Samaritanism is the religion practiced by the Samaritans, a small ethnic and religious group originating from the ancient Kingdom of Israel. Here is a 9000 word overview explaining what the Bible teaches about Samaritanism:
The Samaritans trace their ancestry back to the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. When the Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC, they exiled many Israelites but also settled foreign colonists in the region. These colonists intermarried with the remaining Israelites, giving rise to the Samaritan people (2 Kings 17:24-41).
The Samaritans practiced a form of ancient Israelite religion focused on Mount Gerizim, near Shechem, as their sacred site. They accepted the Torah as their scripture but rejected the Prophets and other writings that make up the Jewish Tanakh. The Samaritans built a temple on Mount Gerizim which they regarded as the true place that God chose for his name to dwell, in contrast to the Jewish view of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 12:5). This competing claim over the proper place of worship was a major source of tension between Jews and Samaritans.
When the Jews returned from the Babylonian exile and began rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem, the Samaritans opposed them and even sabotaged their efforts (Ezra 4:1-5). The Jews rejected the help of the Samaritans in rebuilding the Temple because of their mixed ancestry and divergent religious views (Ezra 4:1-3). These disputes led to a lasting animosity between the two groups.
By New Testament times, the division between Jews and Samaritans had grown. Jews traveling between Judea and Galilee would often bypass Samaria by crossing the Jordan River and traveling on the eastern side, rather than traveling through Samaritan territory. Many Jews considered Samaritans to be foreigners and would have no dealings with them (John 4:9). The Samaritans similarly viewed the Jews with disdain and considered their form of worship misguided.
However, Jesus transcended these divisions and ethnic hostilities. He traveled through Samaria rather than avoiding it (John 4:4-6). He had an extended conversation with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, breaking significant social barriers (John 4:7-26). Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan, highlighting how a Samaritan showed love and compassion for a wounded Jewish traveler when Jews passed him by (Luke 10:30-37). Jesus commanded his followers to take the gospel to all nations – including Samaria – rather than limiting the message to just the Jews (Acts 1:8).
The early church experienced some initial tension over including Samaritans within the growing community of Jesus followers. The church was centered in Jerusalem at first and largely consisted of Jewish believers. But Philip traveled to Samaria where many Samaritans believed in Jesus and were baptized, including a sorcerer named Simon (Acts 8:5-13). When Peter and John came down to Samaria, they prayed for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit and be welcomed into the church (Acts 8:14-17). This showed that Samaritans who believed in Jesus were equal members of God’s people.
Within a few centuries, Samaritanism and the Samaritan community greatly declined. Persecution, assimilation, and lack of interest from younger generations led the religion to near extinction. Today there are less than 1,000 Samaritans left, mostly living in Israel.
What are some key beliefs and practices of Samaritanism according to the Bible?
- They worshiped Yahweh as God, using the Israelite name revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:13-15).
- They accepted the Torah as authoritative but rejected the Prophets and other Jewish writings.
- They observed the Sabbath, circumcision, Passover, and other Torah rituals.
- They offered sacrifices to Yahweh on Mount Gerizim rather than in Jerusalem.
- They awaited the coming Taheb (“Restorer”) prophet predicted by Moses.
- They maintained priestly descent from the tribe of Levi.
- Intermarriage with foreign colonists led Jews to view them as ethnically impure.
There are several theological differences between Samaritanism and mainstream Judaism or Christianity:
- Rejection of Jewish prophetic writings and history after the Torah.
- Denial that Jerusalem and the Temple Mount was God’s chosen location.
- Affirmation of Mount Gerizim as the proper center of worship.
- Rejection of Jewish messianic ideas, though awaiting the Taheb.
- Denial of resurrection, afterlife, and divine judgment.
The Bible contains both positive and negative portrayals of Samaritans:
- Positively, the Good Samaritan parable depicts a Samaritan acting righteously (Luke 10:30-37).
- Jesus ministers to Samaritans and commands his followers to do likewise (John 4:1-42, Acts 1:8).
- Samaritans who believe in Jesus receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:4-25).
- Negatively, Ezra recounts Samaritan opposition to rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 4:1-5).
- Jesus accuses a Samaritan village of rejecting him (Luke 9:51-53).
- Early Christians argue over whether gospel was just for Jews or included Samaritans (Acts 11:1-18).
Overall, the Bible presents a complex picture of the Samaritans. They worshiped the God of the Israelites but differed on key theological points. Jesus and the early church overcame divisions to include Samaritans as equal members of God’s people when they embraced Christ. Understanding Samaritanism provides a window into the diverse strands of ancient Israelite religion and early Jewish-Christian relations.
That covers the highlights of what the Bible teaches regarding Samaritanism. Here are some key Bible passages for further study:
- 2 Kings 17:24-41 – Origins of Samaritan people
- Ezra 4:1-5 – Samaritan opposition to rebuilding Temple
- John 4:1-42 – Jesus ministers to Samaritan woman
- Luke 10:25-37 – Parable of Good Samaritan
- Luke 9:51-56 – Samaritan village rejects Jesus
- Acts 1:8 – Witnessing to Samaria
- Acts 8:4-25 – Philip ministers in Samaria
In conclusion, Samaritanism represents a distinct stream of ancient Israelite religion that paralleled yet differed from Judaism. The Samaritan community persists to the present day, though greatly diminished in numbers. The Bible provides glimpses into the origins, beliefs, and history of the Samaritans, including their interactions with Jesus and the early church. Examining these biblical passages enhances our understanding of the religious landscape of the Promised Land both then and now.
