_church_history_from_ad_33_to_the_reformation/chapter_xix_religious_sects_and.htm"><span class="l">Religious <b>Sects</b> and Parties</span></a> <br><b>...</b> PART II CHAPTER XIX: RELIGIOUS <b>SECTS</b> AND PARTIES. While the popes were thus<br> trying to lord it over all men, from the emperor downwards <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter xix religious sects and.htm</font><p><a href="/library/lamartine/atheism_among_the_people/xiv_for_eighteen_years_new.htm"><span class="l">For Eighteen Years, New <b>Sects</b>, Or, Rather, Posthumous <b>Sects</b>...</span></a> <br><b>...</b> XIV. For eighteen years, new <b>sects</b>, or, rather, posthumous <b>sects</b>? For eighteen<br> years, new <b>sects</b>, or, rather, posthumous <b>sects</b>, have <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../lamartine/atheism among the people/xiv for eighteen years new.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/recognitions_of_clement_/chapter_liv_jewish_sects.htm"><span class="l">Jewish <b>Sects</b>.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Book I. Chapter LIV."Jewish <b>Sects</b>. "For when the rising of Christ was at<br> hand for the abolition of sacrifices, and for the bestowal <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter liv jewish sects.htm</font><p><a href="/library/hippolytus/the_refutation_of_all_heresies/chapter_xxi_different_sects_of_the.htm"><span class="l">Different <b>Sects</b> of the Esseni.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Book IX. Chapter XXI."Different <b>Sects</b> of the Esseni. The Essenes have,<br> however, in the lapse of time, undergone divisions, and <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxi different sects of the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/clement/the_stromata_or_miscellanies/chapter_xiii_all_sects_of_philosophy.htm"><span class="l">All <b>Sects</b> of Philosophy Contain a Germ of Truth.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book I Chapter XIII."All <b>Sects</b> of Philosophy<br> Contain a Germ of Truth. Since, therefore, truth is <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xiii all sects of philosophy.htm</font><p><a href="/library/various/creeds_of_christendom_with_a_history_and_critical_notes/_21_the_eastern_sects_.htm"><span class="l">The Eastern <b>Sects</b>: Nestorians, Jacobites, Copts, Armenians.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> A HISTORY OF THE CREEDS OF CHRISTENDOM 21. The Eastern <b>Sects</b>: Nestorians,<br> Jacobites, Copts, Armenians. Literature. I. The Nestorians: <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../ 21 the eastern sects .htm</font><p><a href="/library/irenaeus/against_heresies/chapter_xxix_doctrines_of_various_other.htm"><span class="l">Doctrines of Various Other Gnostic <b>Sects</b>, and Especially of the <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> Against Heresies: Book I Chapter XXIX."Doctrines of various other Gnostic<br> <b>sects</b>, and especially of the Barbeliotes or Borborians. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxix doctrines of various other.htm</font><p><a href="/library/augustine/city_of_god/chapter_2_how_varro_by_removing.htm"><span class="l">How Varro, by Removing all the Differences which do not Form <b>Sects</b> <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> Chapter 2."How Varro, by Removing All the Differences Which Do Not Form <b>Sects</b>, But<br> are Merely Secondary Questions, Reaches Three Definitions of the Chief Good <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 2 how varro by removing.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/s/sects.htm"><span class="l"><b>Sects</b> (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Multi-Version Concordance <b>Sects</b> (3 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must<br> also be <b>sects</b> among you, that the approved may become manifest among you. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/sects.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/sect.htm"><span class="l">Sect (10 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> sect, so serve I the God of our fathers" (just as the Pharisees were "a sect");<br> it is translated "heresies" (1 Corinthians 11:19, margin "<b>sects</b>," the American <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/sect.htm - 13k</font><p><a href="/topical/g/gnosticism.htm"><span class="l">Gnosticism</span></a><br><b>...</b> INFLUENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF GNOSTICISM 1. Not a Heresy of the Humbler Classes 2.<br> Cerinthus: His Teaching 3. The Gospel of John 4. Various <b>Sects</b> (1) The <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/g/gnosticism.htm - 38k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/pharisees.htm"><span class="l">Pharisees (86 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> The first mention of them is in a description by Josephus of the three <b>sects</b><br> or schools into which the Jews were divided (BC 145). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/pharisees.htm - 66k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/essenes.htm"><span class="l">Essenes</span></a><br><b>...</b> 4. Monachism LITERATURE ===== When Josephus describes the <b>sects</b> of the Jews <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/essenes.htm - 38k</font><p><a href="/topical/g/gospels.htm"><span class="l">Gospels</span></a><br><b>...</b> "It would be easy," says Salmon (Intro, 1st ed., 239) "to make a long list of names<br> of gospels said to have been in use in different Gnostic <b>sects</b>; but very <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/g/gospels.htm - 73k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/secu.htm"><span class="l">Secu (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/secu.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/g/general.htm"><span class="l">General (9 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Just as there were writings of this kind among the Jews, so there were in Christian<br> circles, among Gnostic <b>sects</b>, apocrypha, which claimed to embody the deeper <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/g/general.htm - 49k</font><p><a href="/topical/d/dictionaries.htm"><span class="l">Dictionaries</span></a><br><b>...</b> Marsden, JB A Dictionary of Christian Churches and <b>Sects</b>. <b>...</b> SPECIAL DICTIONARIES: ANCIENT<br> AND MEDIAEVAL HISTORY Blunt, JH Dictionary of <b>Sects</b>, Heresies, etc. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/d/dictionaries.htm - 38k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/according.htm"><span class="l">According (7613 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> believe that the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew was most to the mind of the Hebrew Christians,<br> and that it took different forms in the hands of the <b>sects</b> into which <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/according.htm - 62k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/sects-of-Judaism.html">What are the different sects of Judaism? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-sects.html">Why are there Christian sects? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/content_Islam_sects-writings.html">Islamic Sects and Writings ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Sects (3 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_corinthians/11-19.htm">1 Corinthians 11:19</a></span><br />For there must also be <span class="boldtext">sects</span> among you, that the approved may become manifest among you.<br /><span class="source">(DBY YLT)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/galatians/5-20.htm">Galatians 5:20</a></span><br />idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strifes, emulations, wraths, rivalries, dissensions, <span class="boldtext">sects</span>,<br /><span class="source">(YLT)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/2_peter/2-1.htm">2 Peter 2:1</a></span><br />And there did come also false prophets among the people, as also among you there shall be false teachers, who shall bring in besides destructive <span class="boldtext">sects</span>, and the Master who bought them denying, bringing to themselves quick destruction,<br /><span class="source">(YLT)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/s/sects.htm">Sects</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nai'oth.htm">Nai'oth (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/naioth.htm">Naioth (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/water-spring.htm">Water-spring (16 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sects.htm">Sects (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/secundus.htm">Secundus (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/q/questioning.htm">Questioning (65 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/ramah.htm">Ramah (38 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/cistern.htm">Cistern (21 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sechu.htm">Sechu (1 Occurrence)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/s/sector.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Sector"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Sector" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/s/secu.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Secu"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Secu" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>