UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: Pharisee

Semantic entry: 11.49

Semantic domains: Groups and Classes of Persons and Members of Such Groups and Classes

Subdomains: Socio-Religious

Definition: a member of an important religious and political Jewish party at the time of Jesus and the apostles. The Pharisees constituted a significantly larger group than the Sadducees (see 11.48: Σαδδουκαῖος) and differed with them on certain doctrines and patterns of behavior. The Pharisees were strict and jealous adherents to the laws of the OT and to numerous additional traditions

Notes: Translators have generally found it both wise and necessary to simply transliterate in one form or another Σαδδουκαῖος (11.48: Σαδδουκαῖος) and Φαρισαῖος, but some background information concerning these two parties is particularly important in a glossary; otherwise, certain passages of Scripture become extremely difficult to understand satisfactorily.